Recognise Unit or Regiment please

[MaxD]

I don't find him in the "born before 1901" listings but I'm not sure whether the 8 documents I have are the full record of those whose record is still held by MOD?

Jim1 has already suggested a home only service.

MaxD

[jim1]

How sure are you that this is Alexander Robson in the 2nd. photo.
He would have been 40 at the outbreak of war  & this man doesn't look that old to me.

[MaxD]

Good spot Jim

MaxD

[BW252]

Could the WO2s 1st medal be the DCM???

[jim1]

Not asked for but I thought they deserved a tidy up.

[Christianmpoulsen]

I have been told on good authority that both photographs are said Alexander Robson, but I have no other photos to compare with, so it is possible the earlier photo isn’t him, or indeed both photos. I think I can see a resemblance though and it looks like the same person?

In terms of WW1, I have no idea at all whether it was home service only. This is what I’m trying to find out. I also have no idea when either of the two photographs would have been taken.

May I just double check that everyone agrees it is the Machine Gun Corps? I can easily read the M but struggle with the G and C, but equally don’t know what other Regiment options there could be.

Would the advice be to try MOD records?

IF this is my great grandfather Alexander, in both photos, I would guess that he would be 25-35 years old in the younger photo (alone) making the year range 1899-1909 and perhaps 35-45 in the older photo (seated with the other two) making the year range 1909-1919. I stress this is a complete guess just based on how he looks, and doesn’t take into account war years / regiments / medals etc.

[Christianmpoulsen]

Not asked for but I thought they deserved a tidy up.

Thanks Jim, good job...I haven’t yet loaded photos onto Lightroom, but will also be tidying up. I’ve only just received them and am really keen to find out what I can, and hopefully link it for certain to my great grandfather.

[jim1]

Definitely MGC the cap badge is very distinctive & unlike any other.
The tunic is a 1908 pattern however this was replaced in 1916 with the economy tunic which differs slightly but noticeably from this one.
As the MGC was formed in 1917 it can't be earlier.
In the 1st. photo they have medal ribbons which were awarded from 1921/22. By this time the economy tunic was replaced again by this style.
So that gives a definite time when these were taken.
You may need to look for someone else.

[Christianmpoulsen]

Definitely MGC the cap badge is very distinctive & unlike any other.
The tunic is a 1908 pattern however this was replaced in 1916 with the economy tunic which differs slightly but noticeably from this one.
As the MGC was formed in 1917 it can't be earlier.
In the 1st. photo they have medal ribbons which were awarded from 1921/22. By this time the economy tunic was replaced again by this style.
So that gives a definite time when these were taken.
You may need to look for someone else.

Thanks Jim
So that would make him 46/47, at the youngest, in the first photo - which I suppose at a push is possible

Are you suggesting the second photo would have to have been 1917 or later? That would mean he would have been at least 42. I agree that he looks younger than this, so either that photo is a different person, or he aged well (and I didn’t inherit those genes sadly!)

Working on the premise that it IS him, where should I go next to try to find his records please?