William (Billy) Ryan COMPLETED.

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Of all the Irish Guards buttons I can find...all of them just have the harp and crown...nothing like the cap badge with the shamrock in the middle...even some kings crown ones...

Perhaps it's someone else....

Yes, on reflection, if he were a guardsman there would be some sort of emblem above his shoulder title, according to army clothing regulations 1914, eg; for a Coldstream Guard the initials CG with a rose above it; the Irish Guards would have initials IG with a star above.  So it looks we'll have to try elewhere ....!     

Anne

[Alan Ryan]

Just received an email overnight from Oz suggesting that granddad was in the Veterinary Corps, does that make sense and/or explain the buttons ?

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Hi Alan

I can't comment on what the Veterinary Corps buttons are like, but there is certainly a medal index card for a William Ryan who served with them:

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

Hopefully, someone can confirm the similarity in the buttons. 

[Alan Ryan]

Thanks Anne, I did have a thought today, that maybe if he/they were attached to a certain regiment they may wear the buttons of the "adopted Regiment", but that's just the thoughts of a complete numpty in millitary matters. 

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Hi Alan 

Your thoughts/ideas are as good as anybody elses.  I somehow don't think they would change the buttons though, but I am not sure either!!

Looks like you'll need to do a bit of reading up on what their actual role was!  ie, did they mostly work in the rear; at a headquarters, or did some do work at the front? 

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Alan a link for you to ponder on, 200 years of history of the Royal Army Veterinary Corp:)

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

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And yet another link on the Army Veterinary Corp during the Great War:   

http://www.1914-1918.net/vets.htm

[Alan Ryan]

A final thanks to everybody for your help, you gave me all the angles and I've now confirmed the buttons are AVC as is the shoulder badge. One mystery remains, the buttons were only worn by NCO's but the medal card says he's a Pte. However he was evidently allowed to wear them if he paid for them privately, or so I'm told.      Alan