Which Regiment?

[MJBatten]

Can anybody help me identify which regiment my great grandfather, William White was in in this photo? I know in WWI he was in the KRRC and from 1919 - 1926 in the Bedfordshire Reg and from 1927 - 1953 the RASC. I know it isn't the RASC as he looks to young here. It's a terribly damaged photo. All I can make out is that he's a Sergeant from the 3 chevrons.

Many thanks,

MJ

[Milliepede]

When was he born please to assess his age in the photo?

[MJBatten]

Sorry Milliepede, should have said. He was born in 1899. I know he lied to sign up for WWI and said he was older. I am still waiting for his service records from the MOD, but from a postcard addressed to him in 1916 it says Lance Corporal W White 11th KRRC, but no idea if he was promoted. Though I was told by my nan that after he was injured in the Somme he caused a pillow fight in the hospital and got demoted - Then I have him signing up again in 1919 on the Surrey recruitment pages for Bedfordshire reg.

[jim1]

Although badly damaged close up I'm not seeing a medal ribbon
also I'm not seeing a wound stripe.
Medals were first awarded in 1919, wound stripes 1917 & backdated Aug. 1914.
In addition his shoulder title isn't the Beds. Regt. but does look like KRRC.
Although it looks like he's a Sgt. in this it's just damage.
So pre 1917 I would suggest.

[MJBatten]

Thanks Jim, that makes sense as I have photos of him in India during his time there from 1919-1925 and 1926 in Iraq with Beds and he looks a lot older and different he has his medal ribbons in this photo and a stripe on left lower sleeve from what it looks like. Then another photo with his medals in the RASC when he married his wife in 1927 with two stripes. What are these stripes? I looked on wikipedia and it said GC stripes, but they mention between 2,6,12 or 18 years service and a further stripe after 5 years after the 18th year. That doesn't seem possible as this was taken in 1927, and if he signed up say in 1915/16 that is only 11/12 years service. I thought the date could be wrong, but he looks much older in the late 1930s as you can see in the third photo - Egypt July 1942. If the rule of 5 more years after 18 for a second stripe are correct it would have to be around 1938/39, but he clearly has them in 1927. Thanks for your help Jim.

MJ

[jim1]

In the 1st. photo he has 1 chevron = 2 years service.
Pic. 2 he has 2 = 5/6 years.
He would have been entitled 1 more for his war service
but he may have had that one forfeited due his demotion.
Loss of GC pay meant loss of chevron as well.
Hopefully his WW1 service will be included when you get his
post 1920 service record which will include any disciplinary
proceedings against him.

[MJBatten]

Thank you Jim1. I don't know what I was reading on Wikipedia then. Your description makes far more sense. It would be great if it was included. I wonder how they would have written demotion due to pillow fight? haha!

[jim1]

I wonder how they would have written demotion due to pillow fight?

Conduct prejudicial to good order & discipline.
Reverted to Pte.

[MJBatten]

Cheers Jim1!

MJ