Uniform Identification

[PaulC120]

HI
I have received 2 photographs from another family member. The 1st one with the name written across it is  my grandfather in, from what I can make out of the Cap badge,  a  Royal Artillery desert uniform. I don't know what the sleeve marking would be. From his age he would have served in WW1. The other photo may be him but can anyone comment on whether the style of uniform was used by R.A. in this era, it could be his father, my G Grandfather, who served in the 2ND Boer War & also served in the Royal Army Service Corps in W.W.1. Can anyone provide any information?
Thank You

[MaxD]

The first pic is an artilleryman although the shoulder title is not distinct enough to determine the branch (Field, Horse or Garrison).  It appears to be  a territorial title similar to the bottom left here:

https://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/badge-categories/shoulder-titles/territorial/  although that doesn't get us far!  The badge on the left sleeve is a good conduct badge, one stripe indicating over 2 but under 5 years of "undiscovered crime". 

The second which looks very much like the first man is perhaps earlier (no good conduct stripe)  and he seems to be wearing a mix of dress, the breeches being the UK/France area pattern and the jacket being a desert pattern.  Total lack of distinguishing marks though so could be anyone.
Both pics WW1 era.


What was grandfather's year and place of birth?


MaxD

[MaxD]

Should be ashamed of myself! (see avatar).  In both pics the buttons are Royal Horse Artillery ball buttons.

Still not much further though (yet).

MaxD

[MaxD]

There were 13 Territorial RHA batteries, most of which spent the war in the Mesopotamia campaign.  Looking at the locations associated with the Carter name - one of the batteries had connection with Berkshire (Reading and Ascot), one with Leicester and one with London - still leaves 10 though.  Where did FG Carter live prior to WW1?

MaxD

[PaulC120]

Hi MaxD

Thanks for the very helpful response's, which from the buttons have confirmed that both images are FGC and not one of his father Charles whose medals we have and I have located Charles's Pre WW1 war record, slighly singed round the edges but still readable.
The information has certainly narrowed down trying to find FGC's record & I thought I had found it but sadly no.
 FGC was born in Richmond area of Surrey in 1897/8 but before WW1 the family had moved to Reading Berkshire. From the info you have kindly provided I think from searching FindMyPast's medal records  his service number may have been either; Service number    153192 Rank    Gunner Regiment    Royal Field Artillery or Service number    108644 Rank    Gunner Regiment    Royal Garrison Artillery
But I only had limited time this morning at the library so it may be one of the ones I didnt get to.

[MaxD]

I think I've got him.

Living in Reading would point towards one of the two Berkshire RHA batteries.  Pre-war there was one but became two at the outbreak of war, 1/1st and 2/1st.  A territorial artilleryman, as with all other territorials, started with one number and received a new one in 1917 when the TF were renumbered.  The Berkshire batteries received new numbers between 616000 and 61800 so we are looking for a man with two numbers, the second in that bracket.  1/1st Berkshire Battery went to Egypt in early 1915 and remained there.

644, later 616243 Driver Fred G Carter RHA fits well.  Where he lived and his second number point to the Berkshire Battery, he went to Egypt on 25 April 1915.  In his picture he is dressed as a driver.

Two other men going to Egypt at the same time (I didn't look for more) were 640 later 616240 and 641 later 616241.  The second of these is in hospital in Alexandria with malaria in 1919 identified as Berkshire Battery. 632 later 616234 was a Reading man.  I could cross check others but frankly those are enough for me.

All that said, only his medal card and associated medal award roll survive (you probably know 60% or so of service records were lost in WW2 to bombing).

This is what Longlongtrail has on the Berkshire Battery.

Battery HQ was at Reading with a Section at Ascot, and the unit was allocated as artillery support to the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade
The battery was duplicated in 1914 forming 1/1st and 2/1st Berkshire Batteries.
1/1st served in the UK until 1915 when it went to the Middle East for the rest of the war where it initially served as artillery support to the 22nd Mounted Brigade. In 1917 it moved to the 6th Mounted Brigade, and later the same year formed 20th Brigade RHA TF with the Hampshire and Leicestershire Batteries.

MaxD

Lots on the net:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire_Royal_Horse_Artillery#1/1st_Berkshire including some images.

[MaxD]

PS.  The word on the curved lower part of his shoulder title is short.  The title worn by the Berkshire Battery is middle right here:

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/thomas-del-mar-ltd/catalogue-id-srthomasd10011/lot-2bef6578-b837-4335-828e-a8b200d3616f

MaxD

[Treetotal]

Great work as always Max 

Hi Paul...these are great images and deserve a bit of TLC, if you fancy having them cleaned up, why not post them here:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/free-photo-restoration/

Carol

[PaulC120]

Thank you MaxD, all that useful information from 2 photos and a the longlong trail looks to be very useful for researching others in my tree many of whom were Royal Berkshires inc FGC's younger brother Walter Charles who went on to join the Indian Army Corps of Clerks.

The initial query that triggered me receiving them was due to a discussion & difference of sibling memories on my other Grandfathers activities in  WW2, "Home Guard" vs Emergency Hospital Scheme. I will post a query on the WW2 page.

@Carol, yes they would benefit from some TLC, I will post them there in due course, I may have some more coming down the pipline  as well.