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WW1 photos of our relatives in uniform
- Thread starter pjmburns
- Start date
Lady Penelope
master brummie
This photo is of Graham's grandfather, Alfred John Pritchett. He's the one in the middle wheelchair. He was with the Royal Berkshires and acted as a stretcher bearer and received the Military Medal. He was wounded in the legs and gassed.
Can anyone tell me what the men in the back row with the white lapels are wearing please? I haven't seen this sort of uniform before.
Can anyone tell me what the men in the back row with the white lapels are wearing please? I haven't seen this sort of uniform before.
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It’s a convalescence suit (or hospital blues uniform) Lady P. Here’s a description:
The Hospital Blues uniform was worn by those patients who could get out of bed. They were a flannel type material of Oxford blue hue with a single breasted suit and trousers. Each had a white lining. The tie would have been red and the shirt white. Regimental caps were worn and medals were displayed on the left breast. Those with missing limbs would have had their arms and trouser legs of the missing limbs carefully folded up and pinned back. Those lucky enough to still have feet, wore either both boots, highly polished or just a sad lonely one.
The Hospital Blues uniform were also known as the blue invalid uniform, convalescent blues or hospital undress. Sizing could be hit or miss and this is why in some photographs the inner linings can be seen.
Image below to show the uniform in colour. Viv.
The Hospital Blues uniform was worn by those patients who could get out of bed. They were a flannel type material of Oxford blue hue with a single breasted suit and trousers. Each had a white lining. The tie would have been red and the shirt white. Regimental caps were worn and medals were displayed on the left breast. Those with missing limbs would have had their arms and trouser legs of the missing limbs carefully folded up and pinned back. Those lucky enough to still have feet, wore either both boots, highly polished or just a sad lonely one.
The Hospital Blues uniform were also known as the blue invalid uniform, convalescent blues or hospital undress. Sizing could be hit or miss and this is why in some photographs the inner linings can be seen.
Image below to show the uniform in colour. Viv.
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I mentioned my father-in-law in an earlier post. This is a description of one minor engagement which he left behind, written possibly in the 1920s or 1930s. He visited the battlefilelds during the 1920s and was disconcerted to find out that he had to pay to get into the trenches he had once fought in!
Chris
EXTRACT FROM DESCRIPTION WRITTEN BY CORPORAL EDWIN SHELDON, SHERWOOD FORESTERS, OF AN ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON ENEMY POSITIONS ON THE WESTERN FRONT IN OCTOBER 1917
A minor incident during the Battle of Passchendaele, at night, October 1917
"......we gathered our equipment and assembled outside the pillbox. We were to take a Lewis gun on this occasion as it would be useful in consolidating our post if successful.
Our party numbered sixteen including our officer, Mr. Pettigrew, who had volunteered to take charge of the party and who was a man of remarkable courage and coolness. The sector that our battalion of the Sherwood Foresters was then holding was part of the Ypres salient and was in front of Menin which the Germans were then occupying. For days there had been continual artillery bombardments by both sides which made it extremely dangerous for troops on the move. Casualties usually occurred whilst battalions relieved one another. There had been fighting in this area for some considerable time so that the ground was covered with shell holes. For miles and miles everything had been levelled down and not even a blade of grass existed but here and there a tree stump showed itself. Excepting the pill boxes there was hardly cover for a mouse.
We started off and followed the white tape up to the front line as best we could, picking our way amongst the shell holes as the night was fairly dark. Almost as soon as we set off Fritz opened out a heavy artillery bombardment on the pill boxes that our battalion was occupying. Unfortunately one of our men in the rear of the party was hit by a piece of shrapnel and had to be taken back by one of our stretcher bearers. The rest of the party proceeded as fast as possible and very soon the shells were dropping right over us.
We got to the front line and there we stopped until it was time to start out on our dangerous task. We had a few hours to go and during this time we kept up our spirits as best we could and tried not to let our thoughts dwell on what was before us. Our officer and I went out to reconnoitre so that we should know the best way to take our party.
