Tatty photo of my great Grandad, any chance of restoration

[chris_g_f]

I know nothing about this man in the attached photo, only that he is my great grandad. My Grandad was orphaned at an early age all he had was this photo and one of his mother and sister and the clothes he stood up in.  He told me that his father was rarely at home when he was a boy he remembers little about him except his name was Thomas Jones.  Not an easy name to find.  My Grandfather didn't know his own date of birth until he finally got his birth certificate in the 1970s for his pension and bus pass.  My Grandad was born somewhere between 1903 and 1905 he refused to show anyone his birth certificate and burned it soon after he got it.  When he died in 1989 we registered him as born Crewe 1905 but subsequent serches have drawn a blank.  He insisted that this man in the photo is his father and I have to admit I do see a family resemblence but I can't be sure.  Can it be restored a little or is it too far gone and is anyone able to identify the regiment.  My Grandad thinks it was the Cheshire regiment as his sister being about 4 years older than him remembered that being mentioned but other than that we have no idea.  Grandad thinks his father served in India too but it is all hear say.  Trying to find a Jones when you don't even have a place or proper date of birth is like seaching for a needle in a hay stack. Any help would be brilliant.

[jim1]

If you get your Grandad's birth cert. again this may give his father's Regt.

jim

[chris_g_f]

I will try but he seems to have disappeared from view totally.   Tried army births drew a blank too I guess Grandad just wanted to keep his past a secret from what I know he had a terrible time after his parents either died or abandoned him.  We don't even know if his mother was still alive but I know he had his suspicions.  His past was his and his alone which is a pity for his family because we would love to know where he came from and who our ancestors were.

[terry h]

Gave it a go.

Terry

[chris_g_f]

Wow! that is unbelieveable, thank you so much.  I know my Mum will be thrilled to see it looking so much better.
I really thought it was beyond any restoration.
Chris

[Emjaybee]

mjb

[silvery]

I think I'm right in saying that this needs a re-scan in colour mode at 300 dpi for the fabulous restorers on here to do their best.  It seems to be quite a low resolution on my picture viewer.
 
anyway, about your grandad, if you start a separate thread, in the common room perhaps, with his name and what you have got, someone may be able to fathom it out for you.

[PrueM]

Yes, a high-res scan will give the best opportunity for the restorers to get a good result for you (not that the results so far are not great!    ).  It would also help the armed forces experts to identify his badges for you.  Are they artillery badges on his collar?

If you could also show the whole photo - edges and back as well - we might be able to hazard a guess at a date for you.  My present thoughts are 1880s/90s but very hard to tell really.


Cheers
Prue

[Emjaybee]

This is only a suggestion folks:

The crossed rifles on his sleeve make him a marksman
In my view he is holding a flag in his right hand, does this make him a signaller?