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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Annbee on Friday 27 January 23 04:05 GMT (UK)
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Hello, I hope someone can tell me one way or another if this might be a military photo.
It's of my Great Uncle, William Beach, who was born in 1879 in Birmingham, but who moved to Much Birch in Herefordshire with his family in the late 1880s. In the early 1900s he married Fanny and was living in Hereford and was a plumber.
I cannot seem to find his military records, if he served at all that is. His older brother and younger brother served in WW1 (his older brother was killed in France in 1816) - so I was thinking he might have joined as well.
This is the only photo I have of him; and it looks like a casual military dress to me - but is it?
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The man in the photo appears to be wearing something like an Australian slouch hat.
Are you sure the photo is of the person you say it is?
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Hello Neale,
Yes it is my Uncle. My cousin brought it over from England from the family album, along with another one of when he was older. He also looks like my Grandfather. But my cousin didn't seem to know much about the setting, just that it was William.
I did wonder if it was a Middle East scenario, hence the hat and the shorts. And that it looks like he's dressed for the heat. Plus it looks like he's wearing gaiters or puttees.
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It looks like a military photo.
Puttees on his legs, dog tags around his neck.
The slouch hat was worn by some units in the Second Boer War 1899-1902.
How old do you think he looks in the photo?
In his 20s for the Boer War
or
late 30s for WW1
Tony
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The slouch hat was worn by some units in the Second Boer War 1899-1902.
How old do you think he looks in the photo?
In his 20s for the Boer War
Hello Tony, thanks for looking. His age is hard to say from the photo: the scan was faulty and of poor quality, I've edited it to get it this visible. But also this lot from the family - my father, his twin and his father (one of William's brothers) aged really well - they always looked a lot younger than they were.
I am leaning on the feeling that William wouldn't have signed up for the Boer War. While quite a few Beaches served, and some died, in both World Wars, I haven't seen evidence of military service up until then. Also, since you suggested Boer War, I've just had a quick look on a couple of sites where you can enter names and William's doesn't come up. Still. I never say never.
Thanks!
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I have found Militia Attestation papers for a William Beach signing up for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1898 born Birmingham, aged 18yrs 9 months. Occupation polisher. Could that be him?
Pinetree
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Is there anything on the back of the photo to indicate where and when it was taken?
Tony
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There was a Charles William Hughes Beach born NSW 22 Sep 1898 joined the Australian Army as 54622
20 Mar1918
Perhaps a Cousin in the Photo ?
Were the Beach family already previously Australian Residents before your Family joined them ?
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Unfortunately I only received the scan. I think I asked my cousin at the time - but perhaps I'll have to return to her and ask again.
The photo would have been given to my grandfather who died in the 1960s; it was his photo album. It was probably one of those albums where people stuck in photos without descriptions, it was back in the 20's-40's. Luckily for my family, my father was reasonably meticulous with annotating his war service snapshots.
It looks like a casual photo for military don't you think. Almost like someone scraped the backdrop together. And that top is surely a version of underwear!
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That Australian Soldier named above Died 27 July 1967 in NSW
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I have found Militia Attestation papers for a William Beach signing up for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1898 born Birmingham, aged 18yrs 9 months. Occupation polisher. Could that be him?
Thanks Pinetree, I don't think he was ever a polisher but I'll recheck tomorrow and get back to you.
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That Australian Soldier named above Died 27 July 1967 in NSW
Do you mean William Beach Alamo2008?
No, that's not my Great Uncle William. Everyone in my Beach family is in the UK, except for my immediate family who migrated in my lifetime. All my research is UK or Scotland based (apart from a bit of Sweden).
William Beach is not an uncommon name; and there WAS one in Australia way back in the day, the champion rower! By coincidence my grandparents and great grandparents were rowers too in England, but the champion William wasn't related.
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Realise that Australian Soldier not your William
But remember
It is Not Uncommon to have Cousins named the Same Christian Names
Which never helps us Researchers
It is also Not Uncommon for Relatives to send a Photo to their Families in Correspondence and not Note the Rear of the Photo because everyone at the time knows who it is in the Photo.
But when the Photo is inherited in a House clearance
No one knows who it is then.
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It is Not Uncommon to have Cousins named the Same Christian Names
I understand now. But no, it's not a cousin, it's my grandfather's brother. Definitely him. I have him in a 1925 group family photo and my cousin and her 96 year old mother also identified him from other photos they have in England. The person in the photo is not the mystery, it's what he is up to in the photo :) But thanks Alamo for your interest, much appreciated.
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I agree with tonepad, Military photo circa Boer war or 1WW I lean towards the Boer war though.