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Author Topic: ANY CLUES?  (Read 1682 times)

Offline oleonepace

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ANY CLUES?
« on: Sunday 13 October 13 16:36 BST (UK) »
Hi all,
I have this photo dating from [probably] the Great War of 'Alfred'  a sergeant. Although the photo is from a family source, I'm struggling to identify if he is a relative. The background is intriguing. Does anyone have any idea what's going on in the photograph or have any other observations please?

many thanks
Tony
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Offline mmm45

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 13 October 13 17:31 BST (UK) »
Webbing doesn't look British could there be a Canadian angle?

Ady
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Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.

Offline John915

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 13 October 13 18:41 BST (UK) »
Good afternoon,

I think he could be British, he appears to be wearing one of the cotton bandoliers out of an ammunition box.

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Offline mmm45

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 13 October 13 21:17 BST (UK) »
On second thoughts it could be British 1914 pattern leather webbing,Canadians also had early leather webbing both didn't go down well in Flanders.
That could be side of a canal or lock also.

Ady
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Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.

Offline oleonepace

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #4 on: Monday 14 October 13 08:32 BST (UK) »
Thanks John and Ady, your comments are much appreciated.

If indeed he is a relly he's certain to be a British soldier. Interesting what you say about ammunition boxes and unloading by a canal ....my initial thoughts on seeing the photo were that those were ammunition boxes stacked and that there was a boat with derricks behind them.

Tony
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Offline Mike in Cumbria

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #5 on: Monday 14 October 13 16:22 BST (UK) »
Definitely a set of lock gates there, and a whole load of derricks behind, suggesting a port. There's a bollard for tying boats up in the foreground of the picture, too - perhaps as they wait to go through the lock gates.

Mike

Online Viktoria

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #6 on: Monday 14 October 13 19:20 BST (UK) »
 The hat looks like it is astrakhan- a black lambskin from unborn lambs.
 I think Balkan countries  armies wore something very like this.
 Could this be a possibility?
 Can you enlarge the photo to see if there is a star on the front near the top?
                                           Viktoria.

Offline oleonepace

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 15 October 13 08:18 BST (UK) »
Sadly, I only have this low res scan. The original came from a source which included one or two other photos of what were certainly British troops [and relatives of the source] so I've no reason to suspect that this chap 'Alfred' is not also British. It does look like an astrakhan doesn't it? Could it be a photo taken in Gallipoli? Did the Turks wear such headgear? Mike's observations on it being a small port are convincing.
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Offline Mike in Cumbria

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Re: ANY CLUES?
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 15 October 13 08:41 BST (UK) »
Can we see the back of the photo please?
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