Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 Can anyone identify this WW1 Soldier? He is believed to be around the Newcastle -Under Lyme area Staffordshire. All we know it was part of my wife's aunties photos and was her boyfriend who was killed during the war. Any information, regiment or other observations gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mancpal Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 He’s a signaller in the Royal Artillery though I can’t read his shoulder titles to determine which branch (RFA, RHA or RGA). Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 (edited) I think it says RGA, but a higher resolution scan would help confirm. Edited 23 November , 2023 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 I agree with Dai, it's difficult to tell from the shoulder title (I thought RHA, personally). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 1 minute ago, Pat Atkins said: it's difficult to tell from the shoulder title (I thought RHA, personally). Yes, if you look at the bright bit, it looks like RGA. If you look at the dark (fabric enclosed by the G, and in between letters G & A, I think), it does look a bit like an H). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 As a starter = Searching WFA/Fold3 pension records using "Artillery" and "Lyme" came up with these options of dead soldiers without an obvious widow [I've weeded those with widows]: BOOTH, Harry, 81213, RGA - Father [?]/mother, Balterley nr Crewe COOMER, Bert 182595, RGA, died 25-4-18 - Father, Newcastle VYSE, John Thomas, 107319, RFA Died 8.17 - Step-mother, Chesterton Clearly you will need something more to suggest if one of these. Searching under "RFA" or "RGA" or "RHA" will take more research and time [which unfortunately I don't have at the moment] but may be a further option. And of course "Newcastle under Lyme" may well be shortened to just "Newcastle" and that will bring a lot of spurious options from the North-East. Best wisshes. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 23 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2023 I have blown the photo up and it is RGA, thanks for the information given to date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomWW1 Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 Just now, Weeford HoldcroftS said: I have blown the photo up and it is RGA, thanks for the information given to date It’s definitely G or C that’s for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 1 hour ago, Weeford HoldcroftS said: I have blown the photo up and it is RGA, thanks for the information given to date Yes RGA, I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 23 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2023 I have scanned at 600 DPi to see if anyone can add any more details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Weeford HoldcroftS said: I have scanned at 600 DPi to see if anyone can add any more details There isn’t really anything more to be identified, his rank is gunner and he is a signaller, as pointed out by mancpal. His cap is the earlier 1905 pattern commonly worn at home before embarkation to France and his appearance typical of those men who had portraits taken in Britain for family and other loved ones before departing for the seat of war. Edited 23 November , 2023 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 23 November , 2023 Share Posted 23 November , 2023 3 hours ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said: Yes, if you look at the bright bit, it looks like RGA. If you look at the dark (fabric enclosed by the G, and in between letters G & A, I think), it does look a bit like an H). You're right, Dai, I think - RGA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 24 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2023 Hi all We have a match thanks to Matlock1418 Harry Booth 81213, RGA The photo has been handed down to my wife from her Great Aunty who was engaged to this chap. We knew he was killed in the war but we did not know his name. I have found his service record on Find My Past and it all links in with the locations, his place of work before joining up. He died of his wounds 27th October 1917 and is buried at Minty Farm Cemetary. Still trying to research what his wounds were and the circumstances that occurred. Many thanks for all your help it appears he is no longer unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomWW1 Posted 24 November , 2023 Share Posted 24 November , 2023 Just now, Weeford HoldcroftS said: Hi all We have a match thanks to Matlock1418 Harry Booth 81213, RGA The photo has been handed down to my wife from her Great Aunty who was engaged to this chap. We knew he was killed in the war but we did not know his name. I have found his service record on Find My Past and it all links in with the locations, his place of work before joining up. He died of his wounds 27th October 1917 and is buried at Minty Farm Cemetary. Still trying to research what his wounds were and the circumstances that occurred. Many thanks for all your help it appears he is no longer unknown. Even if i didnt help, im glad you found your man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 24 November , 2023 Share Posted 24 November , 2023 23 minutes ago, Weeford HoldcroftS said: We have a match .... Harry Booth 81213, RGA Brilliant! - WFA helps again - so very pleased for you to have found your man. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 24 November , 2023 Share Posted 24 November , 2023 Here's the helpful pension index card Image thanks to WFA/Fold3 There is another PIC as his father, Frank, and a pension ledger page as his mother, Matilda. 10/- pw would typically reflect prior dependance [RW 1918 Art 21(a)] or either or both parents being wholly or partly incapable of self-support from age or infirmity, and them being in pecuniary need [RW 1981 Art 21(b)] = between 3/6 and 15/-pw M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 24 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2023 Looking at his service record it seems he was at XVIII Corp Main Dressing station, Thanks Matlock for the pension record Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 24 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 24 November , 2023 looks like he was injured and died of his wounds Second Battle of Passchendaele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 24 November , 2023 Share Posted 24 November , 2023 3 hours ago, Weeford HoldcroftS said: We have a match thanks to Matlock1418 Harry Booth 81213, RGA Excellent result. Matlock 1418 works his magic once again. Don't forget - Write his details on the back of the photo straight away, so that when it is passed on, he won't be forgotten again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeford HoldcroftS Posted 25 November , 2023 Author Share Posted 25 November , 2023 Already thought of that thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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