RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Poppy62 on Friday 26 September 25 19:04 BST (UK)
-
Hello
I haven't posted much/before on Armed forces.
I have just come across my Grandfathers army records dating from 1925- 1945.
I suspect he lied about his age. On his army record his Birth date is 11/2/1907, however I have his original birth date 11/2/1908. All other details about him are correct i.e. his father , his wife, date of marriage and where they lived, so I know I have the correct Information.
I have a photo of him and my grandmother in an army camp , I know he originally enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. The photo looks like the the HLI uniform.
Is thre any one out there that could pin a possible date to it.
-
Does the baby, who must be about 6 months old, help with the dating?
-
Thank you for getting back to me
To answer your question, possibly. Four brothers were born between 1931-1938 with another two children born between 1946-1948
Im assuming it wasn't the latter dates as my grandfather was released from the army in 1945.
Im interested to find out if this picture was the Gailies camp in Ayr as it states on his record he was at this camp training. also on his record he trained at what looks like Lamlash camp and Barry Camp ,however, when I google these training camps , there is no evidence to suggest that the camps existed.
Im also interested in the date as the baby on his knee could be my father .
-
I'm interested to find out if this picture was the Gailies camp in Ayr as it states on his record he was at this camp training. also on his record he trained at what looks like Lamlash camp and Barry Camp ,however, when I google these training camps , there is no evidence to suggest that the camps existed.
Barry Camp is a reference to Barry Budden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Buddon_Training_Area)
You can see something of the history of Lamlash as a military location here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamlash#Former_community_centre)
Picture below.
-
Thanks Andy
This is very interesting, nothing like this came up when I was googling. another piece to the puzzle.
Thanks again
-
The uniform is pre 1939. The collar badges do look like HLI. And the shoulder titles are likely these.
There is no way to date it to any particular year in the 1930s by the uniform I am afraid
-
Thank you Alan,narrowing it down to somewhere in the 1930’s is good. I thought it would be somewhere around this because of the baby , as I know they didn’t have their first baby until 1931 ( that’s unless they’re posing with someone else baby😏🤣. But it’s great that I can now place it pre 1939. Always great running my thought by others .
-
The 'photo looks as though it was taken in front of an army tent.
-
Thank you Rena , my thoughts too. I know through his army records that he attended camps for training I just don’t know what camp the photo was taken or what year, although with the help of root chatters . I know that it is somewhere in 1930’s.
-
Obviously not conclusive but just a thought that crossed my mind.
I wonder if this is their first baby as I would have thought his older brother(s) would also be on the photo if it was one of the boys born later in the 1930s.
-
Hello
I haven't posted much/before on Armed forces.
I have just come across my Grandfathers army records dating from 1925- 1945.
I suspect he lied about his age. On his army record his Birth date is 11/2/1907, however I have his original birth date 11/2/1908. All other details about him are correct i.e. his father , his wife, date of marriage and where they lived, so I know I have the correct Information.
I have a photo of him and my grandmother in an army camp , I know he originally enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. The photo looks like the the HLI uniform.
Is thre any one out there that could pin a possible date to it.
The shoulder title that is visible is too large for a regular bn of the HLI.
He is in a Territorial unit so either the 5th 6th 7th or 9th bn.
Summer and indeed weekend camps encouraged the family to come along for a Field Day where the troops showed off drill, shooting etc. It is from the late 1930s and may be even the summer camp before the war.
The Territorials took lads from the age of 14 (school leaving age)
This uniform didn't see an end date until the 1960s and was worn throughout WW2 by various units and most bands. It is the "New Pattern Tunic" issue from 1923 and as such, somewhat different from the WW1 Other Ranks Service Dress.
They can be seen worn by the returning troops from Dunkirk in a number of period photos.
"Battledress, Serge" was certainly not on universal issue even in 1941 to 1942!
-
The baby is dressed as if it were summer.
A baby born about March? Does that help to narrow it down?
-
Thanks Jool
I had to snip the photo to get it to upload , however the original one looks like there is another piece of the photo missing ( maybe it got damaged) I can see what looks like someone else arm , I don't know if it's a child or adult.
-
I think the feature you are regarding as a part of someone's arm is actually a folded door-flap on a Bell tent in the background, which would fit in with the summer camp theory.
-
Thank you Neal
You are right my Grandfather according to his army record started out in the territorial reserves , he enlisted in 1925 HLI 6th bn, he finished his army career with the pioneer corps in 1945.
Thankyou for the information about the uniform and army summer/ weekend camps this gives me bit more clarity on why my grandmother and baby were there.
It is interesting that you say the photo/baby may be dated late 1930 around march time , if this is correct the baby must be my father as he was born march 1938 .
I have used google to try and understand army terminology and abbreviated terms to help me build a picture of my grandfathers army life.
Thankyou once again, your information has been very helpful. :)
-
Thank you Macwil
The feature I'm referring to is at the side of my grandfathers arm, which you don't see in the picture , as to get the picture to upload I had to make it smaller.