While it is a nice display of insignia, I suspected that it may be another case of the IWM mislabelling an item. While the gentleman pictured may indeed be named "Northey", he may, possibly, not be the "William Brook" (W.B.) who received the MC and served in the Gurkha Rifles.
The individual in the photo is wearing 2nd Lieutenant insignia and with the crossed pick and rifle, it can be assumed that the photo was taken sometime during the war. W.B. Northey entered Sandhurst in 1903 and was commissioned in 1905 in the Indian Army.
http://archive.sandhurstcollection.c...w/5260/105522/
He was gazetted 2nd Lt in January 1905
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...27755/page/418
Quote:
The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from
the Royal Military College, to be Second
Lieutenants, with a view to their appointment
to the Indian Army. Dated 18th January,
1905 :—
William Brook Northey
|
He served in India and was (at least for a short time) attached to the HLI in 1905 - well, at least played cricket for them in Calcutta.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=DyW...orthey&f=false
He was promoted Captain in 1914
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...8815/page/2547
Quote:
Lieutenants to be Captains.
Dated 18th January, 1914.
William Brook Northey, 1st King George's
Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
|
And gazetted a Staff Captain in 1916
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...865/page/12242
Quote:
Captain W. B. Northey, 1st King George's
Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment).
Dated 25th May 1916.
|
He is mentioned in a history of his regiment
https://books.google.ca/books?id=_is...lume&q=northey
He made major in 1920
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...1957/page/7012
Quote:
Captains to be Majors.
18th Jan. 1920.
W. B. Northey. M.C.
|
And retired in 1924
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...2926/page/3014
Quote:
The KING- has approved the retirement of
the following officers, with effect from the dates
specified:—
INDIAN ARMY.
W. B. Northey, M.C., on account of ill-health.
9th Apr. 1924.
|
Assuming that the IWM somehow made a mistake, I looked for other Northeys and found "
Alfred" who bears a striking resemblance to the officer in uniform with the photo similarly attributed to a Mrs. A.E. Northey. Then, on reading the news clipping that accompanied the photo of Alfred, it is noted that they are brothers. The badges still remain a mystery.
And W.B.'s books
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.22833
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.72740