Identifying a Uniform for Great-Grandad Bob

[flamingo66]

Hi,

This photo is of my great-grandad Bob (Robert) Collins of Manchester, 1904-1976. He is obviously wearing a military uniform, so I would be interested to find out a bit more about Bob's time in the forces. My mum thinks he might have been a cook. I wondered if the uniform would be a good starting point?

Can anyone please confirm if this is a Border Regiment uniform (there is a similar one on Google Images), and if the (sorry to be very un-technical here) 'rope' hanging from his epaulette signified any kind of rank, or if it was just a general part of the uniform? There seems to be something written on his epaulette too - any guesses?

Hope someone can help, many thanks, 

Katie

[mmm45]

Hi Katie
Its a General Service tunic so could be any regiment What makes you think Border Regiment? Do you know he served with them?

The original photo may give his Regiment away with the shoulder title.
The lanyard on his arm(ropy thing!) usually had a pocket knife attached.

Post 1922 service records are still with MOD it costs about £30 to get them info in this link.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/MakingARequestForInformationHeldOnThePersonnelRecordsOfDeceasedServicePersonnel.htm

Ady

[km1971]

Hi Katie

The shoulder title looks to start BO. If you have the original photograph you need to scan it at a higher resolution or find a magnifying glass. The rest is standard issue used by about 100 other regiments. So the answer lies in the shoulder title.

The MOD normally like you to give them his army number - the Border Regiment used the block 3589001 to 3644000. So if you can find anything with a number in that range it might be it. They have been known to supply a record with just his full name, date of birth and regiment. But they offer no guarantees - nor refunds. So it depends if you are happy to gamble £30 or not. In all cases they require a copy of his death certificate.

Ken

 

[flamingo66]

Thanks both for getting back to me so quickly. So the answer lies on his shoulder! My mum thinks her grandad told her he was in the Border Regiment, but he died in 1976, hence why I thought if the BR had their own uniform I could confirm this. My nanna has the original photo, will be seeing her over Christmas and as she uses a magnifying glass to read the paper (she's in her 80's) I will definitely give that a go!   

I will ask Nanna if she has anything with his army number on as I would love to get his service record (thanks for the link!), although she will probably tell me off for mithering her (she's generally a bit crabby nowadays) 

Thanks again

Katie