MGC Officer 1917

[RMR]

Hi all, I was given a small photograph album compiled by a woman whose husband had been killed his name was Billie he was in the MGC,the second photo shows him with a group of fellow MGC officers, the photograph was taken in 1917. Roger

[RMR]

Just found this photo at the back of the album in what I think is an East Surrey uniform he came from or near East Ham as he was a member of the bowling team there most of whom seem to have volunteered. This photo was taken in 1916.Roger

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by RMR

Just found this photo at the back of the album in what I think is an East Surrey uniform he came from or near East Ham as he was a member of the bowling team there most of whom seem to have volunteered. This photo was taken in 1916.Roger

Take a closer look at his cuff - note the distinctive pattern? You only see that pattern, which is infact rank insignia of a Volunteer Training Corps officer.

[NEMO]

Hello GRAHAM , Darlington ............. ? are you that G.STEWART ??
regards ,Michael.

[RMR]

Hi Graham shows how my eyesight deteriorated I didn't even notice his cuff just his cap badge,thanks for pointing that out.Roger

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by NEMO

Hello GRAHAM , Darlington ............. ? are you that G.STEWART ??
regards ,Michael.

Guilty as charged!!!!

[Staffsyeoman]

Two things (apart from nice photographs)

1. The photo of him in MGC uniform seems to have been doctored/retouched as the cap badge seems very bright and the crown is the wrong shape.

2. MGC officers in tam-o-shanters makes it quite likely that they could be from one of the MG Companies in 51st Highland Division. Douglas Wimberley (who would command the same division in WW2 at El Alamein) always resented being turfed out of the Cameron Highlanders into the MGC - by virtue of his having been a battalion Machine Gun Officer - so lobbied for the division's MG troops to wear the TOS with the MGC badge on it. He succeeded.

[RMR]

Hi Staffs Yeoman you are right it does appear to have been retouched but it must have been done in studio when it was taken as his wife wrote across the bottom of it,it's a very sad album she was heartbroken by his death.Sadly only his first name is used Billie so further research is difficult.Roger

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by RMR

Hi Staffs Yeoman you are right it does appear to have been retouched but it must have been done in studio when it was taken as his wife wrote across the bottom of it,it's a very sad album she was heartbroken by his death.Sadly only his first name is used Billie so further research is difficult.Roger

If he was an MGC officer with the 51st (Highland) Div, it might be possible to narrow him down for research.

Here are two links that might help with that:

http://www.machineguncorps.co.uk/remember.html

http://www.machinegun.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

The "MGC Pack" within the second link is very useful too.

[RMR]

Thanks Toby thats a great help.regards Roger

[Graham Stewart]

I've downloaded the photo and blow it up, but it does blurr as it gets bigger - however only Billie is wearing MGC collars, the rest either have none or are unidentifiable due to blurring. My guess is Billie is the Brigade Machine Gun Officer and this is an infantry Bde HQ photo.

[RMR]

Hi Graham of the 8 officers 5 have clear MGC collar badges on the original photo, they must have blurred out as you enlarged.Roger

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by RMR

Hi Graham of the 8 officers 5 have clear MGC collar badges on the original photo, they must have blurred out as you enlarged.Roger

Cheers mate - Problem is we don't see the same quality as your goodself due to the process allowing you to reproduce it here. Have the same problems on other Forums with restricted photo downloads.