Mystery Photograph: India '45

Not much to go on here, chaps--but I thought it worth a shot. Provenance unknown and I'm not even sure that I can make out the name: L. R. Lowe or Louis? [Click for full-sized images]




Can anybody glean anything further from this?

 

You're right--the switchback swish makes it a 'J'.
Bit of a dubious 'n', but I cant think what else it could conceivably be.

 

I think it is Jones too

 

Hi

Could that therefore be Lt. Leslie Ronald Jones (365347), Essex Regiment in the middle?

Only problem is LG suggests he was commissioned in Feb 1946 and discharged due to disability in June 1948.

Gus

 

Bloke in the middle has captain’s pips up.

 

Yes, I saw that too. But so many officers held temp or acting ranks, it was still a possibility.

But I cant find him anywhere on the Army Lists for 1945 but find him in 1946 so not looking so good now.

Gus

 

It would be mildly amusing if one of my distractions from 4th Essex turns out to be 1st or 2nd Essex.

I wonder whether we can assume the man with the cross on the picture (back row) is our L.R. Jones?

And has anybody else seen that window in another image? Units love wheeling in groups to the same setting at picture time.

 

Just a thought based on 'initial reaction' to the handwriting (which appears to have been written on two separate occasions - the name first then the date and place some time later) rather than 'considered response' i.e. first reaction can often be the correct reaction, I read it as Jones and Judea. As I said, just a thought.

 

I like your thinking along different lines here, but I don't think I can give you that as an 'n' for Jones and 'u' for Judea--the characters are almost identical.

 

I noticed that some of the men have tattoos. One is quite distinctive though no idea if it has anything to do with the regiment he was in. Any ideas?

 

I totally agree. As I said it was initial reaction rather than considered response.

There is evidence from the photo - ethnicity of some of the chaps - that it was taken in India. If that's the case, then, by assuming India is correct, the surname actually reads Ionis or Iones if we assume the dot on the i in Ionis hasn't flown away like the dot on the i in India. Probably the chap was just sloppy with his J and I and thence explaining why they look the same.

 

I could buy our 'marked man' as being of Greek extraction (dark curly hair & 'tache), but is 'Ionis' actually a Greek surname?

 

A quick google search comes up with Ionis as a Pharmaceutical company, the name of a Greek RORO ferry and a hotel. Don't have time for a detailed search at the moment - nearly tea time!

 

The background looks to me as if it is part of some well made cast iron structure. Not a temporary building. Reminds me of Victorian railway stations but with suitably Indian decoration.

 

Just to add to the mix, Ioues is a surname.......

 

could it be 'jovis'? the 'i' in 'india' looks the same.

hmm another look...'jonas'?

 

Ionis is also a surname with origins in Russia and Eastern Europe but with significant numbers settled in the USA, Canada and a few in Australia.
(ref my post #15).

 

Thanks to all for input.

All being noted.