Regiment identification

[REIVER CLAN]

Hi all. i recently aquired this photo of my great grandfather and brother in law. my great grand father is standing at the back , he was in the Northumberland fusiliers and was called John Johnston and lived at the time in Blyth Northumberland. I was wondering if anybody could tell me what the star means on his sleeve. He died of the spanish flu in 1919  and is buried at cowpen in Blyth in the same grave as his mother in law.

I would be interested if anyone could id the regiment of the soldier sitting down.

We believe his name was Tom Symmington but  changed his sir name to his partners name when he ran away with her.

thank you in anticipation

steve

[mmm45]

He's machine gun corps
There are two possible medal index cards.....did he have middle name?

Ady

[joboy]

Would it not have been the Machine Gun Cavalry? ... I have a similar photo of my father complete with spurs which the seated chap seems to have.
Joe

[REIVER CLAN]

Thanks Ady and joboy.  As to the question about middle names he doesnt seem to have one on my records.

thanks

[mmm45]

Yes joboy that's why I was enquiring about a middle name the Thomas H Symmington served in 10th hussars initially then became a Machine Gunner probably with the Cavalry Squadron Machine Gun Corps ....man in pic has 3 yrs overseas service and is definitely mounted.
The other Thomas Symmington was discharged to pension

Ady

[mmm45]

Stars look like Efficiency Stars from Volunteer/territorial uniforms.

Ady

[alan o]

That is a unique photo.  The 2 uniforms should not be in the same photo.  The standiung man is a member of the Territorial Force and is a Northumberland Fusilier.  However the uniform was not worn after 1914 but replaced by khaki. 

Your machine gunner is a member of the Machine Gun Corps but as has been said a mounted soldier.  The wearing of collar badges is a rarity as well and was not the norm.  The MGC was a wartime creation and the fact that he has overseas service chevrons means that he had served in France or the Middle East for 3 years whent he photo was taken.  So it must be post 1917.  In which case the Fusilier should not be in an obselete pre-war uniform.

That is clealry a family photo and irreplacable but the photo would be worth a lot of money for those reasons.  Have you looked up their medal cards?

[joboy]

The MGC (Cavalry) chap looks as though he has a soft cap cover or are my old eyes deceiving me?
Joe

[mmm45]

I initially thought that some kind of 1919 photoshopping had occurred and brought two pics together?

Ady