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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Cavanaghs on Friday 04 October 24 17:17 BST (UK)
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Possibly George Oram 1896-1918 of 3rd D.L.I. [Durham Light Infantry]
Any thoughts on this photo and the uniform much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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George Oram per Survived Attestation of 1915 shows he Enlisted into 3rd Durham Light Infantry but was Transferred to the 9th Machine Gun Corps as Gnr 26927 and sent Overseas 1916 and showed as Killed in Action 26 August 1918 in France but Died of Pneumonia in a German POW Hospital which is usually a result of Gas
The Photo gives no clue as to whether it is George in the MGC
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Machine Gun Corps would fit. The photo is 1916-18 era. Unusual to see steel helmet and firearm on display in a studio photo, so presumably taken on active service in France or Belgium. He's a private soldier, but wearing a pistol, so could be a machine gunner.
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..
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My first thought was MGC but he appears to be carrying a truncheon.
MP ?
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25242642/george-oram
Find a Grave appears to link him originally to Hartlepool.
Click and a long bio shows.
https://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=100&articleid=111&displayorder=21
https://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11392
Also recorded on North East War Memorials Project - various (some links added above)
Just out of interest .. What evidence/background story do you have which suggests this person may be George Oram?
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POW papers ICRC
https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/734101/698/38746/
https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/734101/698/38787/
One translates as "heartfailure", the other "pneumonia"
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Many thanks for your responses and links!
My father believes this is his mother's brother and this is a distinct possibility although George Oram died 20 years before my father was born so he didn't know him personally and there don't appear to be any other photos of George to compare to. My grandmother talked to me about her brother George but never showed me the photo. There were many photos in her house so this seems a little surprising if she had this photo.
I'm concerned that this George bears no resemblance to any of the other Oram family members but looks like family members on my father's side. I think my father might have mixed up this soldier with a similar photo of another soldier.
War service records state George was 5 feet 5 and 133 pounds or c 9.5 stone. Do you think the photograph shows a bigger man?
Any further thoughts very welcome!
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George had a younger Brother
Henry (Harry) Oram born 1899
who would have been Conscripted into any Regt
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Yes, but Harry served in the RAF. Quite a different story with him!
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/illustratedchronicleww1/16588546699/in/photolist-rgSCZR
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1622858/george-henry-oram/
There appears to have been another George - George Henry Oram from Thornaby. Might this person who was killed in 1915 be connected to you? See photo in top link.
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No, this George Henry Oram isn't one of mine but thanks for the tip. Always good to re-visit!
There are only 2 Oram families in the Hartlepool area in my time frame, clearly not related as there was a newspaper article at one point stating the fact! The families didn't want to be associated with each other!
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Adjusted and cleaned.
Cheers,
Skippy