My grandfather'd WW1 uniform mystery
 

Hello,

New bloke here. In light of tomorrow's momentous anniversary I'd dearly like to identify my grandfather's role in WW1. I have two photo's one of wigh shows collar/lapel badges (possibly a stag?) and also a lower sleeve stripe.

He name is Alec (Alexander) Jack and was born in Manchester in 1891 of Scottish parents.

Here's hoping someone can solve this long-standing mystery.

Many thanks,

Iain JackAttachment 196790

looks like Royal Warwickshire Regiment officer bronze collar badges
leiutenant rank stripe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...r_rank_ww1.png
bc

He looks to be an officer in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment- I would think his rank second lieutenant, lieutenant or captain. Regards, Paul.
PS- Thanks BC-just checked -not captain as that would be 2 cuff stripes. I'll go for Lieutenant as I think I can make out a pip low on the cuff making me think ther are likely 2 pips. I would think a second lieutenant single pip would be more central. He looks to have served at least 4 years overseas- not sure on the medal ribbons. You should try and track him down- he should have entries in the online London Gazette.

This may provide a lead showing service in the Duke of Cornwall's light Infantry (Regimental Number 10684) then Second Lieutenant Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/2063613

Tim

Medal Index card confirms Service as Private 10684 with 6th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and subsequent commission in October 1917 as 2/Lt into 51st (G) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

His medal entitlement is 1914-15 Star, BWM and Victory Medal and he first entered France on 21st May 1915.

Regards Simon.

Alexander Jack
Regiments served with:
Unit Rank Service Number
Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry Private 10684
Royal Warwickshire Regiment Second Lieutenant
Archive Reference:
WO 372/10/168773

2nd Lt AA Jack,
10th (Service) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Seniority date
31/10/1917
UK Army List 1918

First Name:
A
Surname:
Jack
Incident Details:
War Office Daily List No.5652
Incident Date:
24/08/1918
More Information:
Entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of the 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being named on this list.
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Casualty Listed As:
Wounded
Service:
British Army
Primary Unit:
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Archive Reference:
NLS 1918_WList56

10th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Warwick in September 1914 as part of K2 and came under command of 57th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division.
Landed in France on 17 July 1915.

Leigh and All- this is quite incredible! Thank you all so much. Can I just ask how we can be sure that these records are for our grndfather Alec Jack, as there are numerous A Jack's in the records? We're very surprised he served with Cornish and Warwickshire regiments being of Scottish heritage and born in Manchester - or was it a case of'pot-luck'?

Thank you all again - quite amazing!

I believe the inverted chevrons on his right sleeve denote 'overseas service'? https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/sold...rvice-chevron/

I have also now purchased his medal card, which makes no sense to me, can anyone translate for me please? (I'd have thought 'R Highrs' was Royal Highlanders?)

The A Jack I refer to ties in with the A Jack of the earlier suggestions.
I can't make out details on the MIC, the image is of too poor a quality.
Is 10684 Jack" one of those shown?
The "Ancestry" MIC's are useful, clear, coloured images instead of the NA's cloudy grey microfiche and the revers s are shown, sometimes there are addresses and other details on the back.

The Medal index card shows that he went overseas with the 6th Btn, DCLI on the 21st May 1915. He was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on the 7th November 1917. The reverse of card gives a C/O address in Manchester.

Perhaps the Stowmarket and the Manchester city/o Lloyds Bank addresses can help firm up the ID by tying in with what the family knows already or can find out?

Thank you again chaps. Coincidentally I had just found and copied the cards from Ancestry as recommended by Leigh above. Wonder what all the other abbreviated stuff means, particularly the 'Action Taken' box? Looks like a medal or medals, plus the 'EF/2/5660' which appears several times over elsewhere on the card?

It's giving a real sense of who he was now, as our father never spoke of him.

It's absolutely a 100% fit Leigh! Long story how he came to be in Stowmarket before returning to Manchester, but my father was born there.

Can't thank you guys enough - huge mystery solved and a tarnished reputation maybe restored somewhat.

I think - the "Action Taken" relates to actions such as medals being dispatched, returned etc, the "EF" prefix is Expeditionary Force, the "Comm" entry is date of commission as an officer (2(?)7/10/17), the "IVX" prefix entry refers to date the medals were despatched (20/10/24). The box re. medals in the top right corner has Rank & File medal roll references for the 1914-15 Star earned whilst still in the DCLI prior to commissioning and for the British War Medal and Victory Medals as an officer.
I Stand to be corrected, particularly re. the medal roll entries.
As was pointed out earlier, in one of the photos he wears 4 overseas service chevrons on his right sleeve so probably overseas 1915-1918.
In the other photo no wound badge is worn on the left sleeve so that photo presumably predates his wounding on 24/8/18.