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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: tgit_1 on Wednesday 24 April 13 03:04 BST (UK)
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This is a photo of Patrick Flannery that I found in my late grandmother's things. I do not know if it is her brother Patrick Flannery Jr (b in 1913) who served in what I think was WW2 or his father Patrick Flannery Sr (b in 1863 in India) who also served for the British Army. What do the strips on the sleeves mean and the numbers on the collar? Ir perhaps this may be Patrick Flannery Sr's father John Flannery who served in the British Army in India in the mid 1870's?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
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Hi tgit,
Undoubtedly the father.
The three stripes usually mean the rank of Sergeant and he has service medals, so must have been in the military at some time, but the numbering on the collar suggests this may be a police uniform.
Unfortunately I can't get a clear view of the cap-badge.
Do you have any information from any of the later censuses that might give a clue ?
Maec
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Corps of Commissionaires.
See http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/OldSoldiers-CorpsofCommissionairesSergeant.html
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Well done Shaun, I had forgotten them.
I'm picking the photo as taken a few years either side of 1900, which tends to suggest this would be Patrick snr rather than his father. Do you agree ?
Maec
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I think it's a bit older than that: 1880's-1890's perhaps
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Maybe the Corps of Commissionaires (now trading as Corps Security)
can help you. They have a record repository (according to a National
Archives website page dated 2010), contact details here:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0tnv/
vv.
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When I left school my first job in the 1950s was as junior receptionist for a large engineering company and my immediate superior was addressed as "Sergeant" who wore a similar uniform to that in your photo. At the time my father explained that he was an army veteran and was a member of the Corps of Commissionaires
P.S. I'm no expert on medals but the one on the left with all those bars looks like one which was on Antique Roadshow and was earned in various battles in South Africa. here's a similar one:
http://www.liverpoolmedals.com/Queen-s-South-Africa-J1161.html
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There's an archivist you can contact at the Corps: http://www.corpsmonitoring.co.uk/news/pdfs/ArchiveSearch.pdf
I reckon the collar number is 2397
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The medals are the Queen's South Africa Medal with 5 clasps and the King's SA Medal with 2, both from the Boer War. The third looks like the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
There's a service record on FindMyPast for one Patrick Flannery, born c.1863 in the East Indies (i.e. India), who served with the Royal Fusiliers from 1882 to 1907, including 3 years in the Boer War. He too received the QSA with 5 clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith) and the KSA with both (1901, 1902), and the LSGC medal. His record gives his next of kin as a brother Edward in Toronto, a sister Julia in New Hampshire USA, and it states that he married Maud Eldridge in Hounslow on 19/10/1890. Is this your relative??
Adrian
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The medals are the Queen's South Africa Medal with 5 clasps and the King's SA Medal with 2, both from the Boer War.
So much for my photo dating skills!
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Wow! Thank you so much everyone!
Adrian, I do believe that was my relative! This is what I have been able to confirm:
John and Mary Flannery married in India in 1861, together they had 4 children, Patrick 1863, Julia 1864, John 1868 and Edward 1870, all born in India. Sometime after Edward's birth, John and Mary died (I am unsure of the cause, a handwritten note from my grandmother states she believed they had contracted a disease and died from it mid 1870's in India). All four children went to live in various workhouse in England. I know that Patrick Sr and John went to the Medway Union Workhouse. I also know from my grandmother's note that Patrick Sr served in the Boer war and that he was released from duty due to illness. He married a Maud Eldridge. I am unsure of how my grandmother and her brother (Patrick Jr) came to be. What I do know for certain is that Patrick and my grandmother's mother both worked at the same place and it resulted in 2 children. Her name was Florence Edith Rose Cook. My grandmother was Edith Joan Flannery born in 1911 and her brother Patrick was born shortly after Patrick Sr's death in 1913. They came to Canada, sponsored by the Salvation Army, in July of 1920, in hopes of a better life. My grandmother's note suggests that they were born out of wedlock as a result of an affair. My grandmother's birth certificate says her name was Flannery at the time of birth, however when she came to Canada, her last name, as well as her brother and mother, are listed as Cook.
I did not know that Edward came to Canada also. To the best of my knowledge, neither did my grandmother. I do not believe she knew much of her father at all and was always lead to believe that it was kept secret until just before they came to Canada. Again, with everyone having passed away many years ago, there is no way for me to confirm this.
I am so happy that you all have recognized the uniform as it gives me a new place to start looking for my family. I have always hit a huge road block when it comes to that side of the family because so little was known of my grandmother's parentage.
Thank you all so very much!!!
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when she came to Canada, her last name, as well as her brother and mother, are listed as Cook.
You've probably seen this but they are all named Flannery on the "Ocean Arrivals" declarations completed on arrival at Quebec. Nearest relative in UK is the children's grandfather John Cook, 5 St Peter's Footpath, Church Street,Margate.