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Who might this man be??

cresser

cresser

master brummie
unknown soldier.jpg Hi all, I think this is now a lost cause, but I would love to find out who this man is/was. The picture was found in my Fathers effects, so I`m assuming he might be a `Cresswell`, otherwise, why would my Dad keep it?. The picture was taken in India, year unkown, but judging by the uniform I`m guessing it could be pre-WW1. I don`t know what Regiment he represents or branch of it. All I know of past relations is that, There was a Percy Cresswell, who served pre and during WW1, being killed at Loos in 1915, serving with the 2nd Batt R.W.R. and the rank of L/Cpl. Also there was Henry (Harry) Francis Cresswell, who also served with the R.W.R. and M.G.C. being killed in September 1917. I don`t think my Father would have known much about either of these men. There was also my Grandfather, Arthur Cresswell, who apparently served pre-war too, in 1911 he was a Gunner with No 2 Depot R.G.A., but by 1917, he was with the R.E. (I have pictures of this as proof), but he looks nothing like this chap in the picture!, and as I cannot find even a M.I.C. card for Arthur, I`m wondering if he even went overseas at all????.
So, I know I`m clutching at straws now, but any help or advice, would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance. cresser.
 
Do the cross guns represent the Machine Gun Corp? Looks similar to the cap badge they used. Found the attached picture which is similar which I think is for attaching to a blazer
 

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I can't be completely sure but those collar badges look like RE to me. From his skill at arms badges he's clearly a signaller and the crossed machine gun badge would obviously make him a machine gunner but not MGC. (The crown puzzles me). I agree, the photo looks pre-WW1, looking at the hair style, he's got a good conduct stripe but no medal ribbons which might suggest the photo was taken between the Boer War and WW1. This soldier could've been qualified on the Maxim but did the RE have machine guns in those days ?
 
Thankyou both for your replies. It is a bit of a poser is`nt it?. I did a close-up on the picture today, and at the bottom it says a year of 1909 - I had`nt spotted that before. Now I know Percy Cresswell was definately in India because he is listed on the `Indian General Service Medal, 1908` medaL roll, and took part in the `Engagement at Matta, 24 April, 1908`, and `Operations in the Mohmand Country`. So I wonder if it IS Percy?, there is no mention I can find that links him to machine guns though. I would say he has taken it all with him. Thanks again maypolebaz and dwilly, I will print off and keep all replies I get to this topic, as references for the future. Cheers. cresser.:encouragement:
 
You could try contacting FIBIS Families in British India Society. You can find their website through Google. They have a huge amount of resources covering 1650 to 1947

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