Help regiment from uniform please

[MUMMYG]

Hi
Can anyone identify a regiment and possibly rank from this photo, I know he fought in the 2nd Boer war.  He was born in  1871 in  St Helens Lancashire.

 

[Hollander]

Hi MummyG.

It's difficult to make insignia etc out from your photo. Would it be possible to scan at a higher definition?

Alternatively, if you do know who he was, it may be worth checking the nominal and medal rolls on Kevin Asplin's site. See link below:-

http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/intro.html

[MUMMYG]

Sorry its a bad photo I know, I dont have the original, its with my mother, Ill try to make it clearer if I can.

The soldiers name is Thomas Bebbington, just thought it would make it easier to search for medals etc with the regiment at least, also do you  think the inverted stripes on wrist are a sergeant insignia or good service awards?

I searched the whole of Kevins site with no luck, thanks a lot anyway.

[km1971]

Lots of St Helens men joined the South Lancashire Regiment. They shared a headquarters in Orton Barracks, Warrington with the Liverpools. The South Lancs had white facings - collars and cuffs, which matches the photograph; while the Liverpools had blue. There were other Lancashire regiments with white facings, but the South Lancs were the closest to St Helens.

He is wearing two good conduct 'badges' - the chevrons over his left cuff. Two GC badges meant five years service after enlisting, so point to the first half of 1890s. He is a Private.

You should check Findmypast when they release the surviving papers for men discharged 1900 to 1913. They are due 'this month'.

Ken

[MUMMYG]

Thanks for that

I thought it may be a Lancashire regiment but you never know with soldiers, I have come across some unusual affiliations such as a Suffolk man in the Derbyshire regiment.

I will await with baited breath the release of further on Findmypast, I didnt realise further records would be so soon.

Regards

[MUMMYG]

After looking for other photos of Lancashire regiments,  it looks like Ill have to agree with KM that it is South Lancs, I cant make the photo any clearer and will have to wait until my mother is home from holiday to see if I can see any collar button detail on the original, but its doubtful.

Can you suggest another place to look for medal rolls QSA or KSA.  Ive tried to look on TNA but got nowhere found some Thomas's in WW1 medal rolls but none in SLRegiment (I suppose he could have changed by then)

[km1971]

Boer War medal rolls are not online. You could try the British Medal Forum in case a South Lancs specialist has printed it off. Otherwise they are on microfilm in Kew.

I take it you have looked for any WW1 papers on Ancestry? If he re-enlisted it should give details of any previous service.

Ken

[MUMMYG]

Thanking you, I will try them.

I have not checked ancestry lately as Im lapsed but I did check a while ago and Ive checked Findmypast and TNA medal rolls, there are some Thomases but not for South Lancs some other Lancs and Chechire regiments only ?

I was told he was gassed in WW1 but you know how these things go...no luck yet, I will wait for further WO97 on Findmypast

Gill

[englandphil]

Hi Gill, on the 1911 cenus, there is a Thomas W Bebbington, aged 41 (b 1871) living at Bold Cottages Jubetts Lane Widnes.  Having searched ancestry WW1 Medal Roles, there are only a small number Thomas W bebbington's listed.

Name: Thomas W Bebbington
Regiment or Corps: Liverpool Regiment
Regimental Number: 93746

Name: Thomas W Bebbington
Regiment or Corps: Army Service Corps
Regimental Number: DM2/209200

Name: Thomas W Bebbington
Regiment or Corps: Army Service Corps
Regimental Number: M/301537