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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 08:39 BST (UK)

Title: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 08:39 BST (UK)
Hi, whilst doing my family tree I have come across some WW1 military photos, they are all related to me in some way as I can remember my Gran saying so, but unfortunately with some of them I can’t put names to faces.

To help me I am endeavouring to firstly get the Regiments etc that the soldier was attached to, then that may narrow the field down in naming them.

I have all ready recognised some Regiments through their badges/insignias but I have five I am stuck with. 
Any info on them would be really appreciated.

I think image Rel 1 may be from a Welsh or Lancashire regiment but the collar badge is just quite not right?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 14 May 12 09:42 BST (UK)
With mounted troops have a look at Yeomanry Regiments that may hold the key especially early on in WW1

Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 12:08 BST (UK)
Is it because he has a crop that it signifies he was in a Yeomanry Regiment? as I have some photos with chaps who also have crops who were not in a Mounted Regiment?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 14 May 12 12:38 BST (UK)
No
Hes definately mounted soldier as he has spurs...The cap badge isnt Royal Artillery or Army Service Corps I initially had a look at Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry but its pretty hard to identify.

Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 18:08 BST (UK)
The man with spurs, his last name is Hollingsworth and he will have come from the Keighley Bingley area, unfortunately he could be one of 5 brothers, one of which I think I can rule out as he died in passchendaele 10 Oct 1917, he was in the Duke of Wellingtons (West Yorkshire Regiment) unless you say the Duke of Wellingtons had mounted soldiers?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 14 May 12 18:21 BST (UK)
Hi
His cap badge isnt Duke Of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment.
Its possible that it could be Leeds Rifles (7th or 8th Batt of West Yorkshire Regiment)  as that was different mor circular than the Horse of the other West Yorks Regiments but doubtful as the buttons should be black

Just to Clarify Duke of Wellingtons (West Riding) Regiment and West Yorkshire Regiment were two different units.

Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 18:32 BST (UK)
Okay understand - that narrows it down a little, he's one of 4 brothers now! bit complicated all of this.

Can you shed any light on the first man, he's got clear collar badges but I cant find any that are just identical, theres plenty near the same but not just right?

If you lived in that time and came from Yorkshire would it be expected that you would have joined a Yorkshire Regiment?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 14 May 12 18:40 BST (UK)
1st photo may be  a bit later than WW1 collar badges were not that common 14-18 so maybe in the 20s??
I looked at Yorkshire Dragoons or something similar with Prince Of Wales feathers i cant see any exact matches at moment.

Ref your second question.In 1914/15 then lads were more likely to join a "local" battalion/Regiment but not guaranteed to however after 1916 and conscription they could go to any regiment

If you have any medals then their details will be on rims.

About 30% of records survive.
Local papers are also a good source especially 1914/15 for enlistment nominals and photos
Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Monday 14 May 12 20:08 BST (UK)
Just noticed re my first image, note that the collar is like a Mandarin neck, all my other photos of WW1 relatives have pointed collars, could this be of help identifying?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: km1971 on Monday 14 May 12 20:11 BST (UK)
The West Yorkshire Regiment wore a similar PoW plume and coronet in the 1920s. They added an extra hook to the collar to close it up after WW1

Ken
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Thursday 17 May 12 19:09 BST (UK)
Re first photo:  again I just noticed, look at his tunic pocket flaps - they are very sculptured? not straight edged like all the other tunics - reason?

Also could his collar emblems be the Yorkshire Hussars?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Thursday 17 May 12 19:56 BST (UK)
They do look very similar to Yorkshire Hussars wonder when the Rose was added to the collar badges?

Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Friday 18 May 12 19:02 BST (UK)
Found some info that could match one of my relatives:

Fred Hollingsworth - Royal Field Artillery - Driver - Reg no 79061

Given that info which of these images match:

Or will it match one of the other photos I have in the other threads?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 18 May 12 19:07 BST (UK)
The lower of the two looks like a Driver RFA/RA

Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: biker1 on Friday 18 May 12 19:26 BST (UK)
Quote from: mmm45 on Friday 18 May 12 19:07 BST (UK)
The lower of the two looks like a Driver RFA/RA

Ady

So the man with the spurs - would he have actually ridden a horse then? and am I correct in saying he would be in the RHA?
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 18 May 12 20:01 BST (UK)
Yes he would have ridden/controlled a team of horses pulling guns and ammo the cap badge is generic Royal Artillery worn by members of The RFA (Royal Field Artillery) RHA (Royal Horse Artillery) and RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery) only way to positive ID them would be shoulder titles or records or medals.

Ady
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: EDDIER on Friday 18 May 12 20:07 BST (UK)
The first photo appears to be Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry(Prince of Wales`s Own)
Title: Re: Regiment ID info help
Post by: EDDIER on Friday 18 May 12 20:20 BST (UK)
Royal Wilts Cap Badge