COMPLETED** Uniform identification please.

[Mallory]

 Hi all,

 Please can anyone identify the uniform in this photo and give a possible date?
 I've tried to enlarge the cap badge but its not very clear.

      Thanks

         Mallory

[neil1821]

A light infantry regiment certainly.
It doesn't appear to my eyes that there are any letters in the centre above the bugle, so Ox & Bucks LI would be my answer.

[Mallory]

 Hi neil1821,

  Thanks very much for your reply.
 I think I know his surname, so now I can try to find a medal card that matches the regiment.

     Thanks again

       Mallory

[Tipps]

Hi Mallory,

As you will be able to see more detail on the original photo it may be worth checking this site out and compare.  http://www.brigadeuk.com   

The one in the photo looks similar to Durham Light Infantry or Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. 

Tipps

[Mallory]

 Hi Tipps,

  Thanks for the site, and they do look very similar but even with a magnifying glass its very hard to see much detail.
 I'm assuming that the photo was taken between 1914 and 1918 but any idea what the rank could be?

       Regards

       Mallory

[Tipps]

Hi Mallory,

Many photos similar to these were taken before they went overseas on active service and were often in the form of a postcard.  The backdrops were painted or staged.  Comparing this uniform to a couple of photos I have of my ancestors from WW1, it's the same appart from the braiding on the left shoulder, and the cap badge.  My ancestors were privates (as were the majority when they first signed up), so I would guess he is 'at this point' a private.  If you have his name, his medal card would show any rank or regiment changes.  If he was a war casualty you're most likely to find him on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?menuid=14 (sometimes mentions a next of kin or address along with rank etc) or he may be mentioned in DeRuvigny's Roll of Honour.  If he survived the war he may be mentioned in the 'The National Roll of the Great War'.  Both these publications give a little bit of a biography of soldiers, which might help you rule a name out, or confirm your ideas.

I have a similar problem with an unknown soldier.  My great Grandmother had a pendant with two photos of soldiers in.  One of the soldiers was her husband, but I've no idea who the other one is.  A likely candidate would be her only brother, but I can't find any evidence he even served in the army.

Regards,
Tipps

[km1971]

Hi Mallory

The lack of any chevrons (stripes) confirms he is a Private. Also he is wearing an economy tunic (no breast pocket pleats) introduced in 1915.

Ken

[Mallory]

 Hi Tipps and Ken,

 Thanks both for the extra information and web addresses - looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and subscribe to Ancestry or Findmypast to look at their army records.
The photo has 'Tom Butcher, Royal Berkshire' written in ink on the back but the cap badge does not seem to match that.
 I thought this may have been a studio photo but wasn't quite sure.
 Any idea what the shoulder braid means, is it for decoration only, and would the baton under his arm be a photographer's prop?

         Thanks again

          Mallory
 

[Tipps]

Sorry, deleted this and changed message.

Mallory,  I've found a medal card for Thomas Butcher, Royal Berkshire Regiment.  It doesn't state much really.

Thomas Butcher,
R Berks R, Private No. 28904. 
Lab C (Labour Corps) 245064

Received Victory Medal and British Medal

No Theatre of War or Entry Date given


I've looked through the pensions but can't match one to these service numbers.  When soldiers moved to the Labour Corps, I believe but may be wrong, that it was because they became 'unfit' for frontline duties due to injury or illness.  They then went to the Labour Corps to be the fetchers and carriers of supplies etc.  Maybe Ken would know a bit more about this.  It seems he survived the war as I can't find him on CWGC.org


I did find this website which may be worth browsing if you have time, you may be able to match up the shoulder braiding.  http://www.ww1photos.com/RoyalBerksRegt.html

Hope this helps some.
Tipps