Old soldier needs identifying

[tecumsah]

I know this isn't a particularly sharp photograph but I would be extremely grateful if somebody could confirm that it was taken during the First World War and that the soldier is in the Royal Artillery? And is it possible to tell from the uniform which year it was taken in?
And if some clever soul out there is in a position to clean and sharpen it up I would be forever in their debt.
Thanks for looking - and hopelfully helping me out.

[jim1]

You need to put this on the Armed Forces board but scan it a higher res as the cap badge is too blurred to ID.

jim

[tecumsah]

I'm afraid I don't have the photo but thanks for the advice, Jim. I didn't know that people clean up and restore old photos on the military site as well?
I know the picture is a little blurred but I thought the cap badge looked very much like the Royal Artillery badge.

[old rowley]

Post 1st ww, after 1924 due to collar dogs, the badge does not look like the R.A (canon & crown) bearing in mind that the picture is blurred the badge, going by the shape and form, resembles that of the R.A.O.C. however you may get other answers on this.

OR

[PrueM]

Hi tecumsah 

I think Jim meant that the Armed Forces people are more expert at giving information about military photos than are we on the Photo Restoration board.  To that end I've posted a message on the Armed Forces board, asking people to come and have a look at your photo:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=438212.0

The postcard format that your photo appears to be was around during WW1 but I have to say this photo looks to me to be a bit later than that.  The uniform experts will be able to shoot me down about that though. 

Finally, the photo is very small and so it may not be possible to do much of a restoration job on it, but I'm sure some of our intrepid restorers will have a go for you 

Cheers
Prue

[saddles]

Here is a clean up for you, but the camera was probably a box brownie, or similar, with
little resolution, a scan at a min of 300dpi would help if and when you ever get one!.

Mike.

[tecumsah]

Thank you all so much for your help and patience.

You've done a smashing job, Saddles, thank you again.
I'll follow up the RAOC suggestion, Rowley, I'm grateful. I very much appreciate your guidance, Prue ... and thankyou Pearl for your lyrical reply!!!

[Man of Kent]

If you have his name, his service records may be on the National Archive site.
Which in turn will tell you his regiment

[tecumsah]

No, we don't know his name, I'm afraid - we're pretty certain he was a family member but how distant we're not exactly sure. The picture was found in the possessions of my wife's cousin's mother when she died - sorry, I know that's a little complicated.