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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: bainmb on Saturday 16 September 17 20:00 BST (UK)
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Can anyone please help to identify which uniform this is? The youngster in the picture was born in 1913 which would possibly date the photo to around 1915. We know that the family lived near Kirkcaldy at the time but don't know anything about his military career.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Good evening,
He is private (gunner) in the royal artillery. If you give us his name, date of birth and where he is from the experts will be along to tell you more.
John915
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Thanks John915,
The details I have are:
His name is William Jones, born abt 1888 in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire. From 1911 he lived in Kelty, Fife. He married Martha T Izatt in Kelty, 1913.
If anyone has more info about his military career, it would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi, is it light reflected on the photograph, or is he wearing spurs?
Frank.
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Hi Frank,
I don't have the original photo, only a scanned copy. It certainly looks like something is attached to his boots.
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Good evening,
Yes he is wearing spurs and jodphurs so is a rider (driver). Unfortunately that doesn't help us at the moment. All branches of the RA used horses to haul guns and ammunition.
John915
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There is a :-
William Jones
Age 26
Birth year 1888
Birth town Blaenavon
Birth county Monmouthshire
Birth country Wales
Service number 291
Regiment Royal Horse & Field Artillery
Year 1914
Frank.
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Back again,
Good one Frank, looks like the right man.
John915
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Thanks Frank, This looks to be him.
I've searched on Ancestry and ForcesWarRecords but can't find anything for him. What's the best source to use to find details of his military service?
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He's your man, his records are on FindMyPast, his wife is shown as Martha Izatt, spinster.
Frank.
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That's brilliant.
Thanks for your help.
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That's brilliant.
Thanks for your help.
No worries, that's what we're all here for ;)
Frank.
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Hi, back again, your man landed in France on 10th May 1915, he was home on leave for 7 days from 21st until the 27th of May 1916 and then back to France.
He was in France for a total of 5 years and 215 days and was awarded:-
1914 - 1915 Star,
The British War Medal,
The Victory Medal,
Frank.
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A bit more to add to John and Frank.
He was in the Royal Field Artillery and was indeed a [horse] Driver - the reason the term Royal Field and Horse Artillery appears in the documentation is because both branches' records were dealt with by the same record office.
His overseas service that Frank spells out was firstly from 5 May 15 to 5 Jun 16 with the Ammunition Column of 50 Brigade RFA, one of the artillery units of the 9th (Scottish) Division. In Jun 16 the Ammunition Columns were re-organised so although his record says he transferred to 9th Divisional Ammunition Column, it was the same unit as before under new management if you will. He stayed with them until returning home in 1919.
Useful bit of reading here:
http://www.1914-1918.net/whatartbrig.htm
Their war diaries can be downloaded from the National Archives:
50 Brigade at
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352511 (relevant up to May 16)
9 DAC at
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7352517 for both
MaxD
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Thank you so much Frank and Max,
We'd hit a brick wall yesterday but thanks to you both we now have a wealth of information to bring his story to life.
You are absolute stars!