Lapel Pin

[JAKnighton]

Can't help with the lapel button but the Coldstream Guardsman is in the Guards Machine gun battalion.


James

From what I know he was in the Guards Pioneer Division, as he has the rifle/pickaxe insignia on his collar.

[JAKnighton]

Could well be a Silver War Badge. These were given out to service men who had been discharged from active service due to wounds etc which made them unfit for further service. Worn on the lapel it showed to all that the wearer had "done his bit" so to speak. With that in mind have you seen the Medal card Index for a Jabez D. Knight held at the NA? For a fee you can download it.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_fn=jabez&_ln=knight&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=&_ser=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=online&image1.x=59&image1.y=15

OR.

Thanks for this, although it seems the Silver War Badge was given out in 1916 specifically for WW1 soldiers, Jabez is in his 50s here and I doubt he went to war. Were similar pins given out for Crimean or Boer War veterans?

[JAKnighton]

Lad on the right looks to have the Pioneer Company collar insignia.
Which one is the Coldstreamer?

http://www.photodetective.co.uk/Pioneer.html

Ady

Yes it is Samuel, the tall one on the right, who is the Coldstreamer. He definitely was part of the Pioneer Company as that insignia is clearly visible in my larger copy of the image.

[mmm45]

He wouldve been 4th battalion as they were Pioneers ...his record should be available from Coldstreamers Archives in London they cost about £30 to get
They were in different location to others destroyed in blitz

Ady

[macintosh]

Methinks a bit more homework on my part.

James

[JAKnighton]

Methinks a bit more homework on my part.

James

Your post was helpful because it made me do more research on the Coldstream Guards, I was quite sure he was a Guards Pioneer but your suggestion that he was in the Guards Machine Gun battalion made me second guess and check my sources, which is always good for family history research

[old rowley]

With regards to the Silver War Badge. It was instigated during the 1st WW and was not issued prior to this period. As for his age and service, the oldest that I have found recorded for someone serving during the 1st WW was 68 (although the person concerned had lobbyed his MP so that he could serve and this one instance would have been exceptional) however there were men who served in the forces well into their fifties. If you have a subscription to either the two main sites that deal with family history you should be able to search the SWB Roll that they hold to see if he is on there.

OR.

[seahall]

Hi.

JAKnighton I have just been reading about the family on a message you left here.

Most informative.

http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.knighton/281/mb.ashx

Sandy

[JAKnighton]

Hi.

JAKnighton I have just been reading about the family on a message you left here.

Most informative.

http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.knighton/281/mb.ashx

Sandy

Thank you Sandy!