RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Big-Al on Saturday 01 August 09 20:21 BST (UK)
-
Hi Folks,
Could someone lease identify this soldiers regiment in the 1914 - 18 war. ?
I've enlarged the badge to help.
Many thanks.
Big Al
-
Big-Al, the cap badge is that of the Royal Artillary.
old rowley
-
Thanks Old Rowley,
I thought it might be, but wanted the experts to confirm it for me.
Would that be The Royal Horse Artillery.? I ask that as I have another photo of him on horse back.
Many thanks
Big Al
-
Here's the photo of him on horseback. What is the item just behind the riders leg.?
Big Al
-
Sorry forgot the photo.
Age is getting to me. LOL.
-
Sorry forgot the photo.
Age is getting to me. LOL.
Hello, as Big Al sys it is the Royal Artilery, and as you suspect it is the RHA
Royal Horse Artillery confirmed by the bandolier across his chest, and the Lanyard on the left shoulder epulet. The bandolier holds bullet Mags, probably for the older Ross rifle, and in later years replaced by the SMLE short magazine Lee Enfield rifle, which was also used many years later in WW2.
Don't worry about your age....I was born 7½ years after the first WW. Take good care....use the Pc often it will keep you mentally fit LOL.
Raphael
(Uk) & Düsseldorf (D)
-
Many thanks Raphael.
Big help.
-
Sorry forgot the photo.
Age is getting to me. LOL.
Hello, as Big Al sys it is the Royal Artilery, and as you suspect it is the RHA
Royal Horse Artillery confirmed by the bandolier across his chest, and the Lanyard on the left shoulder epulet. The bandolier holds bullet Mags, probably for the older Ross rifle, and in later years replaced by the SMLE short magazine Lee Enfield rifle, which was also used many years later in WW2.
Don't worry about your age....I was born 7½ years after the first WW. Take good care....use the Pc often it will keep you mentally fit LOL.
Raphael
(Uk) & Düsseldorf (D)
Sorry mate... ;)
I'm going to have to disagree with a couple of things there!!
The bandolier is the 1903 ptn one and was made specifically for the SMLE. It was used and issued to ALL mounted troops be they Bn transport, Cavalry, ASC or indeed drivers etc for the various versions of the RA
The Ross rifle was a Canadian heap of junk that was only really used in very small numbers...It jammed a lot!! The Canadian Army to whom it was issued at the start of WW1 dumped them in favour of battlefield SMLE finds!
It was trialled x2 by the British Army in 1911 and 1912 and rejected on both occasions. It was used as an emergency rifle by the Home Guard in WW2.
The SMLE came in betwixt 1903 and 1907, replacing the Lee Metford
He MAY be RHA but this is not a given, nor is the fact about the lanyard...In fact there are many many pics of soldiers of a myriad of units wearing them...They held the issue jack knife.
The pouch behind his leg holds the spare horse shoes.... ;D
-
Just as an addenda...the portrait pic was taken around late 1918, the mounted one, possibly early 1916....
-
Hi Big Al
Have you a ,where from, age, or any other information on this fine looking soldier? It might help to verify his unit. :)
-
Hi Folks,
Scrimnet I think your dates are very close to being accurate.
Atom 12 The information I have is as follows.
Born 1899 as Herbert Reginald Bull.
Enlisted in 8th bat Worcestershire regiment in 1915 (aged 16) at Warwick.
Kicked out when his correct age became known to the powers that be.
Believed to have re-enlisted in 1917 when he was of age.
Was living in Worcester area at the time of both enlistments. May have used Reginald as his name on first enlistment and Herbert on his second enlistment.
Hope that helps.
Big Al
-
I take it he survived the war Al! do you know? ;)
-
Yes he survived the war.
Big Al
-
There's a bit of a Pension Record entry - Well! it's really his Discharge for a Reginald Bull who served with the 2/8th Bn Worcester Regiment. Could only find a couple of pages and Anc***** is very slow today, for me anyway.
His number 4173. He served 177 days before discharge. Father John Bull.
There isn't much info, but you can pm me if you want it.
Discharged under Para 392 VI (a) - if anyone knows what that means!
-
Hi atom12
Have sent you a PM.
Big Al
-
Atom,
Para 392 vi (a) is the Kings Regulation covering "having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment....."
(a) specifically refers to "Soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge"
So it looks like you've probably found the right man. :)
Phil
-
The only Herbert R Bull MIC I can see is Pte S4/157821, Army Service Corps.
There is a Reginald H Bull, Gunner 63405, Royal Garrison Artillery.
A further five Herbert Bull and one Reginald Bull, Artillery.
Phil
-
Hi Folks,
Thanks again for all the help.
Very interesting.
Big Al
-
The only Herbert R Bull MIC I can see is Pte S4/157821, Army Service Corps.
There is a Reginald H Bull, Gunner 63405, Royal Garrison Artillery.
A further five Herbert Bull and one Reginald Bull, Artillery.
Phil
That's good Phil you explaining the KR regulation.
Can confer that I found the same Reginald or Herbert Bull men as yourself.
Anne
-
For Para 392, tuck this link away for future reference (3rd item down on the left hand menu):
http://www.military-researcher.com/LondonGazette.html
Big-Al,
Given that he didn't re-enlist until 1917, provided he did go overseas, it should be possible to whittle down the list.
Phil
-
Great Phil .... many thanks. :-*
Anne
-
Hi Folks,
I would like to thank you all for your help. We have good ideas on how to progress our research now, learnt a bit as well.
Many thanks
Big Al.