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Author Topic: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s  (Read 2678 times)

Offline Mothballs39

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Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« on: Wednesday 29 June 11 10:49 BST (UK) »
Hello everyone.  Just joined  ;D.  I wonder if anyone has any clues about this photo. It's a studio photo on a postcard.  There were family links to the railway (the brother was an assistant railway signalman in 1911).  The family (Burfield) lived in York but I think the photo was taken in Darlington so possibly taken after the marriage and move to Darlington in 1918.

Thank you!
Britton - Bilbrough and Darlington
Appleton - Darlington
Burfield - York and Darlington
Phillips - Stockton and Darlington, Durham

Offline ainslie

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 10:55 BST (UK) »
St John Ambulance Brigade?
A

Offline Mothballs39

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 10:58 BST (UK) »
That's an idea, thanks! Is the photo supposed to be that massive?
Britton - Bilbrough and Darlington
Appleton - Darlington
Burfield - York and Darlington
Phillips - Stockton and Darlington, Durham

Offline Winterbloom21

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 10:59 BST (UK) »
What an interesting photo.    Can you focus a bit closer on the collar in order to see the insignia?   It does look vaguely like a railway sign of some kind.     Whatever it is, it involves him carrying something small, judging by the pouch.   Tickets?   Telegrams?
Toomebridge, County Antrim: Devlin
Toomebridge and Cavan:  McCormick
Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Shropshire:   Hill
Lurgan Co. Armagh:  Malone, Dumigan, McCourt, McGill
St. Pancras, and Poplar, London: Serjeant, Heald
Brookborough Co. Fermanagh:  Carmichael, Tierney
Staffordshire:  Cook
Isle of Wight:   Parkman
Warwickshire:  Kinchin
Cork: Kennedy, Ahern, Deliere

A British Islander, born Dublin of Irish/Anglo roots. Ancestors have crossed and recrossed the Irish sea in every generation.

Offline Winterbloom21

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 11:06 BST (UK) »
If you look at other pictures of telegraph boys (as I just have) I think you'll see quite a similarity.
Toomebridge, County Antrim: Devlin
Toomebridge and Cavan:  McCormick
Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Shropshire:   Hill
Lurgan Co. Armagh:  Malone, Dumigan, McCourt, McGill
St. Pancras, and Poplar, London: Serjeant, Heald
Brookborough Co. Fermanagh:  Carmichael, Tierney
Staffordshire:  Cook
Isle of Wight:   Parkman
Warwickshire:  Kinchin
Cork: Kennedy, Ahern, Deliere

A British Islander, born Dublin of Irish/Anglo roots. Ancestors have crossed and recrossed the Irish sea in every generation.

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 11:08 BST (UK) »
You can see examples of St John Ambulance uniforms at different periods at http://www.rootschat.com/links/0e02/

Also http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/gwa/item/6948?CISOBOX=1&REC=6
Stan
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Mothballs39

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 11:20 BST (UK) »
Thanks Stanmapstone.  I've just found a photo of St. John Ambulance in Newcastle 1918-1920 and it looks similar too.  http://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?resource=4418

It does look very like a telegraph boy as well.  Thanks for that.  The only difference I can see is that they have a number on their collar, and this one is an insignia.

Haven't been able to zoom in any further though.  If it is a railway insignia, then the photo is more likely to be his brother rather than my grandfather.

Does anyone have any idea as to the date?

Britton - Bilbrough and Darlington
Appleton - Darlington
Burfield - York and Darlington
Phillips - Stockton and Darlington, Durham

Offline ainslie

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 12:26 BST (UK) »
That sort of St JAB uniform was standard for generations!  GPO telegraph boys wore a different sort of cap - more of a pillbox shape, with peak, and no white trimmings. 
St JAB members were/are volunteers in their spare time, so he could have been employed by a railway company.
A

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Uniform identification, approx early 1920s
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 29 June 11 13:15 BST (UK) »
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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