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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: wecanbeheroes on Monday 06 June 11 02:13 BST (UK)
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This is Walter William Slade [b.1880], my wonderful Grandfather who died in 1943 - 21 years before I was born.
Can anyone tell what uniform he's wearing? I have my own thoughts but I'll share them later as I don't want to influence anyone's suggestions.
I'd also love to know what any of you think about when this may have been taken? The photographer was J BUSTIN at 151 CHELTENHAM Rd, BRISTOL - if that helps, but I've found there were a number of Bustins at that address from 1898-1930ish - no sign of anyone called J Bustin though ??? ???
As I said I was never lucky enough to meet my Grandfather, but I do KNOW him as my Dad has brought him to life for me over the years with his tales, and researching my family's history has really helped too.
If any of the wonderfully talented regular restorers [you know who you are :)] would like to clean the photo up, or even add some colour, I would be forever grateful :)
Thanks., Jac
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Hi Jac :)
I have posted a message on the Armed Forces board, asking them to pop over here and take a look at your photo to see what they can tell you about the uniform.
That topic is here (although I have asked replies to be posted on this topic on the Photo Board):
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,536889.0.html
Cheers
Prue
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Prue! Thank you and ohmygosh THAT was a fast reply!! I was just in the throes of adding the dates my GF was alive when your reply popped up!
I look forward to the replies from the experts :)
Regards, Jac
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hi,,when and where was he born? ;)
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He was born in 1880, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey :)
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My thought would be a British Yeomanry trooper 1903 -1908 purely on the bandolier,
Fife and Forfar Yeomanry were equipped with this kind of bandolier as were Imperial Yeomanry. I initially thought Australian Light Horse with the slouch hat, well you would wouldn't you? But then British Yeomanry Regiments used the slouch hat and I couldn't equate the scroll on the sleeve with the ALH
James
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Hi Jac
There is one William Slade in the Imperial Yeomanry medal roll - but no Walters. If you have the original can you do a really high definition scan of the shoulder title? It doesn't look as if it ends in a Y, which would again confirm it is not Imperial Yeomanry.
If you have Findmypast you can check for a service record of a man discharged before the end of 1913. If you have Ancestry you can check the pre-WW1 medal rolls - http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/DB.aspx?dbid=1686&pcat=MIL_AWARDS
You can also look for a WW1 record that will give details of any previous military experience.
Have you found him in 1901? Or know where he was living just before or just after the Boer War?
Ken
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There is a Medal card at Kew Archives:
Medal card of Slade, Walter W
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Engineers 136574 Pioneer
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=5384216
Chris
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The above reply was Walter Wallace Slade from Willow Walk Surrey his record is available on ancestry
He was a driver in RE.
Aged 20
Ady
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Thanks to everyone for replying, the comments have been fascinating to read and have really got me thinking!
James - The Yeomanry possibility sounds possible from what you say, I found a photo via a quick google search of a chap in his uniform here: http://www.stampcircuit.com/Coin_Auction_Prices_Realized/ViewImage.php?dirname=Coin_Auction_Prices_Realized&item=7806491
The description of this man's regiment is '52 COMPY PAGET'S HORSE, 19TH BATTALION IMPERIAL YEOMANRY'. Joined Feb 1900, Field Force South Africa - born Jan 1st 1880 [my GF was born in the same year] - very similar uniform - but sadly the cuffs of his jacket aren't showing. I'll keep looking for more uniform photos.
Ken - I don't have the original, but my Aunt or cousin has it, I will try to borrow it to get a good close up scan done. I have Ancestry, but not FindMyPast - I've checked Ancestry but although I've found a WW1 medals rolls index card for a Walter W SLADE but there's very little info on that. I have found a Walter W Slade on the 1901 census - the age fits, as does the place of birth, even his trade is the same, so I'm assuming it's him. Things are complicated by the fact that whilst living in Surrey, at the age of 10 he lost both his parents within 10 months and was orphaned along with his younger brother [ALFRED DENHAM] and younger sister [GERTRUDE BESSIE] - all 3 children were separated.
Chris - Thanks for your input, I noticed the dates on that record - from 1914-1920 - which made me think it was unlikely to be him as he was married in 1909 and their first child was born in 1910 - followed by 1 new baby every 2-3 years until 1929 when my Dad was born - so if he was in the Yeomanry could he have been based near to home - home being Bristol.
Ady - thanks for clarifying who Walter W was - that's ruled him out which avoids going down the wrong road, so thanks for that :)
Thanks everyone so far - keep the thoughts coming! ;D
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no records but a clean and color from me
Irene
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:o :o :o ;D ;D ;D Irene, such fantastic work [as always] your colours are so subtle yet vibrant. The flesh tones are amazingly realistic too. I was worried that it might be impossible to get any detail on his right [our left] eye as it's shaded by the hat, and it looks so grainy and 'noisy' on the scan - but you have done a wonderful job! Thank you so much.
