Author Topic: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?  (Read 8157 times)

Offline jettejjane

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This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« on: Thursday 15 October 15 17:36 BST (UK) »
I am busy identifying Army  pictures  Grandad's Album Archibald Charles Redman.  Not doing badly just a few left.  He enlisted in Territorial Force, 4th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment 1908-1913. Was in camp in Newhaven, Sussex.  During WW! he was in Royal Fusiliers,  London I am guessing.  From his Medal card  I learned he went to France in 1916 and my Uncle told me he was  in the Battle of Delville Wood. Although not wounded in battle he was injured, lost a boot in trenches and stepped on some barbed wire-ouch!  Was in hospital in France. He came home and  in 1917 was at Craigleith Edinburgh convalescing.

Now at last my question.  This photo as I said in heading is a puzzle.  I don't think it is a real battle photo is it possible its some sort of training photo taken at Newhaven camp or am I wrong is it in France?

Jane
Redman, Jupp, Brockhurst of West Sussex
Moore County Down. Redman of Posey, Indiana, USA Emigrated 1820

Offline Mike in Cumbria

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 15 October 15 17:39 BST (UK) »
Training exercise for sure.

Offline suey

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 15 October 15 17:48 BST (UK) »
I agree, they are all far too clean and tidy for this to have been taken anywhere near a field hospital  :D

Great picture though, lucky you!
All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
Greenwich/Woolwich. - Clowting. Davis. Kitts. Ferguson. Lowther. Carvalho. Pressman. Redknap. Argent.
Hertfordshire - Sturgeon. Bird. Rule. Claxton. Taylor. Braggins

Offline jettejjane

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 15 October 15 18:00 BST (UK) »
Training exercise for sure.
I agree, they are all far too clean and tidy for this to have been taken anywhere near a field hospital  :D

Great picture though, lucky you!

Thanks both.  Yes they do look too clean!

I have 15 wonderful pictures a real treasure, nearly all sorted.  I am busy putting into book form, together with his fathers Army career and my Dad's and also my Gtx2  Grandfather' s son who was in Navy and lost his life on HM Orpheus in 1863 when it was wrecked on a sandbar in New Zealand.

I am enjoying it immensely and learning so much on the way, 4 generations of Redmans!

I am sure I will be back to pick your brains!

Thanks for replies

Jane :)
Redman, Jupp, Brockhurst of West Sussex
Moore County Down. Redman of Posey, Indiana, USA Emigrated 1820


Offline jess5athome

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 15 October 15 18:02 BST (UK) »
Hi, I have to agree that it's a training exercise.

Regards
Frank
Ramsey Ridsdale Ridgway Kempen Knight Harrison Denby Sisson Graney Spilsbury Wain Hebden Abbott Skinn ........ Yorkshire (Doncaster Goole Snaith Thorne area)Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire The Netherlands

Offline Regorian

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 15 October 15 18:10 BST (UK) »
Yes, they are wearing their cap liners. On campaign, they were removed to avoid reflecting the sun. So, the soft cap look. Even when out of the Line.
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Offline gaffy

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 15 October 15 18:27 BST (UK) »
Look at the boots of the men left front and the man on the stretcher. Clean as a whistle.  Several of the men have smiles or near smiles. Look at the two wags playing off against each other in the second row from the back, one has a pipe, the other has pushed his cap back and is smoking something like a hand rolled cigarette.

Great photo, but I don't think it's a battlefield photo.


Offline jettejjane

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 15 October 15 19:00 BST (UK) »
Yes I agree with you all. Nonetheless it is a fantastic picture. Thank you Grandad for leaving such a wonderful record of your Army Days :D I consider myself very lucky.

In fact my wonderful  Redmans have made my research so easy with all the documentation that havevbeen handed down since 1800's and is now mine :P

Jane

Redman, Jupp, Brockhurst of West Sussex
Moore County Down. Redman of Posey, Indiana, USA Emigrated 1820

Offline BW252

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Re: This picture is a puzzle- is it real?
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 15 October 15 19:39 BST (UK) »
I think they are also bandsmen who would be the stretcher bearers during any battle that would explain the "injured" man in the bottom of the photo and almost certainly a training exercise