This soldier's regiment

[Andy Whysall]

Hi. First post here. I joined because I would like some help in identifying this soldier's regiment by his badges. It's a severely damaged photo, partly restored by me, but no amount of restoration can ever bring back the detail in his uniform badges.

The soldier is Pvt Frank Borrill, whose substantive regiment as far as his paybook said is the Green Howards (Yorks Rgt). But his collar badges suggest otherwise. They look like they might be 17th Lancers, with a skull and crossbones poss, but the text bit underneath is too big. I can't find any collar dogs for the regiment online that look like that, and it seems to me his cap badge doesn't match the collar dogs. Also, what would the bright round badge on his upper arm be?

Frank was my maternal grandfather. I know he joined the Green Howards (age 15 in Bradford, they wouldn't take him in Barnsley because he was a well-known lad-about-town there and they knew he was only 15, so he got on a bus to Bradford) and ended up in 5 Bn. He was serving with the regiment 'somewhere in France' when he was captured. He was a star marksman and excellent Lewis gunner and was captured, age 16, giving Lewis gun support to a cavalry reconnaissance, in late 1916. At least this is how he told it - blown up into the air by a mortar bomb that he and his mate saw coming but could do nothing about, Lewis gun going round and round in the air above him etc. He was kept in East Prussia until the end of the war and arrived home in Barnsley around Christmas 1918. He was allowed recuperation (blood poisoning, starvation and improperly treated injuries) before being taken back into uniform and sent to Ireland where this photograph was taken, he said in 1920. I only rediscovered this photo recently. Be good to know whose badges he's wearing since his paybook only mentions Green Howards, and the badges certainly don't look like theirs.

[Alan O]

It's odd that as a WW1 veteran he is not wearing any medal ribbons which would be worn in 1920.

[manchesters]

Hello,
A quick bit of research shows he was 48389 Pte. Frank BORRILL, ending up in the 13th (S)Bn. Yorks Regt.

Didnt go overseas before 1.1.1916 as he is not entitled to a 1915 Star.

I cant find any record of a Frank or F. Borrill being a POW in WW1?

1911 cencus shows only 2 Frank Borrills.

One same age as you say is called Frank Wainer Borrill, b. 18.9.1899
the other is younger,
Frank Borrill b. 18.2.1905 so couldnt have served in the war.

Both with a Lincolnshire connection, the younger one born in Doncaster.

Any of those details fit?

regards

[leigh kitchen]

First Name:
F
Surname:
Borrill
Incident Details:
War Office Daily List No.5786
Report Date:
31/01/1919
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
48389
Casualty Listed As:
Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England
Next Of Kin Address:
Barnsley
Service:
British Army
Primary Unit:
Yorkshire Regiment
Archive Reference:
NLS 1919_WList79
British Army daily reports - missing, dead, wounded & POWs - WWI

[leigh kitchen]

First Name:
F
Surname:
Borrill
Incident Details:
War Office Daily List No.5618
Report Date:
15/07/1918
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
48389
Casualty Listed As:
Missing.
Next Of Kin Address:
Barnsley
Service:
British Army
Primary Unit:
Yorkshire Regiment
Archive Reference:
NLS 1918_WList51
British Army daily reports - missing, dead, wounded & POWs - WWI

[cavalryman]

Hi Andy, The photo looks like it's the wrong way round, as the bandolier should be worn on the left shoulder and not the right. regards John

[Alan O]

that would explain the medal ribbons.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by cavalryman

Hi Andy, The photo looks like it's the wrong way round, as the bandolier should be worn on the left shoulder and not the right. regards John

Is this better ?

[Lancer 17]

Originally Posted by cavalryman

Hi Andy, The photo looks like it's the wrong way round, as the bandolier should be worn on the left shoulder and not the right. regards John

Hi John

If any one knows, you should know which shoulder the bandolier is worn on !

He he he

Regards

Phil.

[cavalryman]

Originally Posted by Lancer 17

Hi John

If any one knows, you should know which shoulder the bandolier is worn on !

He he he

Regards

Phil.

Hi Phil, Wearing one right now as all good Cavalrymen should regards John

[cavalryman]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Is this better ?

Spot on Mike.