Where is this ? Jhanst

[Beavances]

Hi Can anyone help me identify any information about this photo? Handwritten on the back it says
 ' A tent full of roughs at Jhnast Feb 26th'
I am pretty sure it is during the first world war but would like help identifying the regiment and location.
Thanks for any help you are able to offer

[John915]

Good evening,

I think the place is Jhansi and it's in Uttar Pradesh, India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhansi

John915

[Ruskie]

From the link supplied by John:
The Jhansi Cantonment was the site of the accommodation for British civil and military personnel in the period of British rule in India so fairly broad range date wise and perhaps not specific to any conflict.

I can't see anything to identify regiment or precise location, but others may.

[John915]

Good evening,

As Ruskie says, nothing to help ID the unit. From the style of uniform it has to be roughly 1900-1930ish. So possibly is WW1 as there are no badges.

Being in India does narrow it down a bit particularly if it is WW1 as only certain units were out there. It just means trawling through the records to see what units and whether any match with your family if that is what you are hoping for.

John915

[John915]

Back again,

Looking through the "Long Long Trail" there were a lot of battalions in India at the start of the war. Most returned to the UK or direct to France in 1914-1915, about 5 or 6 remained in India throughout the war. The only one that mentions Jhansi is 2nd Batt The Berkshire Regt.

However that is only for the war period, the photo could be earlier or later.

John915

[Beavances]

Thank you. This photograph is the only clue I have which gives any information about what this  ancestor was during the period of 1911 until about 1920 so it is really helpful to have it confirmed that he was serving with the army. I have found him in the 1911 census ( living in Bradford with his family and working as a millhand) and I know from a newspaper report that he was living in Ireland form about 1920.  His name is Douglas Bentley Gordon and he was born in 1893 in Burley in Wharfedale,Yorkshire - however I cannot find any service record for him, so if anyone is able to find a service record that would help to confirm this time in India.

[Ruskie]

Just to double check that you are certain that one of the men in the photo is Douglas Gordon?

It's just that we often see photos which can't possibly be the ancestor someone was led to believe, often due to dating clues of clothing - not saying this is the case with Douglas, but just wanted to be certain. 

Your sightings of him in England have narrowed down the search somewhat and date wise fits with the photo being from WW1. 

Many WW1 service records were destroyed so perhaps that is why you are unable to find a record of him.

[Beavances]

Hi - that is a good point but I am pretty sure this is Douglas Bentley Gordon. I have attached other photos which have also been identified as him. The first picture is an enlargement of him from the original I posted (in tent in Jhansi - thanks also for the correct location name being supplied) the second is dated 'about 1920 - Castlebar Ireland' and the last one must be about late 1930 - going by the age of his daughters (both have since died so I cannot ask them). This person has long been one of my 'brick walls' so am really grateful for all help.

[Ruskie]

Agree Beavances that this is the same man in all photos.