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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: tup1 on Tuesday 26 December 17 16:02 GMT (UK)

Title: military men in Grantham a century ago needs help identification
Post by: tup1 on Tuesday 26 December 17 16:02 GMT (UK)

Hi,
Om www.granthammatters.co.uk there is a request for help in identification etc of photo which contains his grandmothers brother William Henry Bond (1881-1949) front row far left it was taken a century ago.If anyone can help him he would appreciate it.

http://www.granthammatters.co.uk/?s=william+henry+bond


Kathy

Title: Re: military men in Grantham a century ago needs help identification
Post by: tonepad on Wednesday 27 December 17 06:33 GMT (UK)

Could be British and Italian soldiers.
Some British army units were sent to fight on the Italian front in 1917.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/jan/12/first-world-war-italy-pictures-photography

Title: Re: military men in Grantham a century ago needs help identification
Post by: MaxD on Wednesday 27 December 17 11:36 GMT (UK)

The men are mostly, not all, Royal Engineers.  The man front left is a Royal Engineer sergeant (the grenade above the stripes is the give-way) (as is the man front right in case it is that side we are looking at).  There is a medal card for a 28094 Sergeant William Henry Bond Royal Engineers who finished in 1919 as a Transport Warrant Officer Class II but no other identifiable military records.  His company cannot be determined, there were many among the formations sent to Italy in 1917. 

MaxD

Title: Re: military men in Grantham a century ago needs help identification
Post by: tup1 on Wednesday 27 December 17 14:16 GMT (UK)

Hi tonepad,Many thanks for your reply and the Guardian site I have passed it on to the gentleman on Grantham Matters.

Kathy

Hi, MaxD, Very many thanks for all the information you have given me to send to the gentleman I am sure it will be a great help in his research.

Kathy