Identification please c.1919

[fairlane]

I'm amazed at the wealth of knowledge out there - can anyone help with Grandad. Family folklore has it that he was in the 17/21st Lancers but no concrete evidence. I do know that he looked after horses in the desert somewhere!

Fairlane

[mmm45]

Fairlane
do you have anymore information such as a service number?

I checked the ww1 medal index cards online for any Lancers with the name Walter Edwards and came up blank.....He may not have joined up until after the war.

There were a couple of Edwards  W but all had a middle initial.

The only similar match was Walter Edwards 4274 Lancashire Hussars and 276997 Corps of Hussars for the 14-18 MICS

Hes definately some kind of horse mounted troop with the spurs and the bandolier and trousers.

Ady

[harribobs]

what we really need is a new scan of just the helmet ( not just a crop) at a high resolution so we can make out the badge

my gut feeling is mounted infantry but i have nothing really to base this on 

[fairlane]

Thanks for the info. Walter was born in 1896 and he was in England in 1819 as Dad was born in Jan 1820. I've tried to crop and then rescan at higher resolution so here goes...

best wishes Fairlane

[harribobs]

i was hoping i could see a badge there, but it looks like a divisional flash, perhaps someone else can recognise it

[genechaser]

Hi

The 17/21 Lancers amalgamated on the 27 June 1922. Looking at the hat, this would confirm that he was in either Egypt or India.
From 1930 they were in Egypt and from 1932 to 1936 they were in India. During the First War both units were in France, so, photograph must have been taken between the above years.

[harribobs]

assuming he is a death or glory boy

fairlane

let's try another scan, this time try and capture the badge on his epaulette

[fairlane]

Walter was definitely in Uk from 1923 so presumeably that rules out the Lancers - another family myth bites the dust! He was living in Withington/Gatley area of Manchester and was not a career soldier. Sadly I have no service no. etc. I have tried to rescan at higher resolution but the photo is not clear. Thanks for your assistance so far.

Best wishes, Fairlane