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OK 
So I looked the tree up, but I didn't find an Ernest. 

The earliest Ridgway I have is William b circa 1816 in Devon, England.  He's married to an Elizabeth.

His son is Samuel b Burlescombe, Devon Feb 1838 d 27 Jul 1901 West Monkton married to Jane Thorne b Aisholt 1825 d 11 Nov 1897

His only son is William b 1863 Bridgewater, Somerset d 2 May 1895 Carlton( Victoria, Australia) married to Sarah Rossiter b 1865 Taunton, Somerset d 1950 (Sarah Pring)

Their only two surviving children where Lily b 1886 and Oliver b 1885 (Tasmania).

So, the closest Ridgway would be William and Elizabeth's children (which I only have Samuel recorded), unless Samuel was married before he married Jane. 

It will be interesting to see where everything fits.  Tristi

My father's grandfather was William Fowkes b 1877 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
I am looking for a service record of this man, but don't know where to start.  I'd like to be able to purchase replica medals if any were awarded and clear up some family stories.

My father remembers that his grandfather had a piece of shrapnel in his back, that he was able to feel through the skin when he was a small boy.  On talking to some family members, there seems to be some consistent stories:

He served in the 2nd Boer War

He was a 'yeoman' or 'beefeater'

In 1901 he was living with his wife and two children at 9 Manor Rd, Kingsthorpe, Northampton and was a bootmaker.  His children were born in the following years:
1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1905 etc. (many others to follow)
If he served in the Boer war, it seems logical that he would have been in the Northamptonshire Regiment - but I'm not even sure he would have time to serve in between all of that baby making.

Thank you for your help, and if you need any more information, let me know

You gurs are amazing!  I never would have figured out all those letters without your help. 
Augustine, you are right...there is a hole through the 'f' where a tack has been pressed through.  I assumed that it had been sent to Kornelia, who had pinned it up on her notice board.  But on closer inspection maybe the hole does mark a prominent or important house.
Excuse my ignorance of German, but what does the inscription mean?  I automatically translated it, and got:  hir we are approximate. 
I think the inscription is pointing out the house, but am at a loss to phrase it properly.  Perhaps:  "We are about here?" or "We're staying approximately here?"
Cheers, Tristi

Thanks for the link!
Now I have a much better idea of what the German army did in Palestine in the period.  The clothing is quite similar, but I don't think close enough to satisfy my curiosity...the photo I have seems to have lighter coloured material and the hats are quite different.  It almost seems like the people in the link you gave me have uniforms made out of a crisp material - well pressed, whereas the picture I have is all wrinkly.  Like the difference between a flannelet shirt and a pressed linen shirt. 
I've written down the troop movements though.  I'll keep looking on this one. 
Cheers and thanks for your help.  Tristi

Hello,
I've already posted this photo on another thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=431161.msg2957079
and Peonie helped me figure out what was written on the back. 

Can you help me figure out whether the man in the hat is wearing a uniform?

It's c1916 (roughly) and definitely taken in Palestine (Israel), but all of the people in the photo are German colonists in Haifa.  Most of them are members of the Woerz family. 

Possibilities for the man in the hat:
Friedrich Woerz geb 1883
Immanuel Katz geb 1896 and husband to Bertha (1st from right)
Mystery man.

Thanks for your time.
Tristi