RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Lesanne on Saturday 12 April 08 09:56 BST (UK)

Title: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: Lesanne on Saturday 12 April 08 09:56 BST (UK)
Hello,
Can these uniforms be indentified please?

The young chap standing is Cecil Rance. b1897 Maidenhead. This is his wedding day to Katherine Norris. 1919.

The older chap sitting is the mystery.

Many thanks for any help.
Lesanne.  :)
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: neil1821 on Saturday 12 April 08 10:20 BST (UK)
Cecil Rance could be Army Service Corps. Will check out the other.

The dating evidence (4 overseas service chevrons) certainly fits with 1919.
The seated chap appears to be a warrant officer (can just about make out the rank badge on his forearm). 2 medal ribbons as well - depending on the precise date they could be ww1 ribbons or perhaps QSA/KSA from the Boer War.
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: neil1821 on Saturday 12 April 08 10:27 BST (UK)
The other badge is the royal cypher with crown above.

I might plump for the Military Provost Staff Corps I think.
Especially considering the brassard he's also wearing.
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: mmm45 on Saturday 12 April 08 11:03 BST (UK)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4972533&queryType=1&resultcount=4

Could be Cecils MIC if he had "A" middle name??


Theres 3 Rance MICs online at Ancestry...alas Cecils isnt one!! :(
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: Lesanne on Saturday 12 April 08 12:27 BST (UK)
 :) Thank you very much.

Cecil Andrew Rance. (Chap standing)
Andrew Charles Rance c1860 was his father.

At first, I believed that the chap sitting was Robert Norris abt1869. (Brides father) as her mother (Katherine Norris also) is also in the picture.
But family say it is not his grandad.

How difficult is it to find a soldier in the Corps you suggest, with the name of Andrew Charles Rance or Robert Norris?

Would I need to take a visit to Kew? If so, what would I be looking for there?

Thank you once again.
Lesanne.  :)
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: scrimnet on Saturday 12 April 08 12:37 BST (UK)
He could also be Lancashire Hussars , they wore the same cypher with a crown surmounted....Deliberate mistake spotted! Norfolk Yeomanry...

Looks like a mourning brassard funeral type to me...

He is in a "wind up jacket"...ie an ORs one with his Sam Browne on, and I would also state QSA/KSA

Just had another thought for the badge...Royal Defence Corps, but would have to be the earlier version of the badge...

I reckon he is a WO1...
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: Lesanne on Saturday 12 April 08 12:43 BST (UK)
 :D Thank you Scrimnet  :D but what do you mean....  :-[

 Would I be able to find who he is or service number with your info....  :P  :P
 by just going on the surnames of Rance and Norris.

Thanks, Lesanne.  :)
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: scrimnet on Saturday 12 April 08 12:53 BST (UK)
:D Thank you Scrimnet  :D but what do you mean....  :-[

 Would I be able to find who he is or service number with your info....  :P  :P
 by just going on the surnames of Rance and Norris.

Thanks, Lesanne.  :)

Ooops... :-\ Which bit are you unsure of??

I keep forgetting I'm not at work, and not everyone understands my "Mil Speak"!!

There are x2 other units to whom he may have belonged...

Lancashire Hussars Once is a mistake...twice is negligence..
Royal Defence Corps

They wore virtually the same cap badge...

The jacket was so named, as people got the "wind up" about being sniped at tby the Germans, and tried to look like the "Other Ranks" ie Privates and the such, as officers (and Warrant Officers) were better targets for thermmm(cut off the head stuff)

The brassard (the black bit round his left arm) looks like tyhe type one wears at funerals..

As for his rank...Warrant Officer Class 1...An RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major)
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: scrimnet on Saturday 12 April 08 12:55 BST (UK)
When you look through the Medal Index Cards...look for ones with any of the three units named...That should narrow down a bit...
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: RobertS on Saturday 12 April 08 21:24 BST (UK)
The chap seated could also be Norfolk Yeomanry
RobertS
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: scrimnet on Saturday 12 April 08 21:44 BST (UK)
The chap seated could also be Norfolk Yeomanry
RobertS

Der.... yes!!  ::) ::) ::) :-[ :-[ :-[ You are quite correct... And you spotted my deliberate mistake

I mis typed....

I'll amend previous post!
Title: Re: Will Uniforms help indentify soldier?
Post by: Lesanne on Tuesday 06 May 08 10:12 BST (UK)
Thank you very much for your info on this.  :D

I haven't managed to find anything as yet, but working on it.....