WW I 1st MT Coy Soldier

[Captain Darling]

I have finally unearthed a photograph of my Grandfather in Uniform WITH a clear view of his arm patch, luckily fits with his Unit, 1st Motor Transport Company…?…I believe this is a late or postwar picture from the service chevrons, hard to tell but I have this very jacket still and it has the single red and four blue stripes.



You can clearly see the split rectangle with a central ‘symbol’ matching the patch table…

[fairlie63]

Nice. It's not often you see those patches with the clover leaf inset.

Keith

[fromelles]

I'd think the photo would have been taken sometime in 1918 or early 1919. Service chevrons didn't begin to be issued until January 1918, so the photo can't be earlier than that. He looks to have four stripes (1 red, 3 blue), he'd have been entitled to the 4th stripe sometime in January/February 1918 (AWOL and leave greater than a month don't count as qualifying service). Given delays, maybe he'd have received his fifth chevron sometime in February or March 1919.

I'd very much like to see photos of Stanley's jacket, the jacket worn by Stanley in the above photo looks to be a British manufactured Aussie jacket with the brass Universal Pattern (map of Australia) buttons.

Dan

[Captain Darling]

Morning, thanks for commenting guys.

Re the jacket yes it is an English made Australian styled one. I will do some pictures and post when I get some spare time.

Re the service chevrons yes the jacket has five stripes this picture four, I can not positively date this picture but believe it is part of a set taken for his wedding in July 1918 so four stripes in total would be correct at that point.

Regarding the picture which my cousin just passed onto me I notice his left arm is slightly extended so I think in the past it has been cut down, still none of any of the other pictures I have show the patch well so it is a bonus!

[badgecollector]

hi all
did the AIF wear metal MT shoulder strap titles above the Australia shoulder title like the LH or INF etc?
BC

[badgecollector]

Here’s a pic of the badge in question
Same size as the usual Aussie LH or SIG etc and looks like Aussie type lugs.
BC

[fromelles]

Originally Posted by badgecollector

hi all
did the AIF wear metal MT shoulder strap titles above the Australia shoulder title like the LH or INF etc?
BC

Hi BC,

I'm sure I have a photo of an Aussie wearing one, if I do I'll dig it out. What I'm not so sure of if it was officially sanctioned. I think the Brits wore them, so it may have come across from them.

I've certainly never seen anything authorising their use in the AIF. I'd very much like to see an authority to wear, if there is one out there.

Dan