PHOTO PAGE 90

Photo REGAN 1 Please contact Colin Regan at :- csregan@tpg.com.au This is what Colin wrote about the portrait, "ROBERT REGAN, Private, Welsh Regiment, reg.# 202303 (identified by inscription on British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal 1914-1918) applied for and received a short version birth certificate July 25 1916 which might have been used to enlist. The photo is inscribed " Your affec Bro Bob Reval Russia 6. 10.19" . Reval, then capital of Estonia, is now known as Tallin. The photo was taken by PARIKAS a company working in Tallin at that time (verified National Library of Estonia). Initial enquires from Victoria Barracks Museum and Historical Society, Brisbane, Australia, in 1995 provided tentative identifications as follows: Tunic: Standard 1914-19 pattern, British, other ranks uniform with reinforced shoulder patches. (I noticed in the original, the possibility of corduroy trousers) Collar Badges: Appear to be Prince of Wales's Own Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (Hussars) If this is so, it would explain the Bedford cord breeches as these were worn . by cavalry/yeomanry...also the plaited lanyard was indicative of cavaltry/yeomanry. Shoulder Title: appears on close examination to possibly be "RWY" Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry.
Buttons: British General Service (GS) bearing royal coat of arms. Medal Ribbon: Difficult to tell from B&W photo but could well be British War Medal. The Allied Victory Medal would not have been issued at the time the photo was taken. Colour Patch: On upper arm with the White Star is that of the British North Russia Relief Force of 1919 Crossed Flags: qualified signaller Inverted Chevron: good conduct chevron Bar: a wound stripe, -(family information suggested he was . gassed) Ministry of Defence can find no records Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (Salisbury) Museum in 1995 replied to the above: Confirm that "collar Dogs" show he served in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, a Territorial cavalry unit. It was dismounted in 1917 and served as infantry.Badly eecimated at Passechendael, the 6th Battalion Witlshire Regiment received reinfrocements from the RWY. Disbanded later after again being decimated in March and April. The Victoria Barracks Museum is correct, but the tunic is not of a pattern issued to infantry units during the conflict. The shoulder reinforcement, pleated pockets and general tailoring all points to a cavalry unit. Andrew Vollans (Western Front Association) (1999) says that the reg number was a post - 1917(Jan or Feb)Territorial Battalion issue, the 4th Battalion, but it did not serve on the Western Front, and he must have been transferred to another unit. Extensive research in TIMES newspaper, and many histories, points to the fact that the North Russian Relief Force left North Russia in early October 1919. There was a military Mission in the Baltic during the period the photo was taken. I haven't been able to find out any details as to the composition of such a mission, but it would seem to me that that was the reason my father was in Tallin in October. However, why would he be still wearing a uniform of a unit which had been disbanded two years previously, and why was his first overseas assignment with the Welsh Regiment, and not the Wiltshire Yeomanry? This puzzle has intrigued me over six years. Can anyone help me find out any other information? Colin Regan "

Photo PGADD 1 Please contact Paul Gadd at :- FRANCISKickbo@aol.com > This is what Paul wrote about this group photograph and the single portrait (below) of his Grandfather The soldier to the right is my Granddad THOMAS GADD, his younger sister Lizzie is marrying a Gentleman whose name, rank and regiment are unknown to me, this photo was taken early 1900s. There is a marking on his right sleeve and one on his collar, one above the left pocket and one on his belt across his chest. On my Granddads left pocket of his shirt there seems to be a ribbon, can anyone let me know anything about these markings or the people? My Granddad Thomas lived in Lambeth London and signed up in London in May 1894. He first served with the 1st BATTALLION The HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY, and then was transferred to the 2nd BATTALION in August 1894. His Regimental number was no 8565. Thomas was then transferred back to the 1st Battalion for the duration of the BOER WAR. Between 1894 - 1910, the campaigns my Granddad was posted to were: Northwest Frontier of India, Malak, Bajour, Mamund County and Tanga Pass (I do not know the correct spellings). South Africa from 1900-1902 . In 1905 he married ETHEL LILLIAN TURNER. The dates for Thomas Gadd's WW1 service are as follows, 25th August 1914, enlisted with the 4TH BATTALION THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY (special reserve), on the 5th January 1915 posted to 1st unit. on the 13th November 1915 posted to 2nd unit, on the 14th October 1917 posted to Labour Corps. He served in France but I am unsure where in France. He was promoted to Corporal on 29-8.14 and to Sergeant on 3.4.15. On 14.10.17 he was transferred to THE LABOUR CORPS and on 14.1.18 posted to NCLC (does anyone know what this means?). He was discharged 25.3.18 at Nottingham due to ill health. Through his time with the Army he was awarded: 1895 North west India Medal with Punjab Clasp, Kings South Africa Medal with 2 Clasp 1901 and 1902, Queens South Africa Medal with 3 Clasp for Transvaal, Cape Colony and Orangefree State, 1914-1918 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal and Silver Wound Badge. My Granddad died in Lambeth London in 1937 aged 60. If anyone can give any information on the French Campaign or the Northwest Frontier of India Campaign which he served in would be greatly appreciated.(especially with the spellings)."

To view a larger version of the above photograph please click here > PGADD 1

 Photo PGADD 2 Paul continued, "This, the second photo of my Granddad THOMAS GADD in his later years as a Westminster Council Foreman. Many Thanks P. Gadd"

 Note: Paul was sent the following information from DAVID STEVENS, "Pauls grandad actually took part in a campaign in India where Lieutenant Winston Churchill was present as an army observer. In 1897/98 the Highland Light Infantry were part of the Malakand Field Force (they were with the first Brigade under Brigadier-General Meiklejohn) on the North West Frontier. The expedition lasted several months and actions were fought at various places in the Malakand. The correct spelling of the places he mentions is: Malakand not Malak which is probably an abbreviation. Bajaur (not Bajour) and Mamund County is, I am sure, a reference to Mohmand's country - the territory of the Mohmand people. The 1895 India Medal to which he refers was issued to cover the various expeditions on the N.W. Frontier between 1895 and 1898 and included clasps for Punjab and Malakand. The 2nd battalion HLI fought a stirring action at the Tanga Pass on January 7th 1898, storming it with the bayonet. Paul might like to know some detail of his grandad's uniform in that action. He would have worn tartan trews with khaki leggings, a khaki tunic and sun helmet. He would have worn webbing with cartridge pouch and water bottle and carried a Lee Metford rifle with bayonet.

Now to WW1. The Highland Light Infantry fought at Mons in 1914, at the three Battles of Ypres (1914/15/17), the Somme (1916) and Arras (1917). They fought at other places during 1918 but by then Paul's grandfather had left the regiment and joined the Labour Corps. I'm not sure what NCLC means except the last two letters, LC, must refer to the Labour Corps." NOTE: Please also see "P GADD 4" & "P GADD" on Photo Page

Great material, Thank you David !

Sergeant Thomas Gadd's Medals which were earned between 1895 and 1918.

To view a larger version of this wonderful set of medals & Silver War Badge please click here > T Gadd Medals