Can you identify this Uniform and Date Please ?

[PrueM]

Hi all,
Newbie, I put a reply on the other board, but I've had a further look at the photographer's name and I think the last name starts with an "N"...I haven't been able to find out anything about any photographers fittng the bill, though  (yet).  It's definitely Allahabad though, and I think between 1900 and 1910, possibly a little later.

Prue

[newbie]

Hello again,
Prue, thanks very much for the info, if it is (and its a big if because I haven't a clue) the old contemptible he was 28 in 1915 when he married, do you think that would fit,

Chris, could he have joined the Middlesex earlier than 1914, then left and then rejoined?
just a thought?

Newbie

[newbie]

Prue,
I'm just looking at the capital letter of the last name,
midway down the first stroke,(it starts with the same style as the M doesn't it?) there is a join in the middle that could be the end of a down stroke or the beginning of an up,  and also, there seems to be the start of a down stroke coming from that middle stroke, could it be an R or a K?
Newbie

[harribobs]

Chris, could he have joined the Middlesex earlier than 1914, then left and then rejoined?
just a thought?

Newbie

yes he would probably been in an army reserve and called back to the colours

[newbie]

Chris, Whoohoo, thank you, I think I 'm on the right track.. lets hope I receive his papers, I hope they've survived

What age would  men/boys enlist in the Middlesex approx?
if he was 28 in 1915,  then would he have enlisted at 18?
Newbie

[harribobs]

?? he could have joined as a boy as young as 15 ( i think)

[newbie]

Mack, Rowley, Harribobs, Annie, Prue and Hack,
Have now found this information in his papers!


33 Division
British Expeditionary Force
10983 L/Cpl William Thomas Allen M.M.
Middlesex Regt.Attd 98th BDE Signal Section
Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that your distinguished yourself in the field on the 10th/20th April 1918I have read their report with much pleasure R.J. Pinney, Major General Commanding 33rd Division.

It's a brownish discoloured card some type printed and his details handwritten

Discharge papers:
Character Certificate of No:10983 Rank: Private
Name : W.Allen M.M.
Unit and Regiment or Corps from which discharged: Middlesex Regiment

This is to certify that the ex-soldier named above has served with the Colours for Thirteen years 34 days and his character during this period was exemplary sober trustworthy was awarded military medal and bar for galantry in the field. Signed..
Date of discharge 31 March 1920 , Hanwell - Place.

So using the time date calculator I estimate he enrolled on Tuesday 26 Feb 1907!
I only have an estimate of his year of birth at 1887.

and
have found that the Middx Regt were in Allahabad
Allahabad :1/10th Bn Middlesex Regt. Jan 1916 - Mar 1917. To Lucknow.
Lucknow :1/10th Bn Middlesex Regt. Mar 1917 - 11 Nov 1918.
so that might fit with the photo.

Thanks for all the help
Newbie

[Hackstaple]

Major-General Pinney, in April 1918, was commanding the 33rd Division in France so the second period in India is ruled out.
Corporal Allen was a brave soldier to have been Mentioned in Dispatches and also to have been awarded the Military Medal. I had a great-uncle who was similarly honoured and he received an annual small amount which was recorded in the London Gazette. You may find some useful information there.
The 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment was at Allahabad in 1915. 

[PrueM]

Nice work Newbie    I'm so pleased for you! 
Prue