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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: gadse on Thursday 26 January 12 22:49 GMT (UK)
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Please could anyone tell me which regiment this soldier is from, I've been unable to find anything which looks similar to his cap badge. I'm assuming this is WW1 period but haven't been able to find a record for him either.
Also, what has he got hanging from his belt at the left? I have another photo from a different angle which shows this better, could upload if needed
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I am reliably informed that the accessory is a bayonet case. OH is checking out the badge...
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OH says it's General Service Corps, British or Canadian, 1908-1935 badge, defo WW1 as he's wearing puttees not gaiters!
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Very many thanks, what a speedy reply. He lived in Fleetwood so must be British
I've inherited a quantity of old photos, many of which are WW1. Seeing as how this post has been successful I'll now go and prepare my other queries for uploading.
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Hello,
I would have gone for The Manchester Regiment..bayonet scabbard to the right of picture..
any chance of a close up of the shoulder strap?
David
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I would agree with Manchester Regiment, The General Service Corps were formed in 1942 according to my reference and this soldier is certainly ww1 or just after.
Though the lack of medal ribbons suggest ww1
James
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OH is convinced about GSC being around in WW!, now I have this link too:
http://www.militaryheadgear.com/items/9137
but he also says that, as the photo is not too clear, it could also be Manchester. That's what I call hedging your bets ;D ;D ;D
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After having looked again I can see why OH takes the view that it is the General Service Corps which wore the Royal Arms as its badge, however my reference book says they were not formed until 1942,
Having looked again given that this soldier is in ww1 uniform I came across this reference to Royal Reserve Regiments,
In 1900 The Garrisons were emptied of first line troops for service in South Africa and they needed to be replaced by other troops so the Royal Reserve Regiments were raised, So without quoting chapter and verse and aware of the copyright etiquette, the Royal coat of arms was used for the Home Counties Northern, Southern and Eastern Regiments, So I will suggest that this soldier is from one of these units, precisely which one is not possible to say, I will say that I was not correct in my view it was the Manchester Regiment though it is easy to see the similarities in both badges and why OH came to the conclusion it was the General Service Corps and I to mine that it was the Manchesters.
James
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Hi all
Thanks for all the replies, what an interesting discussion. Having looked at the military headgear link I do think that looks very much like his badge.
I'm attaching the other view I have of him, and a close up of his shoulder, in the hope that these may provide further clues
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Re Cap Badge
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Thanks Genechaser, that's the one I have listed as Home Counties Northern,Southern, Eastern. Royal Reserve Regiments.
James
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I am afraid it its none of the above...
It is the badge of the Volunteer Training Corps
The General Service Corps was not founded until 1942
HM Reserve Regts were formed for the Boer War, and were disbanded apres...
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"On the 19th April 1916 the Volunteer Training Corps became he Volunteer Force...In October of that year the badges of rank were altered to conform with those of the army and regimental (ie the Volunteer Regt) cap badges were to be replaced with the Royal Arms officers in bronze, other ranks in gilding metal.
Finally in July 1918 with the exception f the City and County of London Regiments, all County Volunteer Regts were made Volunteer Bn's of Line Regts. They were authorised to wear the same badges but no battle honours were to appear thereon.
The war came to an end before this was fully implemented....At the time of disbandment, a variety of badges were being worn. A few had the badge of the Line Regt of which they now formed a part, some the Royal Arms and others the original Volunteer Regt badge"
Kipling and King, Vol 1 Chapter 27 p391
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This badge is the "general service" royal arms. Also used by the labour corps until October 1918.Very similar to the badge of the Manchesters.
Ross
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Good evening,
Here's the Manchesters, quite different;
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Good afternoon.
I beliieve the original post is the general service badge. Which is similar to the manchester regiment as shown. Both these are base on the royal coat of arms. As is the badge of the labour corps
Ross
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OH is convinced about GSC being around in WW!, now I have this link too:
http://www.militaryheadgear.com/items/9137
but he also says that, as the photo is not too clear, it could also be Manchester. That's what I call hedging your bets ;D ;D ;D
Dont trust everything you read on the internerd.... ::) ;)
First of all, that is an officers General List badge, used for officers not attached to a unit...One can even find RAMC doctors with that badge
Second, the hat features an ORs chinstrap, not an officers one
The Manchesters had the coat of arms of Manchester as their badge...Part of which in seen in the club badges of United and City.
Because of the bit sticking out of the top, and no scroll...it is patently not Manchesters....
It is the Royal Coat of Arms of the Volunteers, and as it is not the "Labour Corps", there are no rifle and pick collars, nor is the shoulder title Labour or Pioneer
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Thanks to everyone for your contributions. There do seem to be various opinions, but you've given me ideas about what I could do next to get a picture of his war service