Just thought I'd share some photos for anyone interested in the Gloucestershire Regiment. My grandad served with them on and off for many years. I have his records and will be heading to the Glosters museum when I am next down that way. Service No. 5174662 (initially signing up 1920 aged 17/18) 5th Glosters (TA) 5/8/20-12/2/22 Regulars - 13/2/22 - 12/2/34 5th Glosters 7/5/34 - 8/8/45 (Re-enlistment No. 22557863) Warrant Officer II rank held Nickname "Dinky" due to his 5' 5" stature! He was in France as part of the BEF and evacuated at Dunkirk. NWE 17/7/44 to 7/8/45 We think he may have served in Ireland at some point. Not sure if any forum members have any surviving family from the 5th Glosters who may recognise some of the faces. My grandad died in 1983. pic 1 with my aunt who died in the war pic 2 Astoria Hotel Antwerp 1944 pic 3 Old regimental photo pic 4 Ditto pic 5 as a whippersnapper in Europe (circa 1920's) pic 6 in Ireland ??? pic 7 another regimental one pic 8 somewhere in Europe 44
Picture 6 which you labelled: in Ireland ??? Yes, one in the rear row in the middle is clearly a Sergeant, and several clearly have a number of medals. I would suggest they are War Department Constabulary, the predecessors to the MoD Police and a very short Wiki: Army Department Constabulary - Wikipedia There is a fuller history on: https://british-police-history.uk/f/war-dept which does allow "cut & paste". There is a uniform description from April 1936, which refers to a badge on their shoulders. The implication is they did not deploy in Northern Ireland. The building looks like a portico'd gate office / guardhouse. The puzzle is the striped band on the left arm of three. It is the on duty emblem, as some forces insisted officers could travel off duty and the band denoted if they were on duty. See: Duty armband - Wikipedia From: WW2 War Department Constabulary Cap Badge - FIRMIN LONDON Picture 7 which you labelled: another regimental one. That one is easier. The tent probably belongs to a Reading-based brewery Simonds and there are two similar 1920's photos on their website. See: Home - Simonds Family Website