We were to take up positions around the two pill boxes whilst it was dark. Now the Germans had a strong point called Lewis House just to the right of these pill boxes where they had several machine guns and in the event of an attack would have turned them on us. However at 6.45 a.m. a battery of our guns was to open up for about five minutes on the strong point and this was thought sufficient to smash it up; after this we were to make our attack. We were also told not to be disturbed by a preparatory barrage put up by our artillery at 6 o'clock. This barrage had been kept up for some days as a division was going over the top three days following.
The officer and I after reconnoitring for some time rejoined our party and shortly after we set out. Our objectives lay to the right of the Menin Road which we followed for some little way. Then the officer gave the order to lie down there and he and I went on ahead. We reached a point about 30 yards from the two strong points and he then sent me back to guide our Lewis gun team up which were placed in one shell hole. Then I returned for about four other men who were placed in another shell hole.
It was some minutes after 6.00 then and the artillery barrage had started at six. I had gone back to fetch the remainder of the party and had to stop several times on account of Very lights going up. The ground here was literally covered with dead bodies in all positions and every now and again I would sink into the swampy ground. I remember it now as a nightmare.
So far everything had gone well but the artillery barrage had evidently made the enemy more on the alert as unfortunately for us they sent up several Very lights at the same time which lit up the ground all around. Although the party concealed themselves as much as possible they saw us and then the fun began. First of all they threw bombs at us and our men threw some too. Seeing that we hadn't a chance our officer gave the word to retire. The Lewis gun was abandoned. I fired one shot and then found that I couldn't reload on account of the breech being covered with mud which had got there whilst I was crawling backwards and forwards. Several machine guns were then opened out upon the party who were then running down the Menin road. Crossing one shell hole whilst endeavouring to join them one of my legs sank into the soft mud; however after a short time I managed to extricate myself and join the party on the road.
By this time dawn was creeping in and the machine gun bullets were going dangerously near us. There must have been not less than three machine guns firing at us. However we reached the front line trench not having lost a man whilst retiring down the Menin road. Here we called the roll and found one man missing. He it was discovered afterwards was wounded in the first attack probably by a bomb and taken prisoner.
It was really wonderful how we escaped being wiped out whilst retiring down the Menin road. However after I got in the trench I discovered that I had had a bullet cut my belt and take a piece out of my bayonet. Another fellow had a bullet pass through the canteen which was strapped on the back of his belt. Two very narrow shaves. However a miss is as good as a mile......"
Footnote:
Lt. Pettigrew was killed a day or two later by a shell burst. The writer of this memoir was at his side at that time and was wounded. After repatriation he recovered and lived until his 90th year.
Chris
EXTRACT FROM DESCRIPTION WRITTEN BY CORPORAL EDWIN SHELDON, SHERWOOD FORESTERS, OF AN ATTEMPTED ATTACK ON ENEMY POSITIONS ON THE WESTERN FRONT IN OCTOBER 1917
A minor incident during the Battle of Passchendaele, at night, October 1917
"......we gathered our equipment and assembled outside the pillbox. We were to take a Lewis gun on this occasion as it would be useful in consolidating our post if successful.
Our party numbered sixteen including our officer, Mr. Pettigrew, who had volunteered to take charge of the party and who was a man of remarkable courage and coolness. The sector that our battalion of the Sherwood Foresters was then holding was part of the Ypres salient and was in front of Menin which the Germans were then occupying. For days there had been continual artillery bombardments by both sides which made it extremely dangerous for troops on the move. Casualties usually occurred whilst battalions relieved one another. There had been fighting in this area for some considerable time so that the ground was covered with shell holes. For miles and miles everything had been levelled down and not even a blade of grass existed but here and there a tree stump showed itself. Excepting the pill boxes there was hardly cover for a mouse.
We started off and followed the white tape up to the front line as best we could, picking our way amongst the shell holes as the night was fairly dark. Almost as soon as we set off Fritz opened out a heavy artillery bombardment on the pill boxes that our battalion was occupying. Unfortunately one of our men in the rear of the party was hit by a piece of shrapnel and had to be taken back by one of our stretcher bearers. The rest of the party proceeded as fast as possible and very soon the shells were dropping right over us.
