Charles Bentley Earl

[mazzie74]

Hi

My Great-Uncle Charles Bentley Earl (Sometimes called Bentley Charles Earl) was born in Corpusty, Norfolk in 1885.

By 1911 he was living in the North-East of England.

On his 1916 marriage certificate in 1916 his occupation is "Soldier."

I have found a photo of him and his wife (WWI era) with almost certainly a Northumberland Fusiliers cap badge.

I have also found an earlier photo of him in a different uniform from when he lived in Norfolk, but I don't know the regiment.

I have just made contact with a distant family member and they have a photo of someone in the family but they don't know who it is.

I think it is also Charles.

My queries are:

1. Do you think both the earlier photo's are of the same person?

2. Do you know what regiment this may be?

3. I can't find any service records or medal rolls of Charles in the Northumberland Fusiliers, or other regiments for the earlier photo's - can you find him?

Thanks,

Darin

[jim1]

The earlier photos are probably him in the Militia.

[jim1]

also 1 Charles Earl 17th. Northumberland Fusiliers   no. 17/1070
Have to say his cap badge looks more Grenadiers than NF.

[mazzie74]

The early photo's in the militia - would that mean he would have a service record (attached to regiment)?

I have looked at the grenadier guards cap badge and it does look similar.

I can't find a medal roll for a Charles Earl in this regiment though.

Thanks,

Darin.

[jim1]

By the time the photos were taken it may have been called the 4th. Batt. Norfolk Regt. Territorials as they were called after 1908.
The wedding photo shows your man in an economy tunic (1916) so it's unlikely to be the Charles Earl in the NF as he was awarded the 15 star.
The Norfolk Records Office may hold some Muster Rolls or possibly Kew.
I think your best approach is to get the 1919 Absent Voter's list for where was living at the time.
This will give all of his details.

[km1971]

The last two are not him. If he was born in 1885. It is of a pre 1900 soldier - from the jam pot cuffs. Almost certainly a Regular from the lack of braid work. The rifle is bolt action, so probably a Lee Metford/ Enfield of the 1890s. Confirmed by the length of the bayonet.

The economy tunic suggests 1915 or 16. So matches the marriage date. The 1914-15 Star was not issued until after the war.

Ken

[jim1]

My thinking was that if he was in an economy tunic he may not have enlisted until 1916 & therefore wouldn't have been overseas in 1915 but just a bit of conjecture on my part.
Good spot about the other 2.
I think the AV list is the way to go.
Are you sure pic. 1 is him ?

[km1971]

A bit of a punt - the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment were stationed in Colchester from March 1892 to Dec 1894. They had white facings (collars and cuffs).

The Essex Regiment (also with white facings) also spent some time there , but not at times fitting in with the use of the rifle.

Ken

[lizdb]

There is a WW1 record on Ancestry for a Charles Earl bn Aldeborough. Someone has put a note on the index entry that this is Charles Buntly Earl (his birth reg is mistranscribed as Buntley instad of Bently, so wherever this note has come from has not looked in any details at him)

This is not the case.  1891 reveals TWO Charles Earls of similar age. One is Charles Earl born Aldeborough (so likely to be the one with the WW1 records, esp as father is Charles, Mother Mary and 1 brother john and 4 sisters, as per WW1 record) and the other is Charles Bentley Earl.