Photo of Grandfather or Great Grandfathers Unit

[Coral Mustang]

Happy New Year!
I am new to Canadian Insignia. There is a lot of information out there, but I am not sure I m understanding all of the changes to uniforms and insigina as they relate to periods of time and wars.
I am doing family research and have been given a picture that no one knows when or with what service it depicts. Supposedly the regiment/squadron that my grandfather, maybe GGF, belonged to, but I see there are three different insignia in the grouping- which is interesting with the gentleman in the middle that is holding the hands of the other two 'regiments/squadrons'. I am not sure what branch they represent or if it is WWI or WWII (which was what my father believes). I see differences in pockets, insignia- maybe carryovers between wars. I believe they maybe Machine Gun units- three different countries maybe from the cap badges.

If anyone can shed some light on these questions and maybe the event that created this picture would be welcome-

Thank you for any light you can shed on this incredible picture, It has really opened up a lot of interesting history for me,
P

[David Tremain]

They look like Machine Gun Corps to me.
David

[Coral Mustang]

Thank you David!

Can you tell me if it is WWI or WWII? All Canadian? Or is it too hard to tell from the photo?

[Alan O]

WW1 and after 1916 as one of your men has WW1 wound stripes. MGC is correct. The holsters are for pistols which was a trait peculiar to the enlisted men of the MGC unlike most other regts ORs.

[Coral Mustang]

Thank you Peter-I now know why I was getting confused with the uniforms. Since I now know that this would be from my Great Grandfather- Thomas Gadd- wondering if the gentleman with the wound patch might be him- he was wounded- but I may be making a big leap.

Maybe a picture of them at wars end?

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Coral Mustang

Thank you Peter-I now know why I was getting confused with the uniforms. Since I now know that this would be from my Great Grandfather- Thomas Gadd- wondering if the gentleman with the wound patch might be him- he was wounded- but I may be making a big leap.

Maybe a picture of them at wars end?

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discove...es/search.aspx

[Coral Mustang]

Originally Posted by Alan O

WW1 and after 1916 as one of your men has WW1 wound stripes. MGC is correct. The holsters are for pistols which was a trait peculiar to the enlisted men of the MGC unlike most other regts ORs.

Thank you Alan, I thought the holsters and the pistols were interesting- looks like there maybe a couple of different types by the look of the handles. I see a lot of great history notes here. A great choreographed photo- wish I had some letters from my GGF to see if this was wars end and where it was taken.

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Coral Mustang

Happy New Year!
I am new to Canadian Insignia. There is a lot of information out there, but I am not sure I m understanding all of the changes to uniforms and insigina as they relate to periods of time and wars.
I am doing family research and have been given a picture that no one knows when or with what service it depicts. Supposedly the regiment/squadron that my grandfather, maybe GGF, belonged to, but I see there are three different insignia in the grouping- which is interesting with the gentleman in the middle that is holding the hands of the other two 'regiments/squadrons'. I am not sure what branch they represent or if it is WWI or WWII (which was what my father believes). I see differences in pockets, insignia- maybe carryovers between wars. I believe they maybe Machine Gun units- three different countries maybe from the cap badges.

If anyone can shed some light on these questions and maybe the event that created this picture would be welcome-

Thank you for any light you can shed on this incredible picture, It has really opened up a lot of interesting history for me,
P

If you have a name you can probably get his attestation form for free online.

http://www.warmuseum.ca/supplyline/w...L_20140922.pdf

[Bill A]

Interesting mix of MGC insignia. One gunner has the wide banner badge, at least two have the narrow banner pattern, and at least two have the imperial pattern cap badge. The collars appear to be the maple leaf pattern with the cross Vickers.
To narrow down the time period more, note the gunner on the left (bottom) side of the image is wearing a division patch with the MG arrow device imposed. Those patches were not introduced until the re-organization of the MG Corps in the Canadian Corps in February 1918.

[peter monahan]

All are wearing British 5 button tunics, not the original issue 7 button model Canadians arrived in England with, so this too argues for a late war dating, as many/most Cdn troops were resupplied with British clothing while in France and only some, usually senior NCOs, appear in the 7 button model as late as '18.

[Coral Mustang]

Originally Posted by Bill A

Interesting mix of MGC insignia. One gunner has the wide banner badge, at least two have the narrow banner pattern, and at least two have the imperial pattern cap badge. The collars appear to be the maple leaf pattern with the cross Vickers.
To narrow down the time period more, note the gunner on the left (bottom) side of the image is wearing a division patch with the MG arrow device imposed. Those patches were not introduced until the re-organization of the MG Corps in the Canadian Corps in February 1918.

Thank you Bill- that is what I found interesting about this photo was that there were two of each soldier wearing one of three types of badges. Made me wonder if they were different countries- Canada and Great Britain or three different regiments all Canadian. Though it does look like the collar badges are the same, only the cap badges are different.
I did find the Division Patch in the 'Distinguishing Patches of Canadian Units'- unfortunately cannot tell what the colors are. But thinking either 3rd or 4th Battalion? Thank you also for the timing- helping to put this into family timeline.