Lanyards do not indicate rank, they indicate the Regiment or branch e.g. 3RTR had a green lanyard. His rank is shown by arm stripes.
As in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, a Yellow lanyard. Just remembered that when I was in the Royal Artillery we wore the lanyard on our right shoulder as opposed to in the 4th QOH when it was worn on the left. Ron
Aren't lanyards a cavalry thing (and therefore by extension also Artillery and Signals) ? and as Ron mentions, RA wore them on the right. I'd say that this right shoulder white lanyard indicates Royal Artillery. The slip-on shoulder titles also look to have a small number of tall characters on rather than a long name. 'R.A.' would certainly fit.
That's very interesting. Now I need to do yet *more* digging! He joined up with the Essex Regt, but seemed to serve with the 4th Dorsets. Does that fit?
Mandy The answer will be in his Service Records. Lots of threads on the Forum which indicate how these can be applied for.
First of all...it sounds daft...but is the chap in the photo definitely your Grandfather and and not a brother or cousin or something ? I've tried to have a look at your other threads. but may have missed something. Do you definitely know that he was 4th Battalion of the Dorsets ? HQ 43rd (Wessex) Division included 110th (7th Dorset) Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. I don't know if those men transferred to RA or continued to call themselves Dorsets. County regiment allegiances are strange things. He's wearing the later-war economy battledress (with visible buttons rather than a fly-front) so it's not an early-war photo. Service record is really the only way to go here.
Thanks Rich. Yes, he is definitely my Grandad! He was captured while serving with the 4th Dorsets. I have found that out on ancesty type sites. He was listed as Private when captured, so what you said about it not being an early war photo must be correct.
It was suggested to Mandy back in 2013 that she get his service records. Think we might need to a whip round to help her pay for them. Mandy, if you really want to find out the answers you really will need to pay 30 quid for his records. You'd have had the answers 3 years ago if you'd got them then.
