Indentification of Badge Please

[Maurine]

Hi
Can anyone please indentify the badge on my grandfather's lapel? I do not know if it is a military badge or civilian but thought I would try this link first. The photograph was taken in 1916 when he was about 50 years old. He was living in Manor Park, Essex at the time . Hoping that someone will be able to help me as he is my solid brick wall!!

Maurine

[Pete Keane]

19th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment. - St.Pancras

or

8th Battalion, London Regiment - this was the Post Office Bn.

Both had a badge as worn by your man

I'm sure both of these were TA Bn's formed in 1908 (had thought Boer War but the 19th were Middlesex regt then, with different badge.)

Due to his age, the date photo taken, and the formation date of both units, I suspect he has a son serving in one of those units? he's a bit old for the TA, and he's not in uniform, so possibly he had no military service himself.

Pete.

[Maurine]

Hi Pete
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately it hasn't helped me a great deal because if the badge wasn't his then I don't know who's it was. He was with my Grandmother from about 1904 and his life before that is a complete mystery. So it seems that the brick wall stands for a bit longer. Thanks anyway for the information at least I now know what the badge is for.
Maurine

[Pete Keane]

Well, no-one said it has to be easy all the time!

If you post his name, we can look at the WW1 medal rolls for that name in either of the two battalions.

I'm thinking that he had a son from a previous marriage, if so the medal roll might give us a start,

It would be great if he had a really unusual surname please!!

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Sorry, just spotted the J.Johnston tag on the image.

Will have a look at the NA site and see if it helps.

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Thousands of Johnstons.....

But could find only one for either 8th or 19th Battalions.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=549631

Unfortunately it does not give his next of kin details, so at this stage we have no way of knowing if they are related.

I have assumed your grandad wasnt Scottish, or from anywhere other than London area.

The medal cards arent much help, they list only 4 Johnstons for the London Regiment, none of which look likely. it does suggest, though, that if he had a son, whose surname was Johnston, in the London regiment, then that son did not survive, hence my feeling its the lad above.

Also, the badges for the 8th & 19th Bn's are very similar, but the laurel wreath on the 8th badge continues right to the crown, whereas on the 19th badge it stops a little short - your mans badge looks more like 19th Bn to me.

Sorry thats all a bit vague, if we had nok details for F Johnston we would be on more solid ground.

Regards

Pete

[km1971]

Hi Maurine

From his age it would be worth checking the records for men discharged 1883 to 1900 that are now online on Fimdmypast.

Ken

[Pete Keane]

Hi Ken,

For my original post, I suggested a Boer War service - this was based on a matching badge appearing on the Lest We Forget site, with the title Boer War badge of the 19th (St Pancras) Bn, London Regiment.

When I tried to cross reference it I found the badge was for the 19th (County of London) Bn., London Regiment (St.Pancras), but this Battalion wasnt formed until 1908.

I cant find any reference to either on the Boer War database i use, but tbh its not a period I look at often.

If there was a definitive 'Cap Badges of the British Army' book I would buy a copy, as the net is sometimes contradictory!

Regards

Pete

[forester]

The F Johnston on CWGC is Frank Johnston, 5896 and 612222, 19th Londons.

He was formerly 14836 KRRC. Although he was Killed in Action, 15th Sept 1916, he appears to have been given a 1917 six-digit number, which is not uncommon. He did not go overseas until after his transfer to the Londons.

He was born Camberwell and enlisted and resided in Kilburn.

Phil