Mystery photo in need of a better look!

[piestains]

I've been having some help with the date and uniform of this photo for some time but what I'm desperate for is a better quality.  I'm hoping the poster/book on the floor can be readable or atleast a little more so.  My scanner  is useless - this was the best I could get out of it
All help greatly appreciated

[PrueM]

Hi piestains 

Welcome to Rootschat!!

I think if you post a message on the Armed Forces board here on Rootschat, with a link back to your picture here on this thread, you will get expert help with the uniforms which will tie down the date for you.

For now, all I can say is it looks like WW1 or thereabouts, and the book on the ground seems to say "Meteorological Stores"...the sign on the building says "Meteorological office".  Are those two fellows holding slide rules?

Prue

[Niksmum]

a quick clean
Irene

[PaulaToo]

That's a photo with a story behind it, I'm sure.
Looks like a book on the floor... Meteorological Stores, and G * R
There is an oval stamp below it and more writing.
Oh I do hope you can get more information.
I would love to know what it was all about.
Good luck.

[Woodentop50]

I would guess , the man in the middle came up with a 'bright idea' and he's going to receive something for his troubles.    Jim 

[rubyrose]

Really interesting photograph. I was intrigued by the man in the middle with the helmet with the light bulb on top and did a bit of investigating. There is a useful website which tells about the beginnings of the meteorological office - started in 1915 as a section of the Royal Engineers. The website is here http://nigelef.tripod.com/fc_meteor.htm#World%20War%201

I wonder if the helmet and the box between his feet are some kind of communications device for getting the weather information out to the troops - could be a field telephone. Haven't a clue what the light bulb is for. Someone who is expert on these things will, I am sure, tell you.

Also a couple of the men have wings on their uniforms and according to the above website, the Royal Flying Corps used to take the readings, send them down to the team on the ground, the information would then be telegraphed to the front. Again, there will be someone on Rootschat who will be able to tell you better than I can.

Good luck with your search - please let us know how it turns out.

Could the G R on the sign be for King George V.

Ruby

[cazza59]

Would the G * R stand for George Rex  and the crest be the Royal crest.

Can't decipher the small print, there is no definition that I can find.

Caz

[cazza59]

Just read your reply Ruby..great minds 

[LoneyBones]

I wonder if his name is Wally? I know a Wally who was with the DoM in England, and still is in Aus. That looks like the sort of thing he would do 
Maybe it's a meteorologist trait.
One of his pleasures was moving the hydrogen gas bottles around, so that the mud wasps that built nests on them would get lost when they came back with their next lot of mud. 
They all look like they're enjoying the joke, whatever it is.
Leonie.