Help re Uniform

[Fdgl65]

I came across the following information on a WW2 RHA board:

"A lot of the TA, RHA and RA, were still in Service Dress on the outbreak of war. In general this would consist of a peaked cap, service dress jacket, breeches or trousers, long puttees and ankle boots. Some had already changed to Battledress."

So, it does appear that he's wearing a TA/RHA uniform.

[ScouseBoy]

Fdgl65,    My father had been in France (St Nazaire)   on 17th June 1940  and was married in Liverpool  on 23 June 1940.     I believe that he had asked a tailor to run him up a smart looking uniform to get married in.  He was also wearing a smart looking cap like the one shown in your photo.  I guess that they could either be bought from places like the Army and Navy stores or the quatermaster may issue one if a soldier was getting married.   People would be prepared to bend the rules for a soldier getting married in wartime.

[Fdgl65]

That's kind of understandable. I am more inclined to ignore the uniform in the wedding photo and go off the uniform in the other photo as being a more reliable indicator of his actual army role.

[scrimnet]

Both pictures are of the same uniform, 1922ptn Service Dress...One with breeches, one without...The trousers on the lower pic would be folded and the long puttees would be wound round them as well...

Fdgl65,    My father had been in France (St Nazaire)   on 17th June 1940  and was married in Liverpool  on 23 June 1940.     I believe that he had asked a tailor to run him up a smart looking uniform to get married in.  He was also wearing a smart looking cap like the one shown in your photo.  I guess that they could either be bought from places like the Army and Navy stores or the quatermaster may issue one if a soldier was getting married.   People would be prepared to bend the rules for a soldier getting married in wartime.

The only soldiers who would use a tailor, or in fact be able to afford a tailor, or indeed go to the Army And Navy for a new uniform would be officers... Confusingly their uniform is also know as "Service Dress"

Other Ranks would be issued this uniform and some held on even after Battledress (BD) was issued

Pre war a lot soldiers got married in full dress, blues or scarlets

[millymcb]

..........any reason why his lanyard has swapped sides?

Milly

[ScouseBoy]

Both pictures are of the same uniform, 1922ptn Service Dress...One with breeches, one without...The trousers on the lower pic would be folded and the long puttees would be wound round them as well...

Fdgl65,    My father had been in France (St Nazaire)   on 17th June 1940  and was married in Liverpool  on 23 June 1940.     I believe that he had asked a tailor to run him up a smart looking uniform to get married in.  He was also wearing a smart looking cap like the one shown in your photo.  I guess that they could either be bought from places like the Army and Navy stores or the quatermaster may issue one if a soldier was getting married.   People would be prepared to bend the rules for a soldier getting married in wartime.

The only soldiers who would use a tailor, or in fact be able to afford a tailor, or indeed go to the Army And Navy for a new uniform would be officers... Confusingly their uniform is also know as "Service Dress"

Other Ranks would be issued this uniform and some held on even after Battledress (BD) was issued

Pre war a lot soldiers got married in full dress, blues or scarlets

Scouseboys  reply:
What about the soldiers evacuated from France in May and June 1940.   I believe that most of them abandoned their spare kit in France, they returned to the UK  only with the clothes which they were wearing, and some of those they had been wearing for a week or more.
The administration and location of the Army was severely disrupted in June 1940. Command secretariats did not know where a lot of their men were located, either Missing, Captured, or repatriated to UK but location unknown.   It took time to sort out the chaos.

Scouseboys reply ends.

[ScouseBoy]

Sorry, can you see my reply in the middle of that?

[scrimnet]

Sorry, can you see my reply in the middle of that?

Can now! 

[Cookie567]

The lanyard for the RA was originally worn on the left shoulder. Some say the change from the left shoulder to the right possibly took place circa the Great War when the ammunition bandolier was introduced, which was worn over the left shoulder. Others say that 1924 was the date of change due to rifles being positioned at the slope arms on the left shoulder which would soil the white lanyard. There is also a legend of it representing cowardice for a historical abandoning of the guns, but coming from a long line of Gunners I choose to ignore this! See http://www.thegarrison.org.uk/history/index.php for other info.

The uniforms shown were certainly in use by the BEF and if he was married Q4 1939, he may have been a pre-war regular or Terrier.

Regards,

Pete