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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: madfan on Saturday 12 January 08 17:52 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I'm trying to confirm if this photo was taken in India during WW1. I have no regiment details, all I know is that the gentleman on the left is my great uncle Philip McConnell born 1896 and he was living in Staffordshire when the War started. I have found 4 medal cards but none are for a Staffs regiment. Not sure if anyone can help with so few details?
Thanks
Zoe
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Hi Zoe,
Can you get any clues from the writing at the bottom of the photo? It's too small for my eyes but could it be the name of the photographer?
Nanny Jan
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Hi Nanny Jan
Thanks for replying. It says Ram Nath R. A Bazar. I've tried googling it but couldn't find anything connecting it a photography studio/photographer, but I think Ramnath is an indian name?
Zoe
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Hi Zoe,
Well it does sound Indian. Is there anything on the back of the photo?
Nanny Jan
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Hi Nanny Jan,
I have only a copy of the original, however I have seen the original but sadly there was nothing on the back. I've made it my new years resolution to label any photos I take now!
Zoe
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Hi Zoe,
I tried googling R A Bazaar and found various news reports about Rawalpindi; think I'm clutching at straws here but would that fit with anything you know about your great uncle?
Nanny Jan
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Thats the problem the only info I have on him in this time period is this photo, I know he survived the war but thats all, don't know which regiment he was in.
I've noticed that he and the man sitting down have lanyards (is that the right term?) and I think I've seen somewhere on here that they have some significance but can't remember what. If I could find out his regiment that would help. Thanks for the info about Rawalpindi, I'll have a look into that, may give me some more clues.
Thanks again for your help
Zoe
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there's no regimental significance to the lanyard, it's probably holding a pocket knife in his top pocket
it's a very small photo but i doubt if there's anything there to id the uniform, we should be looking for badges on the helmets and epaulettes mainly and there may be shoulder titles there but the picture is too small to make anything out
it's early war, no medal ribbons and thats about it!
chris
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Hi Zoe !!
Really hard to say .... there 's really nothing to identify the regiment .... sometimes they had coloured patches ... different shapes etc on their helmets ... but your soldier doesn't !
All I can say is it's a tropical uniform ! ::) ..... the pleats in the top pockets are early or pre war !!
He didn't neccessarily have to join the Staffs just because he lived there .... regiments recruited from all over the country !
Annie :)
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Hi Harribobs and Annie, thankyou for your replies
there's no regimental significance to the lanyard, it's probably holding a pocket knife in his top pocket
chris
Thanks for clearing that up harribobs
There does seem to be a badge on the shoulder on the man sitting down, but its not clear on the photo or when I make it bigger so no help there :(
He didn't neccessarily have to join the Staffs just because he lived there .... regiments recruited from all over the country !
Annie :)
I thought that might be the case Annie, I think this is going to be another one of those mysteries which I seem to be having a lot of recently :(
Thankyou both again for your input
Zoe