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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Jagoman on Sunday 17 January 10 20:51 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Can anybody help with photo of this Officer? Not sure of Regiment or Rank. Location would be a bonus.
Many Thanks
Jagoman
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Hi Jagoman
It looks like some part of the Royal Artillery to but I could be wrong.
Do you have a name, age etc that we can work on?
Glen
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Hi Glen,
The photo come from a photo album from Australia belonging to a Leslie Pearce James returned to the UK about 8 years ago. The album has photos from about 1906 to the 1930s. This is the only photo of an Officer in the Album. It is stuck in towards the front if that helps!
In the family tree there is a Joseph Thomas Powney Major Royal Engineers Postal Section KIA 18 Dec 1914 buried at STE. MARIE CEMETERY, LE HAVRE who was 45 when he was killed. Not being an expert on Badges and uniforms I thought I would seek help from those in the know. Hence the post.
If its not the Royal Engineers then I am not sure who that are.
Many thanks fro your help.
Jagoman
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Hello Jagoman,
I agree with Glen as regards Artillery.
There is a medal index card for an Arthur Powney who rose to Captain with the RFA before transferring to the Royal Engineers.
The address on the card looks like 27 Harlech Crescent, Leeds.
Unfortunately I am no good at uniforms, so rank and date on your photo could throw that one out of the window.
These are the surviving officers records for Powney at Kew:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/07vx/
Phil
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Can anyone see possible overseas service chevrons on his right lower sleeve? (or am i just seeing stuff!!) if it is it dates the phot after 1918.
Ady
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There is something there Ady.
I had a gut feeling that it was a fairly late photo.
I've had a quick look through the LG and an A Powney was raised to Temp Captain, April 1918 (Artillery).
Retains the rank of Captain, Feb 1920 (Artillery)
The trail goes cold after that.
Phil
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On 1 July 1899, the Royal Artillery was divided into three groups: the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery comprised one group, while the Coastal Defence, Mountain, Siege and Heavy artillery were split off into another group named the Royal Garrison Artillery. The third group continued to be titled simply Royal Artillery, and was responsible for ammunition storage and supply. The RFA and RHA both dressed as mounted soldiers, whereas the RGA dressed like foot soldiers. The First World War brought with it a massive expanse of the Royal Artillery By 1917, there were 1,769 batteries in over 400 brigades totaling 548,000 men.
In 1920 the rank of Bombardier was instituted in the Royal Artillery. The three sections effectively functioned as separate corps. This arrangement lasted until 1924, when the three amalgamated once more to became one regiment. The Royal Horse Artillery, which has always had separate traditions, uniforms and insignia, still retains a separate identity within the regiment, however, and is considered (by its members at least) to be an élite.
Before the Second World War, Royal Artillery recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 4 inches tall and men in mechanised units had to be at least 5 feet 8 inches tall. In 1938, the Royal Artillery Brigades were renamed Regiments.
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You could post your photograph here for some expert advice.
It's defo Royal Artillery, with the putties it must be a field regiment.
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/index.php
It's odd that he is not sporting any medals.
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Theres also a Sgt A Powney Imperial Mounted Yeomanary on the Leeds City Roll of Honour for Service in the Boer War wonder if its the same or related?
Ady
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You could post your photograph here for some expert advice.
It's defo Royal Artillery, with the putties it must be a field regiment.
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/index.php
It's odd that he is not sporting any medals.
Not always....
He could be wearing Field Boots if from a Field Regt!!
Actually it was usual that officers below field rank (ie Major), wore putties, whilst those of Major and above, boots.
As for medals, not odd at all if this was taken beore the medals were issued.... ;)
And yes Ady... OS Chevrons...
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Bilge
The RA had Bombardiers before 1920. They merely did away with the rank of Corporal in 1920. So Corporals became Bombardiers; Bombardiers became Lance Bombardiers and Lance Bombardiers either retained the position, and were given a stripe; or were reduced.
Ken
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You could try this link for the cap badge
http://www.britishbadge.co.uk/index.php?cPath=24
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You could try this link for the cap badge
http://www.britishbadge.co.uk/index.php?cPath=24
Hello David and welcome to RC and the Armed Forces board....
We have already ID'd the badge as Royal Artillery, we are just discussing the semantics of which branch!
We can always ID a cap badge on here.. ;D
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Hi All
I have being going through a few people in the Family Tree that served in WW1 and have found a Melville Wesley James. His medal card says RFA 71 DAC service number 198093. This would fit in with the comments re Royal Artillery not sure if the Rank would fit?
Many thanks everyone for their kind help.
Jagoman
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Unless he was promoted, no...Officers did not have service numbers in WW1...
Have you looked in the London Gazette?
With the OS chevrons this would be late 1918, early 1919, prior to the issue of any medals
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I don't think Melville Wesley James is your man.
He was discharged due to sickness on 5th March 1918.
The medal index card is for Silver War Badge.
Phil
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Hi
Many thanks for the advise re the London Gazette. I have looked up Melville Wesley James a few years ago in the Gazette and found details of a dissolved Partnership of a Mantle Manufacturers I will go back and have another look. It does show what little knowledge I have on the Armed Forces re Service numbers. Once again many thanks.
Jagoman
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Hi All
Location found of photo at last. Canterbury Cathedral. Still no luck on the people yet.
Jagoman
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Hi All,
I have been looking into Medals from the First World War and it seams that Officers had to apply for their Medals. I also note that they would have been issued in 1920. Does anyone know how the Medals were awarded would they have been given at a Award Ceremony at the Barracks, at a local Church with a Memorial Service or by post?
I think the general consensus is that the photo is about 1920 in the Spring as there are leaves on the tree and the Lady is wearing a scarf. The length of the skirt also indicates 1920.
Jagoman