Uncle Walter in The Kings Own

[SandieNZ]

Can you tell me what might be on his sleeves please?

Many Thanks
Sandie

[BWEF]

His rank badge is the single chevron of the lance corporal.

Above it, once again, is a formation sign.

Do you have an enlargement of this "flash"?

[SandieNZ]

mmmm... flash? Shoulder strap thingy - where an epaulette goes? (Sorry, I can hear you groaning!)
Can't figure out how to add extra photo here so will start a new thread with the picture.

Sandie

[BWEF]

lol

A "flash" is what British soldiers sometimes called a formation sign. I believe that the Americans used the word "patch" for the same thing.

His "flash" is the little round piece of cloth sewn to his upper sleeve, above the rank chevron.

[SandieNZ]

At least I knew not to call the shoulder strap thingy AN epaulette!! On looking closely at the flash on the copy of the picture I have, there doesn't appear to be anything on it! Could be a sewing patch covering up a bullet hole for all I know?! All joking aside, I do appreciate your help and a girl can't learn unless she asks!
S

[wright241]

Sometimes soldiers wore a single coloured badge as a "formation sign" - e.g. a red circle, blue circle, lback square etc etc - for whatever reason - possible for economic reasons during war time. it would be impossible (without knowing the colour) what division etc within the Kings Own he was with.
If you happen to dig out any pictures of soldiers in battle dress (BD for short) with a clear view of their arms etc - you will see all sorts of colours, patterns and symbols etc - look up Peter Taylor & military under google - he has quite a selection - mostly rare ones at that - but you will get the picture - as it were...

Rgds, d

[SandieNZ]

Ah, I've got you. Many thanks. Shame all of our pictures are in sepia.

[ard-ri]

Another example would be a green shamrock worn by some of the Irish regiments. As stated above, it is almost impossible to tell without it being in colour.

[BWEF]

Some experts can make a good guess at a colour on an old sepia/black and white photo.

I can't do it myself but, if anyone can, it ought to be possible to look up this flash in Waring or similar.

[tynesideirish]

Originally Posted by SandieNZ

At least I knew not to call the shoulder strap thingy AN epaulette!!
S

Uh? But it is an Epaulette!

[Bantam]

Hi SandiNZ
If you give your relations surname it would be possible to look at the WW1 medal rolls and that may shed more light on where they served etc.
Regards,
Bantam

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by tynesideirish

Uh? But it is an Epaulette!

Sorry but it is a shoulder strap, epaulettes were declared obsolete in 1855.

Can anyone tell what is by the cap button?

[SandieNZ]

Aren't I lucky?

[SandieNZ]

close up of the cap button

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by SandieNZ

close up of the cap button

Another intriguing pic Sandie. Totally flummoxed just now as to what that is next to his cap button. The pic is from 1915 or early 1916 though as he is wearing the soft trench cap with rows of reinforcing stitching following the curvature of the cap peak. Compare it with the much stiffer (fitted with a bracing wire) SD cap of your uncle in the SWB. From mid 1916 the men started to wear steel helmets, although trench caps were kept with best kit for when out of the line. He is wearing a Lance Corporals chevrons with the trace of a qualification badge above one of them that looks as if it might be metal. Difficult to be positive, but from the shape of the (just visible) top I think it might be the crossed flags of a 'signaller' who would have been qualified in flag signalling and morse code with transmitter and heliograph.