Author Topic: iam trying to find my fathers enlistment photograph from WW2 1939  (Read 457 times)

Offline RobinHighbury

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iam trying to find my fathers enlistment photograph from WW2 1939
« on: Saturday 26 October 24 11:23 BST (UK) »
i am trying to find the enlistmnt photograph of Robert James Bentham Watson from 1939 WW2
any tips gratefully received

Offline Andy J2022

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Re: iam trying to find my fathers enlistment photograph from WW2 1939
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 26 October 24 12:00 BST (UK) »
What makes you think that there was a photograph? The Army did not require photographs of individual recruits. The RAF were more likely to take photographs of complete courses of recruits and trainees, but that was largely because they had photographers among their trades. I do not know what the Navy's policy was at the time, but I would be surprised if it required individual photographs. Do you have your father's service record?  That is the most likely place to find a photograph if one exists.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel

Offline Rena

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Re: iam trying to find my fathers enlistment photograph from WW2 1939
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 26 October 24 15:34 BST (UK) »
The only official photographs I found were of officers and at the end of WWII groups of local Home Guards and groups of civilians taken by locals when having a street party in celebration of the war ending.

There are plenty of photos online taken by members of the armed forces.  I surfed and found a photo of one of my father's brothers-in-law in Malta that was taken by an unofficial photographer. The family was sent a photo of my mother's brother taken in an obviously hot place where he is sitting in a jeep.  The only place I know he was sent to was Palestine and every year he attended the local "Desert Rat" meeting.   You might be lucky if you know what name he was known by such as what nickname he had, eg. was he known by Rob or Bob, or maybe his surname had developed into his nickname.  Additionally I discovered that some counties/towns had webpages depicting photos and names of soldiers.

Best of luck,
Rena
Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy: MidLothian: Mason,Telford,Darling,Cruikshanks,Bennett,Sime, Bell: Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar; Ross: Urray:Mackenzie:  Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell: Perthshire: Brown Ferguson: Wales: McCarthy, Thomas: England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Well(es). Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells;Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke

Offline RobinHighbury

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Re: iam trying to find my fathers enlistment photograph from WW2 1939
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 26 October 24 16:08 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much. I've just started looking up service ancestors, so both your comments are very useful. Best regards!