Eland Family Photo

[johnnie]

I bought this photo at the weekend at a local market (Tyne and Wear) and on the

reverse it is marked "Mr Eland and sons".

I have no idea who the family are, or where they are from. I had thought they might

be from the local area (the north east) and was wondering if it might be possible to

narrow it down if I could find out what uniforms the men are wearing. It's a bit

of a long shot, but worth a try.

Anyway, here are some scans:

This is a close up of the man bottom left. He is wearing a medal ribbon, although I am not

sure what the ribbon is.

Any help on the unit or badge/medal ribbon would be great.

Jonathan

[johnnie]

Here are two more close ups of two more men in the shot (I assume they

are all brothers).

Top left. The badge on his arm seems quite strange and I have no idea what

it is.

Bottom right. He has some initial badge on his shoulder. I though it

might be ASC or RAMC but I not 100%.

[alliekiwi]

Mr Bottom Left if a Corporal, and the MIC cards only list 6 men named Eland with the rank of Corporal (plus two more L/Cpl).

I don't know what those crossed items are above his two wounds stripes.

Allie

[johnnie]

Thanks for that. Could it be marksman?

To honest I didn't know they were would stripes. I assume

the chap on the bottom right has been wounded once as he seems

to have the same mark.

Also, are the stripes on the left sleeve good conduct stripes?

[alliekiwi]

Nope, the ones on the other sleeve are for length of overseas service. One blue chevron for each year he served overseas from 1915 to 1918. Then there looks to be a red chevron to signify that he embarked with the BEF in 1914.

I'm wondering if that crossed thing could be to do with artillery...

Allie

[johnnie]

So would that be overseas service during the Great War, or could it be overseas

service prior to the war (ie could he be a regular).

How did you gain them as I haven't seen them before.

Jonathan

[alliekiwi]

The photo is taken post-war, most likely. The overseas service chevrons were approved in 1918 (in Australia, anyway, and I'm guessing that it was similar timing for the BEF), and are WW1 related. To get the red one, you had to have served sometime between 4 August 1914 and December 31st of the same year. The blue ones are for subsequent service overseas. You didn't get them for serving at home (at least the Aussies didn't).

Allie

[Stebie9173]

The Medal Ribbon is the 1914 or 1914-15 Star, probably the 1914 since he has his red 1914 overseas stripe, too.

The cross looks like Crossed rifles = Marksman badge.

1. Corporal, 1914 Star, 4 overseas stripes 1914 + 3 later years. Two wound stripes. Marksman.

2. Private. Badge on right sleeve - don't know. (Tank badge?)

3. Private. One wound stripe.

Steve.

[high wood]

I think that the badge on the right sleeve in post 2 may be a sadler's trade badge as worn by sadlers in the RFA. I will check my book when I get home.

[ian turner]

The only Army Service Corps Eland I found:

Medal card of Eland, Joseph

Corps Regiment No Rank

Cheshire Regiment 23118 Private

Royal Army Service Corps T/306269 Private

King's Royal Rifle Corps A/204319 Private

1901 census throws up 4 Joseph Elands aged in late teens in 1901 (I guess the ASC man to be around 30?)

Ian

[johnnie]

Thank you for all the information so far. I have added a close up of the badge on the arm to

see if it might help at all.

Jonathan

[Staffsyeoman]

I think in the strictest terms (and Grumpy is THE expert on the Forum) this badge is the trade badge of a Harnessmaker (which would include saddles as mentioned above).