Help to identify Scottish Uniform

Hi,

First post with this fantastic site. Can't wait to get a hold of my fathers WW2 record from his service with the RASC. Meantime though, I've come across a Great Uncle who apparantly served in WW1. Can any uniform identifier buffs out there help me identify it please?

I am confused by this G. Uncle William Gilmour (pictured). He was born 10/10/1903 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire so am finding it hard to believe he served in WW1 at all given his age.

It was during research into his service with the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War that I discovered the Marx Memorial Museum in London had copies of letters he sent home in the 1930's. In one of his letters from Spain he likens some of the military strategy to that he saw during WW1 in the Army.

If he did serve during WW1 I guess he lied about his age/name possibly? This uniform from a picture of those in his file at the Marx Museum is all I have to go on. It was just photocopied for me so quality of pic not spectacular I'm afraid.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi Amber dog,

It looks like the black watch uniform, and as for his age a lot of young men did my wifes great granddad was The youngest record age of any member of the BEF in France in 1914(the"Old Contemptible s") is that of Denis Robert Kearns (b 15 Feb 1900) He went into the RMLI aged 14years 3 days and disembarked in france on 26th Aug 1914 aged 14 years 194 days, and was taken prisoner of war in October 13 1914.

all the best

Keith

 

Hi Keith,

Many thanks for your help. I'll go and research that now. What their young eyes must have seen!

 

Can't see any sign of a Hackle on his bonnet. Any idea of where in Glasgow he lived. Might have been in HLI.

 

Do you have a Glasgow address from his letters, might be able to find him on ancestry.co.uk military records.

 

Welcome to the forum amberdog45 - enjoy.

I've tried to identify the badge via a magnifying glass, but the resolution of the photocopy is not good enough. That said, I am also thinking HLI!

Best,

Steve.

 

His brass shoulder titles are HLI to me.

 

Last known address I have for Bill is 235 Main Street, Maryhill, Glasgow.

The next address I have is for 5 Ruchill Street, where my Gran (Bill's sister) seemingly ran a guest house from. I don't know whether the whole family lived there but the eldest son Alexander lists 5 Ruchill Street as his residence when he married in 1921.

Bill and his parents move at some point to St. Andrews Cottage, James Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire as the youngest brother, Bernard, dies at this address in 1926 age 19.

I've tried uploading a bigger pic of the origanal one I posted and I have also posted another picture from Bill's file at the Marx Library, London. I have one more, equally as poor quality, but I don't have that scanned in as yet.

Your help is greatly appreciate everyone. What a wonderful site.

 

Still trying to figure out uniform my Great Uncle William Gilmour is standing in. Would the number "142" make any sense? When I enlarge it I'm sure I'm reading 142 on his shoulder.

I'm thinking the gentleman on the horse is my Great Uncle Alexander Gilmour. I've been told this is the Scottish Horse unit. I'm waiting on his military record.

Think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and order up Great Uncle Williams record hopefully just supplying his date of birth/death.

 

I was wondering if anybody lives close to the Marx library in London? The reason I'm asking is if anybody had the time to look at the photographs that are in the Spanish Civil War Collection Box 50 File GL.

I got photocopies of the photos attached to my post 6/11/11 but cannot get to the bottom of what units the uniforms belong to. I'm convinced now that one is HLI. Both Army Museum London & Black Watch Museum think it's HLI.

The other photo, the Army museum said there looks to be markings on the saddle blanket.

Unfortunately I can't see me getting to London from scotland any time soon and without the originals and a magnifying glass I'm stuck.

I've posted the kilt picture today and wonder if that helps verify the HLI connection.

Many thanks Maria

 

Hi Maria,
As far as I know there were two kilted battalions of the HLI (6th and 9th), but even so I don't think he is wearing uniform in this photo, as it looks more like civilian highland dress.

Regards
Joe

 

Internet Archive Search: Highland Light Infantry



Internet Archive Search: Black Watch




Internet Archive Search: Scottish Regiments




Internet Archive Search: Royal Scots



The 'Watch' :

Jock McGraw - YouTube

 

Thanks Joe & Wills. Wills, the links are fantastic. Whole books! Will have to get Mountain & Flood read even quicker now. My poor partner thinks he's lost me to my WW1/WW2 research bubble I'm living in since joining the forum! Thanks again.

 

Thanks Joe & Wills. Wills, the links are fantastic. Whole books! Will have to get Mountain & Flood read even quicker now. My poor partner thinks he's lost me to my WW1/WW2 research bubble I'm living in since joining the forum! Thanks again.


Maria,

This appears to happen to many of our forum members. Join the club

It is also an enjoyable experience.

Regards
Tom

 

And there is more yet!


Internet Archive Search: 51st highland division




Internet Archive Search: gordon highlanders




That should do for now!

 

I had researched my WWi HLI uncle B1900 some time ago see picture. Ok one can not see his HLI tag but his cap badge which I have is HLI. See also my notes as he served in the UK as Cadet.

 

sorry to rock the boat but it looks more like a kings own scottish boarders glengarry or an argyll glengarry (the photo on horse back its more rounded than the scots gaurds or blackwatch)

 

Scots Guardsmen would not have worn the Glengarry only the regimental pipers wear it. Of that era a Guardsman would have worn the service dress cap or the forage cap. Scots Guards are not on the Scottish regimental establishment we are part of the Household Division and complied with dress regulations of the then Brigade of Guards.

 

Found this on Ancestry, If you let me know more details i will look further.

 

Hi Alan, many thanks for spotting that. I've got Ancestry and didn't spot that. I'll need to zoom in on it more though. I'm sure his father (also William Gilmour) was based at Greenock when he applied for his 2nd mates certificate through the Merchant Navy I think back in 1880/81, have to check that. I'll also compair the signature to the letters William Jnr sent home from the Spanish Civil War 1937/38.

And now we have the Scots Guards thrown into the debate as well! I so wish I had met my great uncle Bill. What an enigma he is turning out to be.