Unknown picture - blairy collection

[ap1]

It would be good to date it first I think....any uniform experts? I think its a mixture of young and old sweats.... I have to say that the lad sat in the front with the Warrant Officers arm on his shoulder looks the spit of a guy who won a VC from the 10th Bn...Pte Albert Hill VC. I know it will be wrong, but its a start.


Albert_Hill_VC.jpg

[Baconwallah]

the lad sat in the front with the Warrant Officers arm on his shoulder looks the spit of a guy who won a VC from the 10th Bn...Pte Albert Hill VC. I know it will be wrong, but its a start.

But sadly without the VC.

John

[ap1]

Thats true John, but as of yet, no-ones come back with a date of the picture. Do you think its great war or later?

[Baconwallah]

The BWM was approved in June 1919, Al, and the VM in September 1919. As they are well represented in the photo, I would say it was taken in very late 1919 or more likely 1920. Hill would have been wearing his VC by then.

John

[ivor43]

hi guys.

i found the following whilst exploring.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/fo...owtopic=188532

could be of some interest.


ivor

[ivor43]

hi all.
As i said in an earlier post. i had this pic ''blown up'' in my photo prog. it would appear that,at least to me, that there are 2 officers ( seated centre ) a WO as someone identified. a Sgt seated 2nd from Right. A corp standing behind (Left) the WO and next to him a Lance Cpl. also and i may well be totally wrong here. the chap wearing Webbing, standing behind (R) the Sgt appears to have an odd white ring around his neck. Could this possibly be a ''Dog Collar'' and this person was the Chaplain.
now. there are 11 men wearing ''gongs''. 10 in centre pic and one rear rank 2nd from rt.when i was looking at this in detail i was at Chows, and we both seem to think that the 10 men in the centre may be the remnant of a unit which had just been awarded their ''gongs'', the other men may well have been transferred in to bring the unit up to strength.it seems to me the make up is
2 Officers.
1 Wo.
1 Sgt.
1Corp.
1 LC Corp
1 Chaplain (possibly)
1 Civy. and
22 OR's.
does this No have any significance

Now that i am back in Malta i will look again as i am now on a laptop not a netbook.(much bigger screen)

however i am still of the opinion that this pic could not have been taken before late 1919 or 1920.


ivor.

[Baconwallah]

The 'chaplain' is wearing the tunic and webbing (complete with ammunition pouches) of a rifle-and-bayonet man. I venture to suggest that he is a rifle-and-=bayonet man. He does have a rather long neck, though, which may explain the confusion.

You missed one Warrant Officer, Ivor!

John

[ivor43]

hi john.

ok. i accept what you say.It was pure speculation because it looked odd.
However it makes little difference to my conclusion just add a WO and delete a chaplain.
the point i am trying to make is this. Take away 2 Officers and 2 WO's would this Number of men constitute a Platoon, i am not sure how the structure works. for instance would a plt have a Sgt, Corp and a lance cpl.


ivor

[Baconwallah]

I may be mistaken here, Ivor, but the officer on the left, MC but no Star, has pip and crown on his shoulders. I have yet to see the first platoon commanded by a Lt Col. Even if I'm wrong about the crown (which I think I'm not) he would be a full Lt and more likely 2 i/c of a company in the austere everything-on-the-cheap post-war period. Anyway, he looks a bit old for a Lt.

A platoon would have had some 50 men organised in 4 sections of 12 men commanded by Sgts assisted by section Cpls

So the photo may show half a platoon, with battalion commander, platoon commander, two warrant officers (i.e. company level), one Sgt and one Cpl (one Sgt and one Cpl missing?). A curious assortment.

John

[ap1]

He would have been either of Lt - Capt rank on the award of the MC during the Great War.