Kind regards, Jac
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you are very welcome...glad you liked it
Irene
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http://www.angloboerwar.com/imperial-yeomanry?start=1
This site may help id him.Theres a W Slade listed on Ancestry Medal Rolls with South African service in Boer War as part of 75th (Sharpshooters) Coy 18th Imperial Yeomanry
Ady
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Ady,
I found [and saved] that record, thanks for pointing me to it :)
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I'm still no closer to identifying this uniform. I've now been able to eliminate the W Slade in Ady's link, as the same W Slade appears on roll-of-honour.com's Boer war database as a William [not Walter William] Slade [regimental number matches on both sources] so this isn't my Grandfather.
A good few years ago my Aunt told me something about my GF being in Ireland in a military capacity, does anyone know what might have been happening there around 1898-1909 that could have resulted in British troops being sent there? Maybe as a peace keeping force?
Also my Dad has said that he has a vague idea that my GF [his Dad] had mentioned something when my Dad was a small boy [he's now in his 80s] about him losing his hearing [my GF, not my Dad] while he was 'sleeping under canvas' in the army. This might not be relevant, but it could give a clue so thought I'd mention it.
Not being able to identify this uniform is getting more and more frustrating by the day, so I really would appreciate any help in getting to the bottom of this.
Can anyone help? Please :( - Regards, Jac
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Hi Jac
I am wondering if the shoulder title is NIH (for North Irish Horse) - or SIH - both formed after the Boer War. The weight of his tunic suggests home use as does the braid work on his cuff.
Ireland was part of the UK in his time. So all regiments had a mixture of English, Irish and Scottish. And almost all regiments served in all parts of the UK at some point. He would have attended an enlsitment training of about two months; followed by six annual trainings of about six weeks. He would have been paid the same rate as a Regular while he served. Most trainings would have been under canvas.
Do you have any information about where in Ireland he was?
Ken
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Hi,
I think you can discount the NIH or SIH as at this period prior to 1908 they were not in existence. The bandoleer is the clue here, it's one that would have been in use for the Boer War so I'd bet on an Imperial Yeomanry unit, by 1903 a leather bandoleer was in use and the SIY (formed in 1902, changed to SIH in 1908) used this as part of their uniform.
Using Kevins Asplins page here:
I found four Walter William's with surnames beginning with 'S' a long shot I know but then spelling is not our greatest asset.
Scott, Walter William Edward 25920, Private 53rd Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y.
Sharpe, Walter William 4284, Private 62nd Coy., 14th Bn. I.Y.
Smith, Walter William 34187, Sergeant 112th Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y.
Spratt, Walter William 30439, Private 34th Coy., 11th Bn. I.Y
There are 79 men with the forename Walter ...... Best match was
Slater, Walter 43452, Trooper* 33rd Bn. I.Y. (I'd put money on this one!! 8))
The Imp Yeo records are available at Kew so if you look you'll know if this is your man or not :D
The foregoing is just another take on the question and my two pennies worth, also just wanted to quash the SIH angle..
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There are 79 men with the forename Walter ...... Best match was
Slater, Walter 43452, Trooper* 33rd Bn. I.Y. (I'd put money on this one!! 8))
The Imp Yeo records are available at Kew so if you look you'll know if this is your man or not :D
Hi Vaugh - thanks for your input. Just to clarify, are you saying that 'Slater' could be 'Slade' but wrongly transcribed?
Sadly I can't get to Kew to study their records, but thanks for ruling the NIH & SIH out, and the leather bandoleer info you've provided. This thread has been dormant for almost a year so maybe your post will reignite it.
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Hi,
Quite possibly a transcription error, given that this is the only man with the forename Walter with a surname beginning with an 'S' and yes Slater and Slade are not too far removed.
I've put a nte in my notebook to check this when I'm next in London, however that may not be for several months, so don't get too excited just yet...
As to the original question the photo has all the hall marks of a member of the Imperial Yeomanry.A good few years ago my Aunt told me something about my GF being in Ireland in a military capacity, does anyone know what might have been happening there around 1898-1909 that could have resulted in British troops being sent there? Maybe as a peace keeping force?
This brought a smile to my face, the British Army had quite a presence there it being a home posting much like England, so nothing out of the ordinary in seeing men posted to Ireland and not in a 'peace keeping' role. Remember Ireland was a part of the British Empire and Dublin was the Empire's 'second city' 8)
All the best
Doug