probably a silly question, but...

[scrimnet]

Girl Guides & Northamptoms/2nd Bn Royal Anglians in the same post, So which is the senior Battalion, I will go for the 1st Battalion Girl Guides, what do you say Mr Scrimnet 

With love from MS

Well Roy...Bias towards you old mob???

 

[scrimnet]

As for the clasp knife thingy...I have never seen a clasp knife ...(in modern times) ...on a lanyard. I used to wear my dads old one on a length of para cord on exercise (whilst in combats), and as it has been noted these days they are just about only seen with No2s / SD.

Of course (re the Northamptons bit)...I was mainly referring to ossifers... and for me "time immemorial" means anything over 40years...I'm not as old as monsstar, ergo my time frames and references are not as long as his...

[Tom McC]

Hi All,

Not wanting to be flippant  but the picture that Judy posted is a First World War one. There was no such Corps as the Royal Signals at this period. This task was carried out by a the Signals Branch of the Royal Engineers. During the First World War, mounted troops (of any Corps or Regiment) would be issued with a clasp knife and lanyard. If the knife was dropped whilst on horseback, it was a pain in the backside to retrieve, and also increased the chances of it being lost. This problem was remedied by having the knife tied to the person, and placed in the top left pocket.

Mounted troops generally had an ornate, blanco’d one for walking out etc.

Lanyards became a decorative item of dress - for some Corps and the Infantry – after the First World War, especially with the advent of Battledress, when it became common for infantry regiments to wear one (Parachute Regiment: Maroon, Blue, Green, etc.). As they were purely decorative, you won’t find very much at the end of it.

Have a look at the picture attached it shows various ranks of the Royal Engineers, during the First World War. Note the absence of a Royal Engineer's black lanyard – as at this time, it did not exist. However, those Royal Engineers on mounted duties have a lanyard.

The Horseshoe badge that some are wearing is Farrier and Shoeing Smith.

Hope this helps

Tom McC

[oldtimer]

Hi Tom

Thanks for your reply. I know it is definitely a WW1 photo. As I mentioned before Tom was in the North Staffords, and discharged in 1919.

Sorry to be a bit thick, but do you mean that he probably would have been a horseman?

Best wishes, Judy

[oldtimer]

PS - that was a super photo that you posted. I wonder how many of them survived ??

[Tom McC]

Judy,

You are not thick, far from it, your quest for family knowledge is an admirable quality! I reckon that since your relative was in the infantry, it was very probable that he was in the Transport Section of the battalion. During the First World War, horses were a considerable source of transport and power, from moving of battalion wagons, to the movement of guns.

Hope this is of use

Tom McC

[oldtimer]

hi Tom!!

Many thanks for your answer. I understand now what you mean!

Knowing things like that helps to get an idea of how my uncle spent his war years.

He emigrated to the US shortly after the war, and died there in 1937. The local branch of the British Legion gave him a military funeral.

Thanks again. Best wishes, Judy

[Certacito]

Do they have British legions in the US? Genuine question.

[oldtimer]

Hi Certacito

They seemed to in the 1930s at least -