Identifying a uniform - Military or Non-Military?

Hello everyone,

I was hoping someone out there may be able to assist in identifying a uniform. The story is that this man served at Silloth Airfield (Cumbria??) during WWII as a member of the military police - having served during WWI he volunteered again for service in WWII.

To my untrained eye (and with my huge lack of knowledge) I wouldn't have thought that the uniform was military at all. I have attached a photo of the man in the uniform in question. By the way, this man would have been about 59 years of age in 1939, which may or may not be relevant to whether he served or not.

Thankyou,
Steven

 

In my opinion this is a studio photo of a WWI veteran wearing his old uniform many years after the first world war, possibly in 1939 as a token of patriotism. I doubt he served in this uniform in 1939 , but our UK members will be able to clarify that point

 

Skipper,

Thank you for your reply.

The man is called James Davidson Bartlett. From his WWI Attestation Papers it looks like he was "HI Army Service" (as quoted on the form). I'm assuming this is "Highalnd Infantry Army Service"??? He was from Caithness, Scotland.

Anyway, his grandaughter, who is related to me has the photo labelled as "Military Police" - hence my question. And the family also mentions service at Silloth Aerodrome in England.

Thanks for your interest, and input. Maybe my query will resolve this one way or another.

Steven

 

I could probably tell you more if I could see an enlargment of the medal recalls and and the crown on the cap. It looks like a George VI generation cap (WW2), but I'm not sure because it's hard to see.

 

The jacket looks much more like a civilian police jacket of the 30s-40s than anything military - with the (probable) large crown badge on the cap I'm thinking maybe a military affiliated branch of the police like today's MoD police?

Edit: I think they were called the War Department Constabulary then.

If you need some dating ideas, the two breast pockets were introduced in 1921.

 

Skipper,

I have attached cropped images of the "cap badge", and I hope that by 'medal recalls' you mean the ribbons on his chest (as I may have said before, I know nothing! ). These are from a scanned image of high quality - unfortunately the source doesn't have the clarity desired.

Steven

 

hmm still hard to decypher, It looks ike George VI crown though and one medal recall would be be the WWI Victory medal which seems logial since the man is a WWI veteran.

Here is a picture of a 1927 uniform with the typical "bat" pockets



http://545thmpassn.com/BG Harry Bandholz copy.jpg

 

Thank you Nigel and Skipper.

Nigel, I've just seen your post after my last post with the enlarged images of the cap badge, and the medal ribbons.

And, Skipper, thanks for the picture you posted - excellent.

So, in summing up, there may, or may not be a link to WWII, and the War Department Constabulary/Military Affiliated Branch.

Who knows? There may be some truth in the 'family story', but I suppose we'll never know. Thanks for your input so far.

Steven

 

Haven't been able to verify this yet but i think may mean Home Islands army service - possibly a medical grading.

 

Lou, and Nigel,

Thanks Lou for your posting.

I have tried comparing the two pictures - mine is obviously in black & white already, but I have converted yor image to B & W too. They look very similar.

Nigel, I have checked James' details again for WWI, and there is also mention of RASC - don't know if this confirms HI Army Service, or not.

Steven

P.S. I realise that I am wondering into WWI territory here. I am subscribed to a WWI messageboard, so I can ask about James' service there. I don't want to offend anyone by wondering "off-topic"

 

It's nice to have the whole story in one place.

The RASC was a 1918 creation, but served everywhere - for more info directly linked to them you might want to try;

Forum

 

Thank you Nigel,

I'm going to follow the link as soon as I finish posting my reply here.

I may be gone for some time!

Steven

 

Please let us know how you got on

 

Nigel,

I thought I'd let you know how I got on at the "Waggoners" website which you suggested.

It took a few days - as I had to go through a registration process. The upshot is that the website is intended only for serving and ex-serving personnel.

The administrator did offer that the RASC was replaced first by the RCT, and then the RLC.

But it isn't the website for me - I myself have never served in the Armed Forces.

Anyway, I'm a member of the Great War Forum, so I can ask about James' WW1 service there.

This post had only originally been intended to confirm or deny the family story which suggested that James was with the Military Police at Silloth in Cumbria during WW2.

Thanks to everyone for their help thus far.

Regards,
Steven