PHOTO PAGE 11
Photo OAK 1
Please contact JILL DIXON at :- jill@mdixon.demon.co.ukJill kindly sent this image. Jill said , "This is the 'Oakham Volunteer Training Corps' dated 1915. This was known as 'A' company. There were three other companies B, C, D,. In May 1916 the volunteers were officially recognised as '1st. BATTALION RUTLAND VOLUNTEER REGIMENT' "
Jill does not have any of the names of this group of soldiers, do you recognise anyone here? Can you help with any information regarding this battalion ? Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.
To view a larger version of this photo please click here >
OAK 1
Photo KIRK 1
Please contact LIZ STONE at :- Lizzie@rcsis.com Liz was brought up in Leicester but now lives in the U.S.A. This is what Liz said about this a photograph, "This, the first picture is one of my grandfather JOHN THOMAS KIRK ( known as Tom to all ). Tom is seated on the bottom row, far left. His regiment was the South Stafford's, it is possible that his Regimental number was 15774. My Grandfather (it was said) was in the far east training soldiers during WW2. I have a postcard that was attached to this photo. The place on the photo is Messada Jordan Valley in 1940."
Can anyone help with information about John Thomas Kirk? Do you perhaps recognise any of the other soldiers on this photograph ? Any information of any type would be very welcome.
To view a larger version of this photo please click here >
KIRK 1
Photo KIRK 2
Please contact LIZ STONE at :- Lizzie@rcsis.comThis is the second photograph sent by Liz, and she wrote the following about it about it, " I am unsure of where or when this photograph was taken . Tom Kirk, my Granddad is on the left with the Beret on. Again his badge shows that of the South Stafford's. I would love to hear form anyone who may have trained or knew my grandfather in his military days. He died when I was quite young, and sadly I did not asked enough questions, as we so often do, in our time of youth."
(I am sure that all readers of these pages will sympathise with Liz about not asking those "critical" questions. I would imagine that most of us share the very same type of regrets.) I hope that "some kind soul" will be able to help Liz in her research.
7th. December 1999. Liz has had an excellent response concerning Photo's KIRK 1 and 2. Please scroll down the page to read this. Or, please
click your back button to return to the previous page.
The response concerning photos
KIRK 1 & KIRK 2.Dear Liz
I noticed that on a website containing various photos of soldiers that two
of them were of your Grandfather. Your Grandfather's regiment was in fact
the Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment), who served as
cavalry in Palestine during 1939-41, lorried infantry in Syria in 1941, and
as an armoured regiment in North Africa (including El Alamein), Italy and
North-West Europe. The regiment landed in Normandy on D-Day itself in
amphibious Shermans, and also helped in the Rhine Crossing in 1945.
The first photo was taken in c1940, not 1943 as suggested. Your Grandfather
and his comrades are wearing Khaki Drill uniforms with Topees (sun helmets)
on the side of the topee is the regiment's insignia - or flash - which was
a diamond divided into red (top half), dark blue (bottom half) and a
central horizontal white bar. The men also wear bandoliers and riding
breeches.
The second photo is probably from around 1942/43. The men all wear
greatcoats. Your Grandfather is wearing the black beret worn by all
armoured troops. In the case of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, his cap badge
is a white metal Staffordshire Knot surmounted by a King's Crown. A red
circular piece of felt was sewn onto the beret behind the cap badge as a
badge backing.
I hope this information is of help.
Andrew Thornton
Please click your back button to return to the previous page.