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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: morgan77 on Sunday 26 April 20 17:47 BST (UK)
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can some one identified this uniform
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Royal Field Artillery
Quick modification, the central letter on his shoulder title could be an F (field) or G (Garrison) so better eyes than mine will have the answer. definitely not H (Horse) as no ball buttons.
MaxD
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I agree with MaxD that this is a Royal Artillery uniform but but there is something 'different' about the cap badge. It could be my poor eyesight but the top part seems much larger than normal. I wonder if it is a variant of some sort ?
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I can only agree with what has been said, also he wears a pre-economy tunic, and, are they good conduct / overseas chevrons on his cuff?
A great photograph by the way.
Frank.
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The crown is half hidden beneath the fold on his cap - it is a standard RA badge.
The right sleeve does have stripes - they are overseas service stripes (GC stripes go on the left arm). Again other eyes may differ but I count three equalling over two years overseas.
MaxD
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I too think there is something odd about the cap badge. The wheel seems to have something draped over it on either side, giving it a square aspect.
Perhaps Morgan77 could tell us who is in the photograph.
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I do note the slight oddity that the close up reveals. However, the only variations on the basic pattern in British service, introduced from 1902, were some Territorial Force variations on the "Ubique" scroll.
I have read of a strengthening piece being added during the Great War where the crown meets the gun. I wonder whether that is what we are looking at here? The badge is tilted somewhat which also suggests it, or the cloth behind it, may be damaged.
I have asked member Frogsmile who has forgotten more about insignia than I ever knew to have a look.
MaxD
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Perhaps it's the solid "economy" badge = bottom left in this picture: https://www.treasurebunker.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3167-royal-artillery-badges/
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According to all of my extensive reference material on RA insignia there is no version of the standard RA forage cap badge that had any kind of addition to its front that would cause the strange silhouette that we see in the subject photo, which seems exacerbated in the close-up. The strengthening piece that Max mentions was at the rear and unseen from the front. The only ever addition to the front of the badge was a small ‘M’ in white metal at the bottom centre that was for Militia units of the RA and similarly fitted to badges of the RE. It seems then that from a process of elimination what we can see is either, a horseshoe shape good luck token that the sitter attached to the badge as a jape, or a distortion caused by an optical illusion, perhaps a reflection, as part of the photographic process. Were I a gambler my bet would be on the latter and the more I look at the main photo rather than the close-up, the more I see the natural aspects of light and shade caused by reflected light on the highly polished badge.
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Having seen some of Frogsmile's material in the past, I am confident he has the answer and am grateful for his input. Whatever it is, the cap badge is a standard Gunner cap badge. Let us hope that morgan77 returns soon with a name.
MaxD