Help with military uniform please.

[V60pdb]

This is Thomas William Green B1901 in Birmingham ( too young for WW1 do you think).
Later in life people remember him in a Scots uniform.
We are intrigued as to what uniform he is wearing in the picture.
Can anybody help?

[MaxD]

The most significant thing about his uniform is the light (white?) lanyard on his left shoulder.  He has shoulder titles but they aren't readable.  White lanyards have had more ink and sometimes furious argument expended on them than perhaps any other uniform element - which shoulder - when first worn - by which regiments - braided or plain - etc ad nauseam infinitum. Although the Royal Artillery at some time during the Great War moved the lanyard to the right shoulder to get it out of the way of the bandolier, it was worn on the left and was braided. One example here https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=white+lanyard+royal+artillery&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB703GB703&tbm=isch&imgil=zlh_J4KLE4chcM%253A%253BfRKHzEeY3LFg9M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Farmy.wyedeanstores.com%25252Frac-ra-white-macrame-lanyard&source=iu&pf=m&fir=zlh_J4KLE4chcM%253A%252CfRKHzEeY3LFg9M%252C_&usg=__UPVjLhA6so0_9ybh_6uRT78j50E%3D&biw=1920&bih=950&ved=0ahUKEwiTjamwpMfVAhWrIcAKHcCdCU0QyjcIaw&ei=_n6JWZOWLKvDgAbAu6boBA#imgrc=Bsbavg-X-P4qEM:

So I am going for a Royal Artilleryman.  I am not sure but weren't Scots regiments tunics all cut away at the front, this one isn't so not Scots in this pic.  Others may have a view.

maxD

[V60pdb]

Thanks for that information. It looks to us as though the shoulder titles are deep which would point towards him being a Territorial. He looks very young too. Could he have served in WW1 if he was born in 1901?

[MaxD]

Officially no but many did!

The shoulder titles do seem to have two parts similar to those comprising a letter and a perhaps county name.

But, his uniform is not the post 1915 (ish) economy pattern which had no pocket pleats and shoulder patches so is either pre war (unlikely because of his age) or perhaps post war although I am not sure when the normal pattern tunic came back.  That's a puzzle I haven't got an answer for.

maxD

[V60pdb]

Thanks for your help on this. It's much appreciated.

[John915]

Good morning,

If I recall correctly the pleats were returned before the end of the war but not 100% sure.

I would say post war, no medal ribbons, no overseas stripes, no wound stripes, no trade badges, no markings of any type.

John915

[jim1]

I would agree also this is post WW1. I believe the pleated pockets returned pretty soon after the war around 1920.
For most Regiments the lanyard moved to the right shoulder (arguably) around 1924.
The white bench used as a prop was popular in the 1920's/30's & you don't really see it before that.
So I would suggest 1920-4.