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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: WythenshaweWench on Monday 28 December 20 14:56 GMT (UK)
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Hello
I'm looking for any help you can give me to identify the uniform of my great uncle please?
Lawrence Magnus Williams (born Nov 1912, died April 2006)
I have a note of his number, which is 3523799.
*EDIT - He's the one on the right with the stirrups :-)
Photo has a stamp on the back saying 20 Dec 1932
I think he was in some sort or mounted brigade (is that the right term?) as I have a photo dated May 1933 in Portsmouth, of him driving a horse-drawn vehicle and he's in uniform. I can post it if that would help
Many thanks
Jayne
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Manchester Regiment https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076432
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Married 1938 Manchester North(Free BMD).
His records should with the MOD , have you thought about ordering them ?
ev
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Manchester Regiment https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076432
Brilliant, thank you ! x
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Married 1938 Manchester North(Free BMD).
His records should with the MOD , have you thought about ordering them ?
ev
I think I might, thank you xxx
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Manchester Regiment https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30076432
Brilliant, thank you ! x
Both photos date to the mid 1920s. The style of cap with its broader than previous peak was introduced in 1922 and collar badges were adopted universally at the same time. Both men are dressed smartly for walking-out (of barracks), which is when canes or whips (the latter if dressed for mounted duty) were carried in the hand. The soldier on the left is a trained marksman and signaller as marked by the badges on his left lower sleeve. The soldier on the right is a member of the battalion’s Transport Section, which involved driving and riding horse drawn vehicles, and led to the men being specially equipped with spurs and leather bandoliers to carry their ammunition. Bandoliers were not used by the rest of the battalion.
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Hi Frogsmile
That’s brilliant information, thanks ever so much. The handsome chap on the right is my relative, but I didn’t know him I’m sorry to say. But you’ve given me a great insight into what he did.
I’m so grateful, thank you.
Jayne xx
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Hi Frogsmile
That’s brilliant information, thanks ever so much. The handsome chap on the right is my relative, but I didn’t know him I’m sorry to say. But you’ve given me a great insight into what he did.
I’m so grateful, thank you.
Jayne xx
I’m glad to help Jayne. Each infantry battalion had an establishment of wagons and I enclose an image below showing the full fleet. Each vehicle that you see would have been familiar to your relative. As well as driving and riding he would have been responsible for assisting with their cleaning and day-to-day maintenance. Wearing the bandolier was popular for the men of the infantry transport because it made them stand out and carried some small degree of glamour, as if a cavalryman, when chatting up the ladies out of barracks. The ‘Limbers’ carried each infantry company’s reserve ammunition, and the ‘GS Wagons’ (2 per company) its stores and rations.