Mystery Photo

[pendlelad]

Hi there,

We have this photograph in our possession, of my Great grandfather's brother (Harry Nutter born 1889, Colne, Lancs, England). It shows him on the left, walking down a street in his uniform with two other military men. We know that Harry was in the Navy during WW1 and there is a couple of documents relating to it, but we know nothing about what he did later on in WW2 (don't know the exact date of this photo, could be pre-1939). If anyone could give me any clues from his uniform etc. i would be very grateful (sorry for the bad quality, it is quite a small blurry picture).

Thanks.

[MaxD]

This is a photo of a Royal Artillery Sergeant, post Great War (he is wearing the three Great War medal ribbons).

There is a medal card  for 92653 Gnr Harry Nutter of the Royal Field Artillery which would match (there are two others with the same name  but both did not survive the war).

If he lived in Barker House Road Nelson after the war then part of his his record is on Ancestry which seems to put the navy service in doubt?

maxD

[pendlelad]

This is a photo of a Royal Artillery Sergeant, post Great War (he is wearing the three Great War medal ribbons).

There is a medal card  for 92653 Gnr Harry Nutter of the Royal Field Artillery which would match (there are two others with the same name  but both did not survive the war).

If he lived in Barker House Road Nelson after the war then part of his his record is on Ancestry which seems to put the navy service in doubt?

maxD

Hi maxD,

Thanks for the reply,

I think the Harry who lived on Barkerhouse Road is a different man (probably the one down on the 1911 census as being born in Nelson and living in Nelson. I you want to see my Harry's WW1 navy records then the links are below- We know he served on HMS Ajax at the battle of Jutland. There is also a picture of him in Toronto? in 1917 wearing a white uniform.

https://ibb.co/jTyETv
https://ibb.co/ffAiMF
https://ibb.co/bEq6aa
https://ibb.co/hekTov

Thanks for the info about the medal ribbons, i didn't know about that.

Pendlelad

[MaxD]

Got it I think.  The third of your links (his RN record) seems to have the clue.  It appears to record his enlistment after the war in the Lancashire and Cheshire Heavy Brigade Royal Artillery TA.  The uniform is correct and the three medal ribbons accord with the medals earned by your Harry. 

maxD

[pendlelad]

Got it I think.  The third of your links (his RN record) seems to have the clue.  It appears to record his enlistment after the war in the Lancashire and Cheshire Heavy Brigade Royal Artillery TA.  The uniform is correct and the three medal ribbons accord with the medals earned by your Harry. 

maxD

maxD,

Fantastic! I never noticed that on the record. Silly me. Would there be any way of obtaining his service records in this regiment or not? Im not an expert on military records as you know so I dont't know if there is open access to them yet. I doubt Harry would have left Britain's shores to serve abroad (bit i dont want to assume anything).

Thanks again for your help.
Pendlelad

[MaxD]

I can't find any evidence that the unit continued in some form into the Second war (care needed, there was also a Lancashire and Cheshire Royal Garrison Artillery which did continue as a Coast regiment)   ** see later post and whether your man served again  - don't know although he would have been 50 at the outbreak of war so unlikely.  If he did,  then his record would be with all the other post 1920 records still with MOD https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview .

The National Archive guide on TA soldiers is here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/volunteers-territorials/ so I think the first thing is to try to find a local archive that might hold such records.  Apart from having a Nelson born brother in law, my knowledge of such facilities in the area is non-existent I'm afraid.

maxD

[seaweed]

The first two links you gave

https://ibb.co/jTyETv and https://ibb.co/ffAiMF  Cards CR1 and CS10 are Merchant Navy records. Looks like he served  in MN for a year or so.

Not sure if the photograph is "Toronto" Would he be wearing whites in North America?
Looks like a Topee on the table. In Toronto? or is it there for show.

[Jool]

Hi, I wonder if the writing on the photo says Taranto (Italy), not Toronto, Canada,  .  The climate might better suit a Topee.

[HMac]

Hi, I wonder if the writing on the photo says Taranto (Italy), not Toronto, Canada,  .  The climate might better suit a Topee.

I think you are correct. If you cross refer the date of the photo 10.8.1917 and you look at his service record - he was aboard HMS QUEEN at this time - she was depot ship at Taranto.

Just to add to seaweed's post, I have him in Merchant Navy aboard ss BENEDICT and also ss STEPHEN in 1923. It is unlikely he was serving after 1924.

Regards
Hugh