Aussie born & in British Army WW1 !!!

[Kimberley]

Blimey!

Not much to go on there I'm afraid....

Well...It's small-ish is surmounted by a crown of some sorts, and has some sort of circular laurel leaf arrangement...

The 6th and 8th bn Hampshires have some resemblance...But realistically could be any of a number...

Where did his family come from? Not a real indicator, but maybe a small pointer...

Have you tried scanning the whole thing around 300-600dpi...? RC will take a large file such as that...I cant even make out the Diggers Div sign!! Any probs, look for the hints and tips on the photo restoration board!

You could then crop down to the badge or it may become more patent anyway...I have a small pic from WW1 that I posted Sunday under the title "Sky pilot for Liverpool Annie" that turned out quite OK 

That's the best I can do scrimet with badge..it just becomes very blurred !

Thanks...see original post ! Now modified.

[scrimnet]

Don't worry about the cut down of the cap badge....There may be some shoulder titles to see!!

Do you know as to whom the other chap may be??

He may have been visiting home when war was declared and like many of the "Dominions Across The Seas" joined up to see the Mother Country defended before it was all over...Quite a number of antipodeans joined British Regts...

Have you searched for his medal card and any surviving records on Anpestry yet?

I'm perplexed that he may have popped back for WW2 as well and served in the HG. Did he repatriate himself again?? These records are still held by MOD and will cost you to have them, and must be applied for by nearest surviving NOK...

[Kimberley]

Don't worry about the cut down of the cap badge....There may be some shoulder titles to see!!

Do you know as to whom the other chap may be??

He may have been visiting home when war was declared and like many of the "Dominions Across The Seas" joined up to see the Mother Country defended before it was all over...Quite a number of antipodeans joined British Regts...

Have you searched for his medal card and any surviving records on Anpestry yet?

I'm perplexed that he may have popped back for WW2 as well and served in the HG. Did he repatriate himself again?? These records are still held by MOD and will cost you to have them, and must be applied for by nearest surviving NOK...

The picture/postcard was sent by James Henry ROBERTS to his brother who served with AIF and at that time was in Somme area.eg note on reverse.. To bro "Somewhere in France" from bro Jim "Somewhere in France"

Aussie soldier I am not able to identify,however probably known to the sender and recipient.

Another bro John Arthur ROBERTS - EA 1629 served in RNR and drowned on duty in January 1917 despite also being born in Australia in Dec 1888 (CWGC Faslane Cemetery)....just why they served for Brit Forces is unknown.

All other siblings served with Aust. forces in WW1.

I have looked at Medal Cards but they give no info as to birth place/date...and as I do not know which Brit Force JHR served in, it is of no use. You can imagine that there are numerous people with that common name ! I have reversed names and looked outside square eg.Jim,Henry James, etc etc.

He may have used another name...wouldn't surprise !!! Black Sheep !

 

[scrimnet]

That could even be a RAMC cap badge, but I can't see any trade badge on the uniform...

[LoneyBones]

Hi Kimberley,
there are two James Henry ROBERTS listed in the WW1 Embarkation Rolls on the AWM site.
Numbers; 985 37 Infantry Battalion (June 1916)
  and        6624 27 Infantry Battalion - 19 and 20 Reinforcements (January-October 1917)

I didn't look at the Nominal Rolls, they might have N.I.K.
I had a couple of G.G. uncles who joined up in Australia and were transfered to British forces.

AWM site;  http://www.awm.gov.au/index.asp
click on [Quick Links]

Leonie.

[Kimberley]

That could even be a RAMC cap badge, but I can't see any trade badge on the uniform...

Scimnet


I would like to solve the matter rather than raising all sorts of possibilities....I had hoped there may be some RC that had encountered this eg...Aussie joins Brit Force scenario !

I'd hoped someone has been down this path B4 and could solve...with info provided.ie date/place of birth,nok. Medal Cards an absolute waste of time..unless one knows serv # or regiment...and then it says nothing really !

I doubt many Australian born men joined Brit forces....?



Aussie records are 100%, however they didn't lose records in WW2 due to German bombing....!

James Henry Roberts did not enlist with AIF !

[scrimnet]

I am not tying to raise "all sorts of possibilities" I am simply trying to help you with your search.

The identifying of the cap badge is the fastest and simplest way forward with your chap. I have narrowed down the most likely candidates and with a little footwork from your goodself in...

a) Looking at the MICs to find named matches and then

b) Matching those names with the Regts / Corps mentioned or

c) Putting up the names if no matches...

