Author Topic: WWI Regiment Identification  (Read 11091 times)

Offline old rowley

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #9 on: Sunday 18 December 05 23:52 GMT (UK) »
Alexander's Shoulder clasp has a lion rampant whilst the other chap does not (looks more like a jewel stone).

The sporron has a thistle set on it.

The collar badges seem to be the figure 8 followed by an X (could be wrong as I can not see them too clearly).

The glengarry that Alexander wears shows no tartan border.

Could this be a Canadian Scottish Regiment as Alexander could have enlisted in Canada rather than come back to England to sign up? just a thought.

Any more information on Alexander might help in working out the regiment etc.

old rowley
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Offline harribobs

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #10 on: Monday 19 December 05 00:08 GMT (UK) »
Here's the closest I can get on the medals and collar on the scan I have in case it helps...

is that  X on his collar a crossed swords?? rifles?

I hold my hands up, he looks like every other piper I've ever seen, anyone got a a link to a non military piper to compare?

Offline caimaver

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #11 on: Monday 19 December 05 00:56 GMT (UK) »
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the 'facts' about Alex Murray are wrong. This particular branch of my family is known for telling some pretty wild stories. Family legend is that he went back to Scotland to join the army but it wouldn't surprise me if he went to Canada instead. You can read all of the information I have about him on my web site at www.caimaver.com/murray/ but I'll summarize it here:

- Alexander Murray born July 6, 1875 in West Arthurlie, Barrhead, Scotland
- Married Agnes Guild in 1897 in Glasgow and had many kids there.
- Alex traveled to East Newark, New Jersey about 1909. His other family members would join him one by one over the next couple years, the last being in 1914.
- Alex supposedly went back to Scotland to join the army but left his family in New Jersey.
- Alex returned to his family in New Jersey immediately after the war. I can not find him or any of the family members in the 1920 US Census but I have found them in the 1930 US census and it does list him as fighting in the World War.

I'm impressed that you noticed the lion rampant on the clasp, I have looked at this photo many many times and I had never noticed it. The first 'digit' on the collar definitely looks like an 8 but I'm not sure about the second; it looks kind of like an 'X' but with a curve going across the top two tines of the X. I can't wait to see the original again at my parents house next week.

Thanks again for all the help!

- Cai

Offline liverpool annie

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #12 on: Monday 19 December 05 01:28 GMT (UK) »

I'm wondering if this is him - in jail!! :-[ age is a couple of years off!

1920
Portland Ward 2, Cumberland, Maine

Alexander Murray   47 years  Scotland  Prisoner
Year of immigration   1883
Mother's Birth Place   Scotland
Father's Birth Place   Scotland

Annie
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Be who you are and say what you feel -  because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind ! Dr. Seuss

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Offline old rowley

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #13 on: Monday 19 December 05 01:34 GMT (UK) »
Cai,

Alexander Murray enlisted in the 48th Highlanders (part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force) at Toronto Canada on 7th August 1917. He gave his address as being number 41 President street, East Newark, N.J. U.S.A.
Naming his wife, Agnes G. Murray as his next of kin  his occupation at the time is given as "Machine operator" and his date of birth is recorded as being July 6th 1876.

He was also recorded as having served for 12 years as a private in the Renfrewshire Territorials.

You will find the above and more including build, colour of hair and eyes etc at
 www.collectionscanada.ca
you need to go into the data base for the soldiers of the 1st world war. put in his name and army number 2393598 and you will be able to view his attestation papers (two pages, front and back the back one has his discription)

Therefore I believe that the kilted uniform that he is shown as wearing is that of the 48th Highlanders.

old rowley
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Offline liverpool annie

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #14 on: Monday 19 December 05 01:45 GMT (UK) »


Woohoo Rowley!

Good job! - I was completely "off "and you are "on"  ::) ::) ::)

Annie
Cooper : Muels : Howarth : Every : Price : King

http://web.archive.org/web/20130407030702/http://www.freewebs.com/liverpoolannie

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http://web.archive.org/web/20130807102055/http://www.powv.webs.com/
Be who you are and say what you feel -  because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind ! Dr. Seuss

Erect no gravestone .... let the Rose every year bloom for his sake ! Rilke Sonnets to Orpheus, I

Offline old rowley

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #15 on: Monday 19 December 05 01:48 GMT (UK) »
hi annie,

I'm just waiting for the scream from cai when my last postings read!!

old rowley
Claxton- East London & Essex<br />Cuthbert- Mile End East London <br />Edwards - East London & Essex<br />Goll- Norfolk<br />Harris-Mile End East London<br />Hurr - Suffolk<br />Law- Bethnal Green East London<br />Moll- East London<br />Robinson- Bethnal Green East London<br />Tait- Argyll & Glasgow<br />Thompson Shoreditch East london<br />Watson- Glasgow<br />Wood- Bethnal Green East London<br /><br />Local history interest; Noak Hill & Harold Hill Essex<br /><br />census information crown cop

Offline caimaver

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #16 on: Monday 19 December 05 02:40 GMT (UK) »
That's incredible!!! Thank you so much for finding that record old rowley! This record is certainly of my great-grandfather. I must say that I never would have guessed that the tartan in the photo (I looked up 48th Highlanders on regiments.org and found this: http://regiments.org/tradition/tartans/davidsn.htm).

Now I'm going to see if I can find Alex's medal records. I had no idea about the Refrewshire Territorials service, I wonder if that would explain the wierd 5-pointed medal at all? This also gives me some good information to go back and see if I can find any more information on his family in New Jersey in the 1920 census.

I can't say I'm too surprised that the information I have on Alex is off. It turns out that he didn't go to Scotland to join the military (although he joined a Scottish regiment) and he didn't join as soon as war broke out because he wanted to fight so bad. In fact, I'm a little confused about why he went to Canada to join since at that point, America had already gotten into WWI.

Thanks to everyone for the help. And old rowley, if there's anything I can do to return the favor, let me know!

Sincerely-
Cai

Offline liverpool annie

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Re: WWI Regiment Identification
« Reply #17 on: Monday 19 December 05 02:55 GMT (UK) »


Heres a list of Canadian Medals

http://tinyurl.com/7m5rx

Maybe you'll be able to find the elusive one!!

Annie

 :) :)
Cooper : Muels : Howarth : Every : Price : King

http://web.archive.org/web/20130407030702/http://www.freewebs.com/liverpoolannie

http://web.archive.org/web/20130407191115/http://manchestersoldiers.webs.com

http://web.archive.org/web/20130807102055/http://www.powv.webs.com/
Be who you are and say what you feel -  because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind ! Dr. Seuss

Erect no gravestone .... let the Rose every year bloom for his sake ! Rilke Sonnets to Orpheus, I