William (Billy) Ryan COMPLETED.

[Alan Ryan]

Have only just acquired this Photo of my granddad, of which nothing is known prior to 1916. He was born 1/4/1893 in Bradford and adopted in Hemsworth. Can anybody I.D. the uniform or buttons ? and would it be too much to ask if anybody could locate a service record (presumably he wasn't just having a laugh in fancy dress). Thanks. Alan.

[mmm45]

Allan can you get a better scan of one of the buttons and of the shoulder title.....I was going to have a guess at one of the Guards Regiments but not 100%.

[Alan Ryan]

Sorry, that's as good as it gets. the original is a passport sized photo I believe, which lives in Australia. This copy is from a post card sized picture sent by snail mail from my uncle. Not a lot to show for 23 years of his life. Alan.

[mmm45]

He was Killed in action then??

[Alan Ryan]

Sorry again, I meant that apart from his birth cert, this photo is everything I know about him for his first 23 years, he died in 1962 but kept his early life a complete secret (painfull memories), not even my late dad had any idea. This photo would suggest he may have ventured over the channel during WW1 but it's all guess work, can't wait for the 1911 census to see if there was any sign of him there. Alan

[atom12]

Hi 

Hard to define, but on viewing the photo he looks like he could be a guardsman.  Either Coldstream or Irish.  However, I tried to find a William Ryan under Coldstream Guards and nothing appeared on the first few pages.

However, a number of Irish Guards appeared on the first page (even tho' I'd requested Coldstream!).

The buttons are wrong for a Scots Guardsman. Here's the link to the page I mentioned, meantime:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/02qq/

[scrimnet]

Looks like a cross in the middle of the star (to my younger eyes  )

Ergo a Coldstreamer?

[Alan Ryan]

Thanks everybody for your help so far, I'm still looking for an Irish guard button but the Coldstream button looks spot on.

[atom12]

Hi Alan

I did try to find a Coldstreamer for you in the MICs, but as mentioned none appeared.

Though Scrimnet's eyes are about  one year younger than mine ... lol ..., I have had another go at determining the badge with my vari-focals and  the help of my grandson, who has very good eye-sight.

We are leaning more to the button being an Irish Guards - with the shamrock in the middle as the shape in the centre of the button does not appear to have the sharpness of the Coldstream cross.