Author Topic: Is this a Military Uniform?  (Read 1433 times)

Offline Mellz

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 4
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Is this a Military Uniform?
« on: Sunday 06 April 08 19:26 BST (UK) »
Hello...this is my 1st post and I hope I'm in the right section?..If not ..sorry!

I wondered if some one could take a look at this pic of my Gt Grandfather, John Taylor born Bolton 1876.
He seems to be wearing some kind of uniform? But it has no decorative buttons, belts or even pockets! He would've been about 40 in 1916..possibly too old for active service in WW1??

As far as I'm aware he worked in the textile mills all of his life.

Any help would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Mellz

Offline meles

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,472
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 06 April 08 19:35 BST (UK) »
Hello, Mellz, and welcome to Rootschat! Yes, this is the right place.

And I agree, it does look very blank. Maybe he is modelling a uniform for the company he worked for...?

meles

Brock: Alburgh, Norfolk, and after 1850, London; Tooley: Norfolk<br />Grimmer: Norfolk; Grimson: Norfolk<br />Harrison: London; Pollock<br />Dixon: Hampshire; Collins: Middx<br />Jeary: Norfolk; Davison: Norfolk<br />Rogers: London; Bartlett: London<br />Drew: Kent; Alden: Hants<br />Gamble: Yorkshire; Huntingford: East London

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline mmm45

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,223
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 06 April 08 19:38 BST (UK) »
Maybe its a Volunteer Battalion uniform....WW1 sort of Home Guard??? They were different colour to the Khaki ones of the Great War period.
Lowe(Lower Gornall-Castleford)
Blackburn (Castleford)
Sidwell(Ledsham)
Fairburn(Hartshead)
Wood(Liversedge)
Tallon (Whittington Lancs/Hartshead West Yorkshire)

Researching all Great War soldiers from the Spen Valley of West Yorkshire Especially lads from the Cleckheaton Company of 1/4th West Riding Regiment.

Offline scrimnet

  • Global Moderator
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,197
  • No plan ever survives first contact...
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 06 April 08 20:19 BST (UK) »
WW1 Emergency Blue Uniform...The Kitchener bns ran out of khaki and these were issued.

It is usual for little or no unit identification to be present...

Interestingly after the war the uniforms went to the "Lunatic Asylums" for inmates uniforms....This is not as he has a hat on!!!!
One more charge and then be dumb,
            When the forts of Folly fall,
        May the victors when they come
            Find my body near the wall.


Offline scrimnet

  • Global Moderator
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,197
  • No plan ever survives first contact...
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 06 April 08 20:23 BST (UK) »
Here's a pic with full kit on....

One more charge and then be dumb,
            When the forts of Folly fall,
        May the victors when they come
            Find my body near the wall.

Offline scrimnet

  • Global Moderator
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,197
  • No plan ever survives first contact...
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 06 April 08 20:41 BST (UK) »
There are a number of John Taylors on the MIC index...

http://www.rootschat.com/links/035d/ 
One more charge and then be dumb,
            When the forts of Folly fall,
        May the victors when they come
            Find my body near the wall.

Offline scrimnet

  • Global Moderator
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,197
  • No plan ever survives first contact...
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 06 April 08 21:02 BST (UK) »
There is one but serving under an alias..


http://www.rootschat.com/links/035e/
One more charge and then be dumb,
            When the forts of Folly fall,
        May the victors when they come
            Find my body near the wall.

Offline Mellz

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 4
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 06 April 08 23:24 BST (UK) »
Thanks for all your speedy replies!

Does this mean my Gt Grandfather could have been in The Kitchener battalion then?

I have looked at the link for the MIC index but with a name like John Taylor I think there's little hope of finding the correct one...the alias link is for James Taylor?? (I wonder why he had an alias name??)

I have noticed a small pin type badge on his cap but I can't make out what it is (At least the fact he had a cap means he wasn't a candidate for the lunatic asylum..phew!)

Best wishes
Mellz

Offline scrimnet

  • Global Moderator
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,197
  • No plan ever survives first contact...
    • View Profile
Re: Is this a Military Uniform?
« Reply #8 on: Monday 07 April 08 00:06 BST (UK) »
There was more than one Kitchener bn!!! There were more than 500,000 men in several tranches

Most towns supplied at least one bn for the local Regt...Some two or three...

Yhe small pin may even be a button, or yes even a pin badge...both were used in the early days in place of cap badges which were VERY short supply...
One more charge and then be dumb,
            When the forts of Folly fall,
        May the victors when they come
            Find my body near the wall.