Regiment - is it possible to identify?

[gadse]

Don't have a cap badge in this photo unfortunately - is it possible to tell anything from the letters on his shoulder? They look like B [S or &] J to me which doesn't seem to stand for anything.

Other queries - what is the star beneath his shoulder, what is above his breast pocket (this is taken before the end of the war so presumably isn't a medal ribbon), and is there any significance in him wearing riding boots (in the other photo I have of someone with spurs they're just worn over normal boots)?

A lot of questions - but I think he was a close family member who died in the war so would like to know as much as possible about him.

[Hackstaple]

This man is a regular and not a conscript I think and the medal bar looks very much like the Military Medal. The inverted strips on the left arm show 6years service.

[gadse]

Hi Hackstaple, thanks for your reply.

That's interesting. If it's the person I was thinking of he would have only been 23/24 in 1918 (the date when this photo was taken) - would it have been possible for him to have 6 years service? Or do I need to have a rethink?

[Hackstaple]

One could enlist as a boy but I seem to recollect that boy service did not count [someone correct me if I am wrong]. However from age 18 you were a man and 6 years from then takes you to 24. Many young men added a year or so their age when enlisting and as recruiting sergeants received a bonus for each inductee they did not look too closely to see whether shaving had commenced.

[mmm45]

Do you have a possible name?
He definately has 6 year service stripes and a Military Medal Ribbon
Cant ID shoulder titles or Div patch yet....Plenty of experts on here that will hopefully pick up on it.
If he died in service he should be on CWGC website and his MM should be listed in the London Gazette...Finding it is the hard part!

Ady

[gadse]

My guess is Harry Preston. This is based on a letter he wrote in 1916 (just signed Cousin Harry), which I was told had been kept because he died in the war, and that this photo was taken by a Bolton photographer which is where Harry Preston lived.

I haven't been able to find anyone who seems to fit the bill on the CWGC website, and couldn't find a WW1 service record for him. Where do I go to look at the London Gazette?

[apwright]

Shoulder title could be Royal Scots Fusiliers - "RSF" with grenade badge above.

Adrian

[mmm45]

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search

Heres the LG search link...Its notoriously difficult to search.

I think the RSF is a good spot by Adrian.

Ady

[gadse]

Thanks for the suggestions and the link. Just spent a very long session with the London Gazette (I see what you mean about it being difficult to search) and come up with very few H Prestons, none of whom were from regiments which could match his shoulder title.

Guess I'll have to do that rethink!