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Uniforms of WW1

Thank you both for replies and sorry for delay (sold, thus far, bungalow at last so searching for next abode). I will check out list.

Ray
 
One of my MOLESWORTH ancestors from Birmingham married in Stratford-on-Avon in the 1830s, and several of her children then moved on to the Pontypridd area where they became Coal Miners, or married them.

One of the girls, Edith Ann, married a man called James ROSS in Pontypridd in February 1915. James was born in Inver Tain, Ross-shire in July 1891, and had come to live in Graigwen,Pontypridd, I think some time after 1911, and was a miner when they married. I have located a photo of James and Edith clearly taken some time during WW1, and though it is quite small, it gives quite a clear picture of his uniform. His cap badge is a reasonably distinct shape. I would love to try and identify his regiment. There are literally dozens of James ROSS in the lists of WW1 Medals, so without a regiment I have no chance of going further. His Scottish ancestry and Welsh residence might be a clue, but not necessarily.

Please can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks

Jane JacksonEdith Ann SAVAGE and husband.jpgCap Badge.jpg
 
Jane, Is there anyway you can post a larger picture of the badge ? When I try to zoom on the picture it just distorts the badge and I don't seem to be able to open the little picture of it..
 
Here is a slightly larger version, but it needs a higher resolution scan to get a better result.

James ROSS cap badge.jpg
 
I would say it's a horn too, which means it's light infantry or rifle regiment but as said, needs a higher resolution to help.
 
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. And thank you Lloyd, for trying to enhance the image.

I am sorry about the size/resolution. Unfortunately, I am not able to increase the size etc as I found the photo on the Web. I have tried to blow it up further, but don't have the software to enhance it further, without it distorting.

Re shape etc, I had thought about horns at the bottom, as I already have a couple with these amongst my ancestors who fought. I looked carefully at this before I posted. However, there is a decided 'kink' at the bottom LH corner (and poss the RH corner too) more like a swag or banner, but quite a wide one, and fairly long. It is not smooth, as a horn would be.

The centre of the badge appears to be solid and fairly flat-topped, like the Prince of Wales feathers in the image of the Gurkha badge posted by Lindyloo. It is too solid I think to be the cords to a horn, or the stags head you get with some of the Highland regiments. The swags at the side (if that is what they are) come at least half way up the central image. So there might be a fairly long Regimental name or motto on it.

Thank you again to everyone. Perhaps the description might help.

Best wishes

Jane
 
I agree with Frothy I think it's one of the Light Infantry Regiments.

Phil
 

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  • Light Infantry.jpg
    Light Infantry.jpg
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I've looked through hundreds of badges this morning and can't find a match. I still think Light Infantry or Rifle Regiment but it could also be a Pals Battallion badge. One I've noticed could be the early Royal Regiment of Wales badge and the scroll could possibly denote which Pals Bat' he was in but that is all speculation. The only other badge which looks similar is the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment but even then I still feel it's not the right one

Loyal North Lancashire.jpg
 
Looking through the family tree on Ancestry (where your photo appears) James was still living in Scotland in 1901, I would suggest that it may be a Scottish Regiment, The Seaforth Highlanders were known as The Ross-Shire Buffs although their cap badge differs from the one in the photo.



Capture2.JPG



Colin
 
Thank you again for all the new suggestions. It is brilliant of everybody to spend so much time on this.

The swag on Colin's Scottish Cap Badge is a very close match I think, but the stag's head shape is not quite right, because it is too slender and open. James' badge centre is more solid and blocky and square topped. I had looked at some of the Scottish badges and didn't see one that had that solid centre to the image.

Yes, James was still in Scotland in 1901 (and in 1911 I think) but he moved to Wales sometime after that, married in Pontypridd in Feb 1915, and I think probably joined up/was called up in late 1915 or 1916. I have found more than appears on the Tree on Ancestry and I am pretty sure he did not join up until well after he left Scotland (though he might have been in the TA equivalent of course, before he left for Wales).

Thanks again and best wishes

Jane
 
I would say it is definitely a Light Infantry badge, but the various LI regiments badges were so similar it is not possible to say which. If it does turn out to be KSLI, only one man named James Ross appears to have served with them - Pte 14364.
 
It is the Seaforth Highlanders I have a collection
of cigarette cards, framed that Enid bought me some years ago for Christmas.They
show the cap badges and colours, some of them to battalion level of many
regiments.These collections are invaluable because most of the regiments have disappeared, axed
by various govenments over the years. I have been trying to post a
picture, but no luck, Bernard
 
Bernard67Arnold said:
It is the Seaforth Highlanders I have a collection
of cigarette cards, framed that Enid bought me some years ago for Christmas.They
show the cap badges and colours, some of them to battalion level of many
regiments.These collections are invaluable because most of the regiments have disappeared, axed
by various govenments over the years. I have been trying to post a
picture, but no luck, Bernard
Click to expand...

Didn't the Seaforths wear the kilt ? That man in the photo isn't.

My money's still on the KSLI !
 
I think you will find all the Light Infantry regiments had a bugle as the main badge, Enids brother was in the Oxs + Bucks, then the Durhams, they used to move them
around.Are we getting mixed up here with two badges. Bernard
 
A thing that distressed a lot of the men in WW1 was that they could find themselves put into regiments that were completely alien to them.

My grandfather had a Worcesters and a Warwicks number on his medal card and my great uncle was in the DCLI when he died, he was from Edith Rd Smethwick, no attachment to Cornwall at all !

Paul, you mention the "Woofers". When they were in our brigade, in the 70s, the Worcester and Sherwood Foresters were nicknamed "The Woofers", (easier to say !). Which regt were you thinking of ?

Just an afterthought.

Try googling brigadeuk, there are hundreds of cap badges (and other military stuff) on there. All browse-able.
 
Hi Bernard: The badge on the right in your photo is definitely a Seaford Highlander's Cap Badge. My son owns one complete with hat. My father-in-law was a Seaforth Highlander who joined the Seaforth Highlanders based in Vancouver and served in WW2 in France and Holland. The Seaforth's were the only regiment in the British Army to have a Gaelic slogan on their badges. The Seaforths' is "CUIDRICH'N RIGH" meaning "Help the King" There are many versions of the Seaford Highlanders badges. The Canadian battalion had a few, one of which had a crown and wreath above the deer horns and motto. The NCO's wore badges without the crown and wreath. Here are some Seaforth badges https://www.google.com/search?q=CUI...4HeS7igLw-IGICg&ved=0CF0QsAQ&biw=1352&bih=586
 
digital 545.jpg
Following help from various members of BHF I have been able to confirm the attached picture is of my Great Grandfather Thomas Brickell, and that he died after being gassed in 1916. He was 46 when he died and we believe he had served in the 2nd Boer War.
Can anyone provide information concerning the Good Conduct Stripes on his left sleeve. I believe there are 3 but as far as I can find out this indicates 12 years service. I am confused how that could be.
 
the 2nd boer war I believe was 1899 -1902 so your Gt grand father would have been 30 at the out break 12 years service would have taken him to 42 in 1911 and 46 in 1915, that,s just my theory, all the best Michael.
 
The Stripes/Chevrons were awarded to only Corporal, 2nd Corporal or Bombadier.

1 for 2 years
2 for 5 years
3 for 12 years.

to be worn with point upward and on the left arm.

Any broken service eg. was added together, but 3 years boer war and 4 WW1 would only get him the 5 year stripe
However there was a blue stripe(the Wound stripe) which was worn with the gold ones. One stripe/chevron for every time
a soldier appeared on the casualty list as Wounded.

As the photo is black and white there is no way of knowing what colour each stripe is.
 
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