Photo ID - Queen's Royal Regt (West Surrey), Captain, MC, M-i-D

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Pember, Jun 23, 2020.

  1. Pember

    Pember Junior Member

    I wonder if anyone might recognise this chap? The the photo was probably taken c.1940-41, at which time he was a Captain. Wearing medal ribbons for the Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with mentioned-in-dispatches leaf.

    Possibly from one of the battalions then serving with 56th (London) Infantry Division, as part of 169th Infantry Brigade, i.e. either 2/5th, 2/6th or 2/7th Battalion. Although this gent may have been attached to XI Corps at the time.

    I know it is rather a 'long shot', but am hoping that there are some Queen's Regt experts out there.

    Any insights appreciated!
     

    Attached Files:

  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    We might be able to help if we had some more of the context of the photograph. There appears to be O.R.s behind him so presumably it is a photograph of a regimental group or perhaps a training course. Is the photograph mounted and if so, is there a named photographer and a location embossed or impressed on it? If you can establish a date, a search of the Army List of that year, should provide a list of the Queen's Regiment officers entitled to a Military Cross.

    Other than that, a long trawl through regimental journals may be necessary.
     
  3. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    This might help as a starting point, taken from the 1928 Army List, one of the few that I have. He may of course, have retired and been called back into service for WW2, but the chances are that he remained with the regiment as a regular officer after the Great War.

    Army list 1928 001.JPG

    Army list 1928 002.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
    Pember likes this.
  4. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    November 1935.
    1937 army list 001.JPG

    1937 army list 002.JPG
     
    Pember likes this.
  5. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    1941. This should help to narrow it down a bit. Forrester looks interesting as he is Specially Employed.

    88905169.3.jpg 88905181.3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
    Pember likes this.
  6. Pember

    Pember Junior Member

    Thank you very much High Wood!

    Unfortunately, the photo has no clues in terms of writing, print or embossing that indicates photographer or location. In the group, the captain is together with men from other regiments/corps, including another infantry officer from the Essex Regiment and ORs from RASC. Possibly a higher formation training centre, which - given Queen's Regt and Essex Regt officers - could be XI Corps. Lack of formation signs and cloth shoulder titles (and use of metal shoulder titles and some collar badges), as well as early pattern of Battledress, would be consistent with c.1940-41.

    I will check the Army Lists shared...
     
  7. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I can check the Medal Index Cards of those M.C. holders on the 1941 list to see if we can rule any out for lack of 1914 Stars, 1914/15 Stars and M.I.D.s or the addition of other medals.
     
  8. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Montague Fell Sydenham Sydenham-Clarke was awarded the M.C. for services with the 2nd Queen's in Palestine in 1939. He doesn't appear to have served during the Great War.

    Eric Sutherland Bingham is not entitled to a 1914 or 1914/15 Star.

    bingham.jpg
     
  9. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Frederick Russen does not appear to have a M.I.D. and should have a Rose on his 1914 Star ribbon.

    russen.jpg
     
  10. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    73095. 2nd Lt. Gordon George Reinhold, commissioned 2nd Lt. 26/08/1937, was awarded the M.C. for service with the 2nd battalion Queen's Regiment in Palestine 1939. He does not appear to have had Great War service.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
  11. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    66695 Captain Charles Edward Wetherall Hull can be ruled out. He was born in 1917 an was killed in action in 1941.


    Casualty
     
  12. Pember

    Pember Junior Member

    I am also checking the Army List for TA officers, as he could have been one of them; especially if he was indeed from 2/5th, 2/6th or 2/7th Battalion.
     
  13. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    69349 Lt Michael Forrester can also be ruled out having being commissioned from the Haileybury College Contingent, Junior Division. O.T.C. on 24th October 1936. His M.C. was awarded for the Middle East campaign of 1941.
     
  14. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Have you considered officers of the 22nd & 24th battalions of the London Regiment?
     
  15. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
  16. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I.T.P. Hughes can be ruled out as he has no Star and has an India General Service Medal with Waziristan 1919-21 Clasp. He was M.I.D. though.

    hughes.jpg
     
  17. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    R.H. Philpot also has entitlement to an India General Service Medal ans was also M.I.D.
    philpott.jpg
     
  18. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Francis Edward Buller Girling is not entitled to a Star.
    girling.jpg
     
  19. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Gerald Arthur Pilleau has both a star and was Mentioned in Dispatches.
    pill.jpg
     
  20. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Lawrence Yetts has a Star but also an India General Service Medal so can probably be ruled out.
    letts.jpg
     

Share This Page