We got to the front line and there we stopped until it was time to start out on our dangerous task. We had a few hours to go and during this time we kept up our spirits as best we could and tried not to let our thoughts dwell on what was before us. Our officer and I went out to reconnoitre so that we should know the best way to take our party.
We were to take up positions around the two pill boxes whilst it was dark. Now the Germans had a strong point called Lewis House just to the right of these pill boxes where they had several machine guns and in the event of an attack would have turned them on us. However at 6.45 a.m. a battery of our guns was to open up for about five minutes on the strong point and this was thought sufficient to smash it up; after this we were to make our attack. We were also told not to be disturbed by a preparatory barrage put up by our artillery at 6 o'clock. This barrage had been kept up for some days as a division was going over the top three days following.
The officer and I after reconnoitring for some time rejoined our party and shortly after we set out. Our objectives lay to the right of the Menin Road which we followed for some little way. Then the officer gave the order to lie down there and he and I went on ahead. We reached a point about 30 yards from the two strong points and he then sent me back to guide our Lewis gun team up which were placed in one shell hole. Then I returned for about four other men who were placed in another shell hole.
It was some minutes after 6.00 then and the artillery barrage had started at six. I had gone back to fetch the remainder of the party and had to stop several times on account of Very lights going up. The ground here was literally covered with dead bodies in all positions and every now and again I would sink into the swampy ground. I remember it now as a nightmare.
So far everything had gone well but the artillery barrage had evidently made the enemy more on the alert as unfortunately for us they sent up several Very lights at the same time which lit up the ground all around. Although the party concealed themselves as much as possible they saw us and then the fun began. First of all they threw bombs at us and our men threw some too. Seeing that we hadn't a chance our officer gave the word to retire. The Lewis gun was abandoned. I fired one shot and then found that I couldn't reload on account of the breech being covered with mud which had got there whilst I was crawling backwards and forwards. Several machine guns were then opened out upon the party who were then running down the Menin road. Crossing one shell hole whilst endeavouring to join them one of my legs sank into the soft mud; however after a short time I managed to extricate myself and join the party on the road.
By this time dawn was creeping in and the machine gun bullets were going dangerously near us. There must have been not less than three machine guns firing at us. However we reached the front line trench not having lost a man whilst retiring down the Menin road. Here we called the roll and found one man missing. He it was discovered afterwards was wounded in the first attack probably by a bomb and taken prisoner.
It was really wonderful how we escaped being wiped out whilst retiring down the Menin road. However after I got in the trench I discovered that I had had a bullet cut my belt and take a piece out of my bayonet. Another fellow had a bullet pass through the canteen which was strapped on the back of his belt. Two very narrow shaves. However a miss is as good as a mile......"
Footnote:
Lt. Pettigrew was killed a day or two later by a shell burst. The writer of this memoir was at his side at that time and was wounded. After repatriation he recovered and lived until his 90th year.
maypolebaz
master brummie
These blokes were so proud of their horses.
Across all the many books I've read about the Great War, the overriding sorrow that the soldiers had was for the dreadful things that happened to
the poor animals that were caught up in the slaughter.
victor de quincey
proper brummie kid
My Grandfather John Thomas Quincey from Birmingham joined the Coldstream Guards in 1908 discharged due to injuries in 1918. The photo Shows him front row far right, recuperating after being shot in France. I would be pleased if anyone knows where the hospital was
Attachments
pink-woody
proper brummie kid
Hi,
My Granddad was a shoeing smith in the Royal Horse Artillery.
Sadly I never met him, as he died at the age of 54 in 1938.
Kind regards
Dave
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Hi pinky-woody, that's very interesting! I've sent you a private message with a few more details.
maypolebaz
master brummie
When I was in the army, the RHA were allways considered a "cut above" the rest of the Gunners.
Eric Gibson
master brummie
When I was in Egypt I was part of an inspection team doing the GOC's inspections, we did the vehicles and our armourers did the guns.
The general inspected the troops on parade, he had a fit when he saw that a captain was wearing a civilian pullover under his uniform coat and had the guy marched off the parade by a couple of MPs.
