Machine Gun Corps - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Malcolm Davey · #1 07-01-08, 12:50 AM

Hi Chaps
I have this badge which has the numbers 8251 stamped on the slider, could this be the original owners army number and if so can anyone help identify the owner.

Cheers
Malc

jeanpit-frenchy · #2 07-01-08, 06:34 AM

i am not expert....just a frenchy

but i think it's possible. i had a inniskilling badge....the soldier write his name "DOYLE.J" on the slider.

KLR · #3 07-01-08, 09:20 AM

Yes it does look like a proper stamp rather than a scratched name / number (I have an E Lancs with 1919 scratched on the slider).
Unfortunately it is NOT the pattern no. for the MGC badge which was 8625/1915 -pity, you would have had something quite rare, possibly a sealed pattern.

There was a Pte 8251 John Chapman but he was in the Guards MGC - which was a 1918 unit with a different badge.

jeanpit-frenchy · #4 07-01-08, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLR

Yes it does look like a proper stamp rather than a scratched name / number (I have an E Lancs with 1919 scratched on the slider).
Unfortunately it is NOT the pattern no. for the MGC badge which was 8625/1915 -pity, you would have had something quite rare, possibly a sealed pattern.

There was a Pte 8251 John Chapman but he was in the Guards MGC - which was a 1918 unit with a different badge.

hello KLR.
can you help me for my inniskilling "DOYLE" identification ? a internet help ? a register with soldier names ?

regards

Alan O · #5 07-01-08, 09:32 AM

Again if you want to identify a WW1 solider then the Great War Forum is the best place to ask.

Alan

Mike · #6 07-01-08, 09:50 AM

The most complete database online is the medal index cards for WW1 at the national archives:

entry page: medal cards database

the search for service number 8251 & corps: MGC produces these chaps but all of them are "8251's" with other regiments first.

and Doyle is unfortunately a common irish name so there are 39 of them to choose from

jeanpit-frenchy · #7 07-01-08, 10:26 AM

thank you very much

Toby Purcell · #8 07-01-08, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jochim

Hi Chaps
I have this badge which has the numbers 8251 stamped on the slider, could this be the original owners army number and if so can anyone help identify the owner.

Cheers
Malc

Do not rule out this being Pte 8251 John Chapman, as his record shows he was in the MGC, as well as the Guards Machine Gun Regt later in the war. He may have kept his original badge as a souvenir and marked it with his service number, or perhaps the Guards Machine Gun Regt initially wore the MGC badge until new badges could be struck and issued (as a serving soldier myself, I believe this to be the most likely scenario). The vast majority of the Guards Machine Gun Regt personnel came from the MGC companies supporting the Guards Brigades and would therefore have been wearing that badge previously. In wartime it is unlikely that new badges would have been struck and issued within sufficient time for them to be worn from the formation date.

Malcolm Davey · #9 07-01-08, 04:03 PM

Many thanks guys for you help.
Toby what you say makes sense and it did cross my mind that this might be the case.
Cheers
Malc.

KLR · #10 07-01-08, 05:26 PM

Yes, I would agree; Chapman most likely. I think you're right Toby - I'm not sure when the GMGC badge was sealed, I'll look it up sometime.

Alan O · #11 07-01-08, 07:40 PM

From memory the w/m star was worn from 1916 and the GM successor was 1918.

Alan

Toby Purcell · #12 08-04-08, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Owen

From memory the w/m star was worn from 1916 and the GM successor was 1918.

Alan

Yes, the GMGR was formed in July 1918 to mark the joining together of the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry Machine Gunners.