Uniform identification and date Please

[OBrien1]

Hello all.

I hope this is in the correct forum.
This is William Kennedy and I'm looking to confirm is his uniform a British Militaty one and what regiment and roughly what date is it WW1.

Thank You Kindly.

[MaxD]

The pattern is that of a British Army uniform of the WW! era.  It has been rather enthusiastically coloured so the khaki colour that should look much lighter has come out almost blue.  The shoulder titles which would give us the regiment aren't clear enough (for me at least!).  Lanyard worn by many so no real help, buttons also not recognisable for me except they don't appear to be the General Service buttons.

Other eyes may fare better.

MaxD

[ShaunJ]

Perhaps we could find some record of him with a bit more information - for instance birth place and date of birth.

[OBrien1]

The pattern is that of a British Army uniform of the WW! era.  It has been rather enthusiastically coloured so the khaki colour that should look much lighter has come out almost blue.  The shoulder titles which would give us the regiment aren't clear enough (for me at least!).  Lanyard worn by many so no real help, buttons also not recognisable for me except they don't appear to be the General Service buttons.

Other eyes may fare better.

MaxD

Max, appreciate the reply thank you
I will post the black and white version also.

Regards

[OBrien1]

Perhaps we could find some record of him with a bit more information - for instance birth place and date of birth.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes William Kennedy
Born 18 July 1889.
South Dublin Union Workhouse.

No death cert found I've tried a few times. Hard to narrow it down to him.

[OBrien1]

William Kennedy black and white version.

[philipsearching]

The medal ribbon looks like the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star.

The 1914 Star was established in April 1917.  The 1914-15 Star was established in  December 1918.  The ribbons are identical but the 1914 Star ribbon had a metal rosette (I don't know if the rosette was introduced after December 1918 to avoid confusion).

William Kennedy would also have been awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal (which were established in July 1919 and September 1919 respectively).  These are not shown in the photograph, which suggests it was taken before he received the medals.

NOTE: it would have taken officials quite some time to compile medal rolls and arrange for medals to be struck, have names engraved, and be posted to recipients!

So, a fairly tight date for the photograph can be given.  If the medal is the 1914 Star the photo was taken after Spring 1917 and before William received the BWM and VM (probably before the end of 1920).  If the ribbon is the 1914-15 Star the photograph was taken in 1920 plus or minus a year.

Philip

[ShaunJ]

Possibly 4887, Irish Guards. Born Glasnevin, Dublin 1889, father Joseph resident in Roscommon.

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007276542%2F02322&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7276542%2F227%2F2322


https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1114/images/miuk1914a_085193-02327

[MaxD]

On the black and white, the buttons do now look like the GS buttons.  The shoulder title could well be IG.

4887 though didn't go overseas until April 1916 so had neither Star and also joined the RAF in 1921 serving to 1927, mother living at Corkseagh, Stokestown nr Roscommon - does that sound like him?

MaxD

Wee clarification on the ribbon - the wearing of the 1914 Star ribbon was authorised in late December 1917 ie later than the establishment of the medal and became readily available in the first months of 1918.  The rosette for the 1914 Star was an additional emblem  for those who served within range of the enemy's mobile artillery and had to be claimed by relevant Star recipients (it went with the clasp "5th Aug - 22nd Nov 1914" which went on the ribbon when the Star itself was worn)