He was already in a bit of a rage because the steering rod end dropped off his Humber staff car as they reversed into the car park and they'd just driven at 90mph along the Suez Canal road.
The general inspected the troops on parade, he had a fit when he saw that a captain was wearing a civilian pullover under his uniform coat and had the guy marched off the parade by a couple of MPs.
He was already in a bit of a rage because the steering rod end dropped off his Humber staff car as they reversed into the car park and they'd just driven at 90mph along the Suez Canal road.
rowan
Born a Brummie
As the Day pf Remeberence has arrived I think of family I didnt know who died during both wars my respect goes out to them and all there commarades who were killed with them.
I remember ARTHUR EDWIN BOTT of the KRRC and several other family I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT who died in WW1 also am remebering HAROLD BOTT and his family were bombed and were killed in Aston in 1940.
May they all rest in peace
I remember ARTHUR EDWIN BOTT of the KRRC and several other family I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT ABOUT who died in WW1 also am remebering HAROLD BOTT and his family were bombed and were killed in Aston in 1940.
May they all rest in peace
Radiorails
master brummie
Relatives, of a sort, I believe. They were the 18000 dogs, of various breeds, countless number of horses, mules and other animals that worked alongside humans in the combat zones.. Many, like their human friends, never made it off the battlefield.
We tend to think of operations on the Western Front and many are unaware of the East African Campaign where the country was far more hostile than the enemy, disease, lack of water and food being particulary hard on the animals:
"The losses with the mounted troops were enormous - in the period August to October 1916, 2nd Division was issued with 4,470 horses and 1,831 mules while P Division was given 2,168 horses and 1,032 mules. Totalling some 9,501 animals, all would perish before the end of the year. While nothing could be done to cure trypanosomiasis, proper management and feeding could have extended the working lives of the animals by as much as 50 per cent. " [Ross Anderson, "World War 1 in East Africa" -PhD Thesis]
Hi Rowan, I have just seen your message above and believe that your grandfather was James Henry Bott who was my grandmother, Ruby Eveline's, brother! If on the right track, his second wife was named Ada, and I remember visiting them at Kington, Hereford. Ruby's first husband, Charles Cunnington, my grandfather, was killed in WW1 on the 9th or 10th April, 1917 at the battle of Arras as a result of a direct hit and so there is no known grave. Ruby and Charles had two children, my father being one of them. Ruby did marry again and had 3 more children. Charles' brother, Daniel, also died in WW1 of his wounds in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on the 26th January, 1917, and is buried at the Amara War Cemetry, Iraq. I always think of them on Remembrance Sunday. I don't know anything about a Harold and family being killed in Aston in 1940.
Hi Sunseeker, I’ve only just caught up on the news on the forum.
Thank you for your reply. Yes James Henry Bott was my dear Grandfather and his son, who sadly I never meet was Roland Walter who died 2 months before my birth. James first wife my Grandmother was Gertrude Ethel Quincy and she died in the 1920’s. I didn’t see an awful lot of my Grandparents as my brother and I were raised in Sir
Josiah Mason orphanage, I do recall us walking upBelchers Lane to go to see them but sadly that was only on few occasions during holidays. I eventually found that they had moved to Herefordshire and wrote to them but “life” got in the way and I lost touch. It was only when my brother started doing Family History that I learnt of there deaths. My youngest son has placed flowers on their grave when he goes to Kington. I believe you may have been in touch with my brother. Thank you for your message
Thank you for your reply. Yes James Henry Bott was my dear Grandfather and his son, who sadly I never meet was Roland Walter who died 2 months before my birth. James first wife my Grandmother was Gertrude Ethel Quincy and she died in the 1920’s. I didn’t see an awful lot of my Grandparents as my brother and I were raised in Sir
Josiah Mason orphanage, I do recall us walking upBelchers Lane to go to see them but sadly that was only on few occasions during holidays. I eventually found that they had moved to Herefordshire and wrote to them but “life” got in the way and I lost touch. It was only when my brother started doing Family History that I learnt of there deaths. My youngest son has placed flowers on their grave when he goes to Kington. I believe you may have been in touch with my brother. Thank you for your message
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