Heid the Ba Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 I'm about to start looking into my brother-in-law's grandfather. I suspect all the info I will get is a name, a place of birth and the fact he was in the cavalry since my b-i-l has a set of spurs. He survived the war. I'm pretty sketchy on uniforms and kit so: 1. who other than cavalry would wear spurs? RHA drivers? 2. did cavalry spurs differ from other arms spurs? 3. would spurs have a service number or other id? Thanks, I tried searching the forum but without success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 RFA, RHA, Cavalry, Yeomanry, MMP, anyone on battalion transport, ASC, RE on mounted duties, Officers in various orders of dress (they were all expected to be able to ride) etc, etc. Staff Officers (from mounted units), General Staff. There were many indeed. Not able to help with your questions on the type of spurs but I somehow doubt that they were marked with anything that would tie a pair of spurs to an individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 18 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Thanks squirrel, given the family we can probably discount officers. Other than that it is probably as I feared. As it is his maternal grandfather I'm hoping for an unusual surname but no doubt it will be something ubiquitiously scottish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 I may be quite wrong and totally off track....but didnt the wearing of spurs also include the marital staus of a soldier? I am sure I have heard this before. If not I'll go away! Regards TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 My grandfather, an officer in the 20th Manchesters, is pictured wearing spurs in his wedding photograph, June 1916. So that would have been before and after changing status! Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Not heard that one TT - sounds like something to do with "knights of old" than WW1 or perhaps something to do with the wearing of spurs in the mess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punjab612 Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 I still have my Grandfather's spurs even though he was in an Infantry Battalion (Northumberland Fusiliers) I believe when he was commissioned ne was expected to ride. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Angela If the legend is true, which seems unlikely, he may have donned the spurs in the vestry when the register was signed! Daggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelab Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Aha, Daggers; how true! Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 18 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Anyone have a photo of Great War spurs? Just to check he didn't nick them from a Belgian postman . . . Punjab612, do they have anything to suggest a number or unit? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Why don't you post a pic of the spurs in question and the experts on here may be able to throw some light ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 18 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2008 I haven't seen them yet, but if I can, I will. I am a bit technologically challenged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxmangt Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 I thought all officers of field rank (Major) of infantry regiments wore spurs and rode. Junior officers were expected to walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punjab612 Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Anyone have a photo of Great War spurs? do they have anything to suggest a number or unit? Thanks. Picture of my GF's spurs. Leather strap went under the boot and 'tongue' on top of instep. Only picture I have of him with them on is when he was a Captain in Officer Cadet Battalion. Only markings on them - no references to unit etc Hope this helps Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john gregory Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 I may be quite wrong and totally off track....but didnt the wearing of spurs also include the marital staus of a soldier? I am sure I have heard this before. If not I'll go away! Regards TT LOL, that's a good one, I've not heard that before ' wearing of spurs also include the marital status of a soldier' there would be a lot of soldiers wearing spurs then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 21 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 21 April , 2008 Cheers Peter, that is what they look like. I didn't get the distinctive name I hoped for, he was called Henry Brown, they did think he was a KOSBie though. I have found one who was there and 1st Dragoons. I have him and another to check out. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpsum Posted 19 October , 2021 Share Posted 19 October , 2021 Hello everyone, recently purchased a pair of ww1 spurs , that are stamped with the service number of the soldier , something that i have never come across before, they were advertised with a little information , stating ,service number corresponds to a soldier of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, service number 61332, who was killed in France on the 19 of April 1918. started a little research and found that they appear to have belonged to a private William Henry King, born abt 1879, Bromley By Bow , by my interpret of the few records i found on ancestry , plus census returns i found, but i cannot find his service record, guess maybe went up in flames , what have found is him on ancestry's the uk soldiers that died in the great war, which mentions that before he was in Northumberland Fusiliers, he was Formerly 033167 in the A.O.C. ARMY ORDANANCE CORP, that doesn't make sense to me, as i thought they were formed in 1918? i cant find a service record for him under that service number or regiment, please can anyone suggest anything ?, also looked on Forces war Records Site , there a listing for him under Northumberland Fusilier's, pretty frustrating, i have discovered who his parents and siblings were, plus also that he was married and had a family at the time of his death in 1918, just know little of his service, Has anyone else ever come across spurs with service number upon them, there is also a makers mark and year, what i think is A.S Smith & Sons, dated 1914, enclose few photos, thanks any advice really be appreciated ? thank you Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 19 October , 2021 Share Posted 19 October , 2021 A quick scan of the Medal Rolls reveals the service number 61332 was issued to at least 15 different soldiers from a multitude of regiments. Is there any provenance that the number relates to the Northumberland Fusiliers other than a sellers word? William Henry King is the only one amongst those 15 names on the Medal Rolls to have died during active service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpsum Posted 20 October , 2021 Share Posted 20 October , 2021 (edited) thanks, was just information provided on the webb site, have just asked in a email if there is any providence, shall let you know Edited 20 October , 2021 by harpsum update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpsum Posted 9 July , 2022 Share Posted 9 July , 2022 Hello Jay , no further forward on the spurs , found out the seller had naively, searched for the number on the spurs , on the CWGC , Find the dead ,found that one W.H KING of the Northumberland Fusiliers and assumed it was him, well guess i will never be able to pin down , who they once belonged , they are very well made , compared to type you often come across of WW1 era spurs , they are pretty weighty and strong , guess i will try and identify the makers at least ? thank you for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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