RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: cally_c on Monday 23 October 23 15:22 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone,
I'm trying to identify which 2xGreat Uncle is which in some photos I have.
Could any one please tell me about what Rank this soldier is? I know he's a Royal Engineer with a wound stripe, but I'm not sure of the significance of the insignia above his stripes and the insignia on his shoulder.
thank you,
Cally
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He's a sergeant. The grenade ('bomb') above his stripes is a standard badge worn by the Sappers above a senior NCO's stripes. A private (a Sapper) in the Royal Engineers wears the grenade on his collar.The grenade used to be the badge of the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners from whom the Royal Engineers are descended. I can't make out the emblem on his epaulette.
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Should be just RE on his shoulder https://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/products/ww1-royal-engineers-corps-shoulder-title-40.html
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The vertical bar on his sleeve is a wound stripe.
The medal ribbons look pre war but can't tell which ones.
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Thank you, everyone.
Much appreciated
Cally
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I assume this chap is related to the Harold Richardson in your other thread (https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=877519.msg7495061)
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I assume this chap is related to the Harold Richardson in your other thread (https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=877519.msg7495061)
Yes he is, Harold was the eldest of 5 brothers. I think this chap may be Percival, the youngest brother but I'm not sure. I don't think Percival achieved the rank of sergeant.
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Yes he is, Harold was the eldest of 5 brothers. I think this chap may be Percival, the youngest brother but I'm not sure. I don't think Percival achieved the rank of sergeant.
If the address 605 Berridge Road, Nottingham means anything in relation to this family, then Percival did make it to Sergeant. FindMyPast have a number of pages from his service record.
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If the address 605 Berridge Road, Nottingham means anything in relation to this family, then Percival did make it to Sergeant. FindMyPast have a number of pages from his service record.
Hi!
Thank you, I already have the pages from his service record but that promotion had obviously passed me by!
In that case this chap is definitely Percival
thank you everyone
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I have to say I was somewhat surprised that he made it to sergeant and earned his good conduct stripe, given that in 1916 he was getting into trouble on a fairly regular basis. Must have some sort of conversion, or got married - in my experience young soldiers getting married can result in major changes to their attitude and behaviour. Given that he's wearing his medal ribbons and sergeant's stripes, I would say this photo was taken in 1919 shortly before his discharge on medical grounds
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I have to say I was somewhat surprised that he made it to sergeant and earned his good conduct stripe, given that in 1916 he was getting into trouble on a fairly regular basis. Must have some sort of conversion, or got married - in my experience young soldiers getting married can result in major changes to their attitude and behaviour. Given that he's wearing his medal ribbons and sergeant's stripes, I would say this photo was taken in 1919 shortly before his discharge on medical grounds
He wasn't the best behaved Sapper was he?! In 1908 he'd been fined 10s for using obscene language in Nottingham. It wasn't a wedding that changed him, he didn't get married until 1922, perhaps it was meeting his future wife.
I did a series of blog posts about his experiences a while ago; https://carolineschroniclesblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/military-monday-percival-richardson-royal-engineers-part-i/
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The blog is great. I'm pleased you now have a confirmed photograph of Percy to go on the blog.
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The blog is great. I'm pleased you now have a confirmed photograph of Percy to go on the blog.
Thank you. And thank you for your help