The more I look at the photograph on the left the more I see a similarity to the one on the right. His service records have been sent off for. As you say, it will confirm the date my grandfather joined the Beds and Herts. By the way, if you don't mind me asking, where did you find this photograph?
Barbadoes Squad April - September 1939. Your grandfather is on the left, back row. These are the men that your grandfather completed his basic training with. After completing training he would have been posted to the 1st or 2nd Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. The photograph was taken outside the Kempston Barracks Keep in Bedford, this was the Beds & Herts Depot. The Keep is still standing is is now a masonic lodge.
I think the building behind him may be a warehouse with the owners name on it. So when googled ZHANOLL this comes up Jane'z zhanoll - Thailand - Bangkok - Siam university. Now where he was serving at the time I have no idea, but as he is in his shirtsleeves at the time its not anywhere cold.
Yep, it's definitely my grandfather. Just shown it my mum, his daughter, and she's confirmed it. Really appreciate your help in all this.
Is your grandad still alive? My grandad was in the beds and Herts also. Trying to locate any veterans from that regiment. Alex.
The squads went into the 2nd battalion as that was the UK based one. Then when needed they would be drafted into the 1st battalion, the overseas battalion. That probably changed on the outbreak of war. Was your father/grandfather in the beds and Herts?
Food for thought. From this thread. 1st Bn Beds & Herts February 1943 Pte 5955828 Sidney James Perry. 1st Bat B & H Imphal war Cemetery. Pte 5953814 Stanley William Beaufoy. 1st Bat B & H Imphal war Cemetery. Pte 5949987 John Rosenberg. (1st Bat B & H) Reconnaissance corps. Problem is we don't know when or where, John changed from B & H to Recce or when the photo was taken. The photo itself shows a fit confident soldier, so I am thinking that it was taken earlier in the war rather than later.
Hi. Where did you get that pic? I've seen my grandads pic, liege squad 1934 at the Bedford archive. Are they online anywhere? Alex.
Hi all, just to add my tuppence worth. I have been researching a Beds&Herts soldier for a friend. I have the same posed photo for his 'squad' and he signed up in NORWICH. The photo I have is for COLESBERG SQUAD Sept. 36 to Mar 37. To assist with those asking, the photos are not online, but very well indexed at the Bedfordshire Archive. If anyone has a relative who signed up around this time, they may be in my photo. My mans records show an exact correlation to the photo dates; September 1936 - DEPOT Posted - Pte March 1937 - Posted 2nd Bn - Pte