5153420A-E60B-4D8E-A855-24BA17BF2F2D by Darren78 posted Jul 22, 2019 at 8:06 PM Hello Could anybody help me with this photo please. I believe the man in the photo is my grandma’s brother, who was in 5th battalion, East Lancashire regiment. I would like to know if anybody recognises the uniform and the badge on his arm. Any help would be appreciated as I have no family members that can help with this. Thanks Darren
The eagle patch looks like it was designed to be worn with the top and bottom parallel with the ground like a shirt pocket patch but was sewn onto the coat tilted to make it look like a diamond shaped shoulder patch. Eagle is tilted. I don't think an American would have any need to do this. Or maybe he would, come to think of it. An American who only had a British great coat to wear in the winter might want to show he was American.
I'd say he is a member of the American Squadron of the Home Guard, see the second picture here 3 December 1944: Britain: the Home Guard are stood down Alistair
Well found that man. A FB page about them with photo of the eagle patch. 1st American Motorized Squadron Home Guard It has a photo of our man - Charles Sweeney the founder of the unit.
87D3B540-2886-4769-835F-3E5EE4F2B282 by Darren78 posted Jul 26, 2019 at 8:57 PM Thanks for all of your replies. Basically the story in the Manchester Newspaper was what I’ve attached here. From what I understand, the picture is my great uncle that was in the British Army, East Lancashire regiment. Does this seem feasible? I’m just trying to clarify the authenticity of this as I don’t have any other photos of my great uncle.
Been feeling a bit sorry for you as all these years you thought you had a photo of your relative & we've destroyed that for you. Hope one day you can discover a photo of him .
Darren, Just to clarify as you haven't actually quoted a name anywhere, but if you were working from the newspaper article then presumably your great uncle was Stuart Boardman, 5th East Lancashire Regiment? I assume that this is him:- Casualty Not a great picture, but is this him, from the Manchester Evening News, Thursday, August 10th, 1944:- He is mentioned on Casualty List No. 1530 dated 21 August 1944:- If you would like to find out more about his time in the services then there is only one real way to go and that is to apply for his service records, details here:- Get a copy of military service records His service number indicates that he first enlisted with the 'General Service Corps'.
Thanks for all your help. Especially the newspaper clippings about my great uncle, really appreciated. A little sad to think this family story that I’ve always known seems not to be true. Don’t think I can bring myself to tell my mum. Thanks again for all of your help.
The newspaper article mentions some distinct recollections regarding being presented to Churchill and obtaining the stick and gloves...aspects actually which probably hastened the inclination to believe that the photo showed Private Boardman. As a basis for further research, it may be worth looking at the battalion war diaries to see if Churchill did review the battalion and if so, the exact date...There may well be photographs somewhere. It's a long shot but we have easier access to archives today than ever before. Does the Manchester Evening News still hold an original of that small portrait photo ? It's worth asking.
Pte Boardman was 19 when he died in 1944 - so went presented to Churchill in January 1941 he would have been 15 or 16 years old, something to think about - do you need to tell her? TD
You got the wrong end of stick. The story says Pte Boardman was presented to Churchill a few weeks before he was killed. The photo is of someone else & was taken in 1941.