Who is this soldier?

[scrimnet]

Ahhh!! your mothers lot not released for service...

Perhaps when his TA call up papers came round, he relinquished his service with them as he was by then listed...?

As we are talking pre war....Just a thought...

[Midnight Runner]

I must confess that I have not explored my mother's family too thoroughly to date, but ahe was an only one although there is rumour that she might have had a brother who died at an early age. Her mother also died early on, and I am beginning to suspect that it was a childbirth death although I was never told that. Her father was a ships carpenter of some ability untill the fingers of his right hand didn't survive an encounter with a circular saw.
The only other reletives of her's that I knew were a maiden great aunt and another great aunt. I did spend some time in Sheffield during the war after it was bombed and I did meet some relatives, one of whom owned a sawmill. I beleive that she did have an uncle who was a sea captain on either passenger or cargo ships or maybe both.
Although she was born in Sheffield, she left there while still a baby and never went back there to live. So I think that the chances of the soldier being from her side of the family are extremely remote.
But thanks for the thought.

[BerkshireYeoman]

Hi Midnight runner

I have just come across this thread as I am doing some research for the BBC regarding Fred Potts
The soldier is a Corporal in 99th (Bucks and Berks Yeomanry) Field Bde RFA. His collar badges indicate that he was in 395 or 396 battery (the two Berks Yeomanry Batteries)
After WW1 the Berks Yeo were reformed in 1920 as a cavalry regiment but like many other yeomanry regiment rerolled and amalgamated shortly afterwards.
FRedf Potts did rejoin and we have photos of him post war at camp.
Were any other of your relatives in the Berkshire Yeomanry ?
I am going to the museum tonight and will scan in the post war photo of Fred to posts tomorrow. I think it might well be him

regards
Andrew French
Asst Hon Curator
Berkshire Yeomanry Museum

[Midnight Runner]

Hi Berkshire Yeoman,
The only other known relative who did service in the army was my Uncle Herbert, Lance Corpora H. A. Dray who served in the 5th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He was killed in action at Hebuterne on the 8th August 1916, so he didn't have a very long war.
My Oldest Grandson is on a school trip to the battle fields soon and is going to try to find his inscription, he doesn't have a grave.

And, greetings to everyone else on RootsChat.Com with apologies for my long absence.

[BerkshireYeoman]

Morning Midnight Runner

Here are two photos of Fred Potts VC. The one in uniform I think is the clincher that it is him. It was taken at Churn in about 1922. The other at a wreath laying ceremony post war but unknown date.
Can you tell me anything more about your father's friendship with Fred Potts?

All the best

Andrew French
Asst Hon Curator Berks Yeo Museum

[Midnight Runner]

Hi Andrew,
Thank you very much for that information, that has cleared a query.
I cannot really tell you a lot about Dad's friendship with Freddy Potts. I know that he was quite upset when he died, but I have no idea how the friendship came about unless unless ... Dad was in the Home Guard, so I wonder if Freddy was as well? I think that it would be quite likely, but would not explain why we found that photo in Dad's effects a good few years after Dad's death. Unfortunately I am the only one left of our immediate family, so there is no chance of asking any one.
His bravery was always held up as an example to my brother and myself although I fear that I was too young for it to make much impression on me. It was not until later years that the enormity of what Freddy did to earn the VC actually struck home.

[BerkshireYeoman]

Hi just to let you know
Graham McKeknie of BBC Radio Berkshire is doing a documentry feature on Fred Potts and will be in contact in due course. If you want to chat to his direct his email is (Available by PM!!)

regard
Andrew


Pse do not use private emails on RC, it will lead to oodles of spam...Thanks