There is a 37443 Pte Robert Whyte of the 2/4th Bn KOYLIs. who went on to be a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps, this is the cap badge he is wearing (not the KOYLI one) with number T/4/064462. He was discharged to Class 'Z' of the Reserves on 5/3/1919. There are Red Cross PoW records for a Robert Whyte of the KOYLI (number 39443 - I think this is a typo). He was captured (unwounded) on 18/3/1918 [as given] and initially interned at Bullecourt (France) just before the start of the German Spring Offensive that started a few days later. His date of birth on the PoW records is place of birth is given as 16/8/1884, place Balrothery (S.Ireland). The fact he was a PoW, but ended the war with the RASC indeed does indicate he escaped and returned to England (he would have got 2 weeks special leave for that!). From this, your photograph would date to late 1918. His Medal card is below and indicates that he did not go to France till after 1/1/1916 (his battalion indeed only arrived in France on 17/1/1917). I will see what else there might be...I would say too his equipment rig is quite unusual, but would suit a Driver in the RASC . He had a glass eye and worked at the post office as a postman after being demobbed to the reserves. The family lived lived at ennivalle street and damasus road before moving to hollywood in bangor. NI.
