RootsChat.Com
Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: ryan37 on Wednesday 23 May 18 13:56 BST (UK)
-
wondered if anyone can tell me the era and what is the subject of the photo. it was among my smith family collection
any help given is appreciated
ryan
-
Looks like a howitzer to me and they look like a cleaning detail.
Regards
Chas
-
Thanks very much may I ask what that means please
Ryan
-
Hi Ryan,
I am just surmising (because I was RAF and not Army), but -
The parts of the gun that we can see look very clean and shiny. The end of the barrel is a brass ring and it looks polished and the rest of the barrel looks shiny. Same with the wheel hubs.
Three men that I can see are holding rags for cleaning, or polishing. Their whole demeanour suggests that they are taking a break from working, not proudly showing off their gun.
I think that the day was either late Autumn, Winter, or early Spring. The day was bright, but chilly - they are for the most part all buttoned up.
They have the look of a "Defaulters Work Party" - soldiers who have been charged with some minor infringement. Boots not highly polished, being out of step on parade and the like. It is the military way of getting all the general housekeeping work done on a camp. There is always something that needs to be painted, or swept, or polished.
I think that the "two striper", on the right, was the man in charge.
Regards
Chas
-
Thank you for your excellent information would it be world war 1 or 2?
Ryan
-
I think WWI.
Regards
Chas
-
I can't get better definition on this enlarghement of the cap badge.
I don't recognise it, so I'll have to go searching, but perhaps another Rootschatter can identify the regiment.
Philip
ADDED - could it be the Royal Artillery or West Riding Royal Horse Artillery?
-
It could be WW1 or 1920's, possibly even 1930's. I'm intrigued by the apparently flanged wheels on the gun. Per the Wiki article on the 6-inch 26 cwt howitzer "Towards the end of the war solid rubber tyres were fitted over the iron tyres on the wheel rims, giving the rims a heavier appearance".
The badges are all Royal Artillery.
-
Thanks for your very valuable info folks I appreciate that ,
Would it be my relative George smith who was in the Gordon Highlanders , he died in 1917
He was originally 4th batt and then 5th batt for a while then onto 2nd batt I’m not knowledgeable in the the war info but wonder if this is why the photo is among our collection ?
Service number 202805
But might b completely wrong
-
Would it be my relative George smith who was in the Gordon Highlanders , he died in 1917
The Gordon Highlanders cap badge is very different. You would need to find an ancestor who served in the Artillery.
Philip
-
Would it be my relative George smith who was in the Gordon Highlanders , he died in 1917
The Gordon Highlanders cap badge is very different. You would need to find an ancestor who served in the Artillery.
Philip
I agree with Philip.
Although it was not unheard of for a soldier to transfer from one regiment to another (and be re-badged), it would have been a rare occurrence. Your George Smith would have had to have had previous training or experience or a particular aptitude for mathematics (trajectories) for example.
Could it be another relative as yet unknown?
Regards
Chas
-
It could be John smith his brother but I’m not sure of his titles in the services
It’s very sad that the Knowledge is lost sometimes through generations if this photo had only had a name or clue on the back
Il keep trying to gain more clues
Thank you
-
Good evening,
I would say possibly post war but before they changed to pneumatic tyres. The corporal has no medal ribbons but he and the man in front of him are wearing collar badges, not worn during the war.
Apart from the corporal who obviously doesn't want to get his hands dirty they are wearing fatigues. This is the working dress used instead of getting your battledress dirty. It will be the gun crew not defaulters, every crew would be responsible for their own guns upkeep.
I think also this is a territorial unit rather than regulars, the corporal appears to have a "T" above his shoulder title.
The end of the barrel will be polished steel rather than brass, another indicator that this is post war. Bonding brass to the end of the barrel is something iv'e never seen on a gun, it would have a tendancy to loosen in use.
John915
-
Thanks for the very interesting detail il record it
Thanks for your time and knowledge
Ryan
-
My first thought on seeing this was annual camp which sort of slots into John915's info. TF's & Reservists were obliged to attend an annual camp for a 5/6 week period during the summer months.
-
thank you very much
-
Could be " The Royal Regiment of Artillery" cap badge
Suggest :- Photo late 1920's to full 1930's above Regulars or TA or WW2
-
Tried to get a better cap badge picture but...
-
As images