...will help you in finding what you require. We have on RC managed to find the right chap with just as little int previously!

Again, a better scan of 300-600dpi would help...There may even be shoulder titles or something else on there...

The Regt/Corps is the key, and with that you can then look at the surviving records and perhaps the pension records. This is why we are trying very hard in ID'ing the Regt for you, so you can go thence to the MICs. Then they are not a "waste of time" as you put it.

As for Australian Forces being "far superior" this is a matter of personal conjecture and not "fact".

All Empire, Dominion and Commonwealth forces fought with equal courage and determination. Indeed they were all trained the same, and I feel that although your Australian Pride is commendable, the statement is somewhat disingenuous.

As I have mentioned in my earlier post, many Australians DID travel to the Mother Country to enlist...Perhaps this Australian yr 12 school lesson will help you sort "fact" from personal conjecture? ..."96% of Australians in the 1911 census were of British stock". There was not the republican zeal in 1914 as is found today, apart from the Fenians!

https://internal.shenton.wa.edu.au/society/12History/WW1(1).pdf

It is indeed fortunate that the Australian Military Records are so complete...The British ones are not. This is a fact, and one we cannot change. It would of course be much more simple had our ancestors labeled EVERY pic with name rank and number...and place and date, but of course much of this would not have passed the censor. If one is fortunate enough to have the medals in the family, then this is of course a great help, as all int is available on the rims/reverse!

[LoneyBones]

That could even be a RAMC cap badge, but I can't see any trade badge on the uniform...

Scimnet

It could be Girl Guides for all I know !!!

I would like to solve the matter rather than raising all sorts of possibilities....I had hoped there may be some RC that had encountered this eg...Aussie joins Brit Force scenario !

I'd hoped someone has been down this path B4 and could solve...with info provided.ie date/place of birth,nok. Medal Cards an absolute waste of time..unless one knows serv # or regiment...and then it says nothing really !

I doubt many Australian born men joined Brit forces....Australian Forces were superior by far !!! Come in spinner ?

I know that is fact !!

Aussie records are 100%, however they didn't lose records in WW2 due to German bombing....meticulous records they are to !

James Henry Roberts did not enlist with AIF !

How rude.

Leonie.

[Kimberley]

I am not tying to raise "all sorts of possibilities" I am simply trying to help you with your search.

The identifying of the cap badge is the fastest and simplest way forward with your chap. I have narrowed down the most likely candidates and with a little footwork from your goodself in...

a) Looking at the MICs to find named matches and then

b) Matching those names with the Regts / Corps mentioned or

c) Putting up the names if no matches...

...will help you in finding what you require. We have on RC managed to find the right chap with just as little int previously!

Again, a better scan of 300-600dpi would help...There may even be shoulder titles or something else on there...

The Regt/Corps is the key, and with that you can then look at the surviving records and perhaps the pension records. This is why we are trying very hard in ID'ing the Regt for you, so you can go thence to the MICs. Then they are not a "waste of time" as you put it.

As for Australian Forces being "far superior" this is a matter of personal conjecture and not "fact".

All Empire, Dominion and Commonwealth forces fought with equal courage and determination. Indeed they were all trained the same, and I feel that although your Australian Pride is commendable, the statement is somewhat disingenuous.

As I have mentioned in my earlier post, many Australians DID travel to the Mother Country to enlist...Perhaps this Australian yr 12 school lesson will help you sort "fact" from personal conjecture? ..."96% of Australians in the 1911 census were of British stock". There was not the republican zeal in 1914 as is found today, apart from the Fenians!

https://internal.shenton.wa.edu.au/society/12History/WW1(1).pdf

It is indeed fortunate that the Australian Military Records are so complete...The British ones are not. This is a fact, and one we cannot change. It would of course be much more simple had our ancestors labeled EVERY pic with name rank and number...and place and date, but of course much of this would not have passed the censor. If one is fortunate enough to have the medals in the family, then this is of course a great help, as all int is available on the rims/reverse!

I'll try this attach Scrimnet...my mail says max attach size allowed is 500KB.

Badge becomes distorted when zoomed !

Date on postcard is July 1916.

James H Roberts was possibly serving in Brit Forces in 1915 as a postcard was sent to him in October 1915 from his 7 yr old son. Ofcourse James may not have enlisted in 1915 however it's quite possible he was in England.