Mystery painting

[aged]

I am trying to trace the name of this man. He has a connection to Belper in Derbyshire. I wondered if any information could be gleaned from his collar badge.

[Mike Jackson]

The flash bounce off the glass makes the collar badges unidentifiable (to me, that is). but he seems to wearing the ribbon of an MC and Bar and has ball buttons on his tunic and a lanyard. Would this make him a Maj, and a WW2 cavalry officer who served in North Africa and either Italy or NW Europe?

[leigh kitchen]

Looks like MC, 39-45, Africa and France & Germany Stars, Defence and War Medals?
Possibly POW plumes collar badge, possibly yellow metal buttons rather than leather? It's hard to tell, given the tinting and reflection.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Looks like MC, 39-45, Africa and France & Germany Stars, Defence and War Medals?

POW plumes collar badge, possibly yellow metal buttons rather than leather?

That narrows the field of search. I did mean brass ball buttons - as worn by XRH.

[leigh kitchen]

Ah right - also worn by the Sharpshooters?
They were worn by all Hussar Regiments at one time were'nt they, but not by WWII?
I'm not sure about the collar badges though they should be easy to make our on the original.

[aged]

Here are some close ups of the painting

[Peter Brydon]

A google seach gives this hit:


1st Derbyshire Yeomanry RECCE ... 13020508, Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps Who died age 28 .... Major CHARLES BULPIN GREGSON MC and Bar 99937. .... Son of Edwin and Jane Beatrice Milward, of Belper, Derbyshire.


Ticks a number of the boxes but the chances of it being this man are remote to say the least.

P.B.

[aged]

close ups

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

A google seach gives this hit:


1st Derbyshire Yeomanry RECCE ... 13020508, Derbyshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps Who died age 28 .... Major CHARLES BULPIN GREGSON MC and Bar 99937. .... Son of Edwin and Jane Beatrice Milward, of Belper, Derbyshire.


Ticks a number of the boxes but the chances of it being this man are remote to say the least.

P.B.

Try the wartime editions of the local newspapers that cover Belper.

[Alex Rice]

If that is a bar on his MC it should narrow down the search, according to the MYB there were only 500 MC & bar combinations awarded in WWII.
Cheers,
Alex

[Mike Jackson]

Heres another to DY:

http://www.madrecce.moonfruit.com/#/...ris/4557113140

[Staffsyeoman]

I'm going to throw a sabot in the works. I am not dismissing Derbyshire Yeomanry (perfectly plausible, and we have a credible candidate) but will chuck in Corps of Military Police. Any MC* to them?

[Peter Brydon]

Although probably not our man, it is amazing ( to me ) what can be found on the internet:

Charles Bulpin Gregson MC & Bar was the elder son of
Molly and Harry Gregson of Ends Place, the old house which
stood on the site of the modern Warnham Manor. Charles
Gregson was an able scholar and a brilliant all round sportsman.
He was educated at Harrow and just before the war went up to
Cambridge to read Law. His university studies were cut short in
1939 when at the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the 1st Derbyshire
Yeomanry. Shortly after this he moved into the Commandos, was
sent to France and in 1940 was evacuated from the French coast
near Dunkirk. He spent the next year or so on secret missions to
Holland and in September 1941 transferred to the 12th Lancers
and was posted to Egypt. His brother, Geoffrey also arrived in
Egypt about the same time and the two brothers often came
across each other. Charles was awarded a Military Cross at the
Battle of Knightsbridge near Bir Hacheim when the German 15th
Panzer Division were stopped in their tracks in the North African
Desert in May 1942. He was awarded a bar to the MC at the Battle
of El Alamein in October of the same year.
Charles then came back to the UK to attend the Staff College
where he was considered to be a brilliant young staff officer. He
returned to fight in Italy where he was killed at Ravenna having
gone forward to help a wounded 27th Lancers troop leader. He
received a direct hit from a mortar shell which blew half his face
away. He died two days later on 1 December 1944 and is buried
in the Cesena War Cemetery. He was 25. His obituary in The
Times in January 1945 records that . . . It was apparent from the
first that he was an outstanding soldier. A magnificent leader, and
utterly fearless . . . He had a great future as a soldier or in the peace
and quiet of Sussex where nothing pleased him more than a Sunday
afternoon walk with his terriers and some friends. The great love of
his life had been Molly Moore of Mayes Park – they had wanted
to marry at the beginning of the war but were told by his parents
that they were too young. They were then parted for the next five
years by war time postings and for ever. How sad that he went
right through the war facing danger after danger, only to be killed
when it was nearly over.


P.B.

[davidwyke]

Hi Chaps

A few thoughts to add to the mix.

I think Leigh is correct with the medal entitlement. Can't decide whether it's only MC or whether it's MC & Bar. (My eyes hurt! )

Can't decide whether they are ball buttons or not, if they are then that suggests a Hussar or possibly RHA connection.

Peter has highlighted a very brave man with a sad story but, as he says, I don't think it's the right man. He died in 12/1944 and I don't think the most recent ribbons the officer in the painting has up would have been authorised by then. Also, as far as I know Derbyshire Yeo were never designated as Hussars and never wore ball buttons

I would guess that the painting dates from the late 1940's. Could the collar badge possibly be Royal Horse Artillery? I think they were introduced in the late 1940's but not sure; were they worn on that order of dress?

David

[Peter Brydon]

David,

Whilst I still think we have not found the right man yet, I have come across photos that have been hand coloured and have been embellished as well, the addition of medal ribbon bars being painted on being an example.

The point I am trying to make is that sometimes you might not be looking at a photo as it was originally taken.

Peter