WW1 photo of great great grandfather

[bradelkington]

hi there this id my second great granddad who joined the war in 1915 aged 48 years can someone confirm his uniform as his hat seems unusual and maybe repair/edit the photo many thanks also he served in Worcestershire regiment

[alan o]

Its a Scottish Infantry bonnet. Thechevrons on his arm show previous years service - each one is a number of yeas.  This and the medal ribbons tell you that he was an ex Regular of some years service.  I suspect he was a VTC member (WW1 Home Gurad) in WW1.

[t mo]

hi
if you give us his name plus year and place of birth we may be able to find out more for you .
regards
trevor

[ostrauts]

Please see restored photo as requested.

[bradelkington]

Thanks so much in sharing your knowledge very interesting stuff. His name is john henry simkiss born in 1868 walsall theres quite abit of war information for him on.ancestery including he was awol and got arrested! Thabks so much for the edit it looks wonderful

[jim1]

My word he has a very long rap sheet.
He was taking a hell of a risk absenting himself in the field.
According to his record he was 1st. in the 5th. Batt. S. Staffs.
Transferred to the R. Worcs. then Labour Corps.
His attestation says he was 38 in 1915.
Edit:
The man seated looks to have the Labour Corps cap badge.
If this is him this would be after 18/12/17 when he was posted to the L.B.

[bradelkington]

Hi again Jim thanks for the help, he was in a lot of trouble, his wife died in 1916 and he was granted two weeks leave a month later they served for him at his home address and arrested him. He had a lot of field punishments aswell for being absent from tattoo and field and they found him several times being drunk. He had 18 children and when his wife died I guess he had a hard time being away from them and maybe that's why he kept leaving.
His age of 38 when he joined was rounded down severeal years as another sheet in his army records say he was born 1867 which fit in with all the other records I have of him such as census and death certificate, perhaps as he was almost 50 when he joined they rounded his age down so he could join?
How old do you think the man sitting down is? id say the man standing looks to be more around the age of 50 but does his uniform match his army records?
regards

[mmm45]

The lad sat down matches the Labour Corps uniform.Id expect that the guy stood up should have some record be it service or medal record on ancestry for service in the Boer War.
are these lads brothers?

Ady

[bradelkington]

I cannot find any more records other than WW1 for john henry simkiss born 1867/8 he was a only child and also illigimate, he had a son also called john herny simkiss born 1889 who served in ww1 could it be father and son?
The man sitting down only looks around 25-35 to me? my second great grandfather was 48 years when he joined ww1?