Can anyone help me identify ANY details on this photo?

[Daisy Loo]

Hi...

The middle guy is Walter John Hilsden, my grandfather.  I know nothing at all about his army service, only that he went to Holland at some point.  Can I get any further detail from the uniform?  I would like to apply for his service record, but other than his name, date of birth, I have no further details.

Help....please?

Cheers

Daisy Loo

[scrimnet]

Well....Your granddad has a Mk2 Sten, and the other chap what looks like a No4 Lee Enfield...But neither of them have any means of carrying ammunition...They have no webbing!

The bike he is holding is an Edwardian one...

Possibly Holland....But as for Regt....

I'm sorry but there are no discernible tribal distinctions on him or his oppo!

The L/Cpl behind him has an Arm of Service Strip above his chevron, but this could be one of several, and the Divisional Sign above that is too indistinct to make out any detail. I cannot see any shoulder titles to confirm anything either I'm afraid.

They have berets on, so apres 1943 at least!

The uniforms are 1937ptn Battledress.

Have you any other pics of him in uniform?

[Daisy Loo]

hello sweetness...you are doing a great job!

I don't have any photos of him in uniform...but I do have better pics of his brother...don't think that would help though as more than likely the two brothers signed up to 2 different reg's as they totally HATED each other!...

...okay...just pumped my father again!  and he said he was in the Royal Electro-Mechanical Engineers...?

Can I find out more on just that info?

Scrim, (darling, dearest!)  i have a few more photos of my great-grandfather as well, who served in first world war, but have found no records for him.  I have pics of him in uniform as well....will I start a new post?

Cheers...

[scrimnet]

REME....

Hmmm....might figure with the AOS strip....

Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers...Or 'Reck Everything, Mechanical and Electrical!

They followed the Army around and Light Aid Detachments were attached to all units (LADs).

Still around today...

http://www.army.mod.uk/reme/reme.aspx

Pse do start a new WW1 thread...We loves piccies!

[Daisy Loo]

thanks for the link...

would I be able to get his records based on just the details I have?

[grandarog]

Your Chappie has certainly got a well filled breast pocket on his BD Blouse. Unless the Magazine is laying behind his back the Sten doesnt look to have the mag on by the angle its resting in the photo.

[scrimnet]

Stens and the later SMG were notorious in that Stens either jammed with the slightest bit of dirt in the mag...And they both went off with a ND if they were dropped!!!

No one except those wanted to be place on a 252 would leave a mag in with no enemy in sight!!!


Sorry mate...I added this to your post...I accidentally pressed modify instead of reply!!

[grandarog]

No probs Scrim,
                          I just wondered as there is no sign of a mag whether it was fitted as I am sure it should have been with him.. Suppose he could have just about have fitted in the dressing pocket on his left leg, looks like something laying diagonally in there.
                                                                                Rog.

Ps: I remember a range orderly banging a sten down on its butt with a couple of rounds in the mag to demonstrate how the safety catch didnt work and if it was set to auto the magazine would empty.