Gunner Jim Ainsley

[teacherbrian]

I am at a standstill. Gunner Jim Ainsley is / was a relative who served in the Royal Artillery. He was born in 1904 in Wingate county Durham. I know he was a local bare fist boxer in Hartlepool. My problem is that he is being mixed up with someone who was in the Royal Artillery in the first world war. This can't be him unless he signed up at the age of 10 (not possible). Ainsley is from my mothers side (maiden name was Stoves) Her mother was Elizabeth Ainsley and her father was James Ainsley. I have all this information but nothing I can prove on Gunner Jim Ainsley. I have some pictures of him.
Can anyone advise me to his regiment or any information from his uniform?
I am truly grateful for anything, no matter how small.

[ShaunJ]

Welcome to Rootschat, Brian.

The uniform in the photo is definitely Royal Artillery.

The boxer was James Marley Ainsley, born 26 October 1906, died February 1981.

His service records will still be with the MOD.

Per press reports he took over the licence of the Middlesbrough Hotel in Hartlepool in May 1934 so he must have left the army by that time.

[whiteout7]

Your Jim Ainsley would have been 33 at the start of the 2nd world war in 1939.

Leaving plenty of time for James Marley Ainsley to be the same man that had the licence for Middlesbrough Hotel in 1934 (aged 28) and 5 years later go off to WW2.

"“Gunner” Jim Ainsley, well-known Hartlepool boxer of the 1930s, has died suddenly at home. Jim, 74, was cruiserweight champion of the North-East and was one of the best known boxers of his day. He fought more than 600 times, including bouts against such top names as Len Johnson, Bobby Shields and Jack London" From Mail, February 22, 1981.
Read more: http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/royal-seal-of-approval-1-1007 391#ixzz49Mnohgza

Gunner Ainsley was his nickname? Rather than his military rank?

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail Durham, England
21 Feb 1931
GUNNER AINSLEY
"GUNNER AINSLEY in the country, and never fails please with his rugged, tearaway style. B? Hamilton? takes the place Billy Forrest (North Shields), and, Judging from his advertised record, should prove stern test for Ainsley.

((My own grandfather was over 30 years old in WW2, don't think it was only young, young men that went))

Photo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hartlepool_museum/5754579910

Could James Marley Ainsleys father or Uncle Ainsley have served in WW1? Have you got photographs of two different men here? One man in WW1 uniform and his son in WW2 uniform?
 
In the first photograph the man is wearing puttees, typical of WW1.

In the 2nd photograph the uniform looks more WW2, not to mention the umbrella in the back ground.

[whiteout7]

Comparing his birth date to know underage WW1 soldiers

(Your mans date)James Marley Ainsley, born 26 October 1906, died February 1981

George Maher, born 20 May 1903 –  died c 1999?  2nd Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment age at recruitment 13 years.

Sidney George Lewis born 24 March 1903 – 1969, East Surrey Regiment in August 1915 at recruitment 12 years.  Battle of the Somme in 1916 aged 13 years. Re-enlisted in 1918 aged 15 and served with the army of occupation in Austria!

Horace Iles Leeds Pals Battalion in September 1914 at the age of fourteen

Jim Ainsley as he would have to have been nearer 13 to get away with passing recruitment for WW1.

Medal card of Ainsley, Jim, Royal Field Artillery, 90175, Gunner, WW1. £3.45 from here http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1648390

If this card has a 1914-15 Star awarded on it, then that would rule out you Jim Ainsley as you said he would be to young to get there being only 8 or 9 years old. Other disproving facts that might be on the card - date the first theatre of war was entered, if 1914 ( 8 ) or 1915 (9) or 1916 (10) or 1917 (11) then that also doesn't work.

What was your man's fathers name?

[km1971]

The first photograph is 1920s/early 1930s - the RA moved the lanyard to the right shoulder c1920. They got rid of corporals about the same time. It was taken at 'home' from the thickness of the uniform.

You should put a link on the photograph recognition section. Someone may recognise the building behind him with the big sign - THE ?

The second photograph was taken in the tropics from the short shadows.

You may have to gamble £30 with the MOD and apply for his record. They usually like his seven digit army number. You will need his date of birth, plus details of his next of kin. Being born after 1903 they will probably want a copy of his death certificate.

Ken

[ScouseBoy]

Is the photo in the middle taken in Egypt  at the Sporting Club?
Gezira,   lots of photos elsewhere on the internet.

[ScouseBoy]

The building in the first photo  could be coastal gun emplacements.

[km1971]

Would he be wearing a bandolier in a gun emplacement?

Ken

[whiteout7]

Could he have been a territorial between WW1 and WW2 with the Durham RGA. Hartlepool was shelled by the German Navy in 1914 and would have continued to be manned throughout the war?

"The Durham Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery were units of the Territorial Force. The 1st (Seaham Harbour), 2nd Durham Battery was split with the left half being based at the Drill Hall, Seaham Harbour and the right half at The Barracks, Gilesgate, Durham City. The 3rd (West Hartlepool) Durham Battery, based at The Armoury, West Hartlepool, the Seaham Harbour and Durham Ammunition Column together formed the 3rd (County of Durham) Brigade which had its HQ at the Drill Hall, Seaham Harbour. The 4th (South Shields)Battery and the South Shields and Hebburn Ammunition Column were based at at Bollingbroke Street, South Shields and formed the 4th (Howitzer) County of Durham Brigade, along with the 5th Durham (Howitzer) Bty which was based at The Artillery Drill Hall in Hebburn. The Heavy Battery made up of No.I and No.II Coy's which were based at the Drill Hall, The Green, Sunderland. With No.III; No.IV; No.V and No.VI Coy's being based at The Armoury, West Hartlepool." -  http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/regiment.php?pid=17657#sthash.vGWAJWIZ.dpuf