Genealogy Chat

Thanks Merry. I do know the younger was in the Army but that's all. Still have no idea which one the photo is, but looks to me like cerimonial or dress uniform, then again I could be wrong, who knows for those days. I'll keep you posted if I find anything more out. Gypsy Joe

Hello Joe, I'd forgotten about this thread!! So, are we saying this is a dress uniform of a pretty standard design for the times?? I still think your photo is of later date than some of the others I have seen (from previous posts on this thread), but would be more than happy to be told it was the younger of your two Alfreds......but I still think the man in your photo is not past 30 years. So would be Boer War date rather than WW1 in that case....... Merry

Sorry Steve just read my last reply and it sounded to me a bit rude. Sorry if it came across that way, didn't mean for it to. I have an update for you guys The elder Alfred was in the Army Scots Greys, Aldershot. That's all I know. I haven't been able to find a picture on the internet of their uniform though to compare. Gypsy Joe

Well Steve being ex military I know how different the uniforms can be. At a guess the uniform he's wearing ais a dress or ceremonial uniform, he would then have had a different couple of uniforms depending on work even as an officer. Even though I was junior ranks not officer I was issued with a total of about 9 different uniforms and 4 were never worn, such a waste, I think that's starting to change now. Joe

Jo if the one on page 51 lookes the closest, then you may have a lead, remember if alfred was an officer then his cap would be different and poss his jacket would be slightly different too Steve

still on the military badges site pg 51, looks like another of the same jackets as pg 47 and there is this written; I suspect he may have been in a Yeomanry Cavalry unit, there was one circa 1880-1900 at HADLEIGH, Suffolk, which is only about three miles down the road from KERSEY, it was called THE DUKE OF YORK'S LOYAL SUFFOLK HUSSARS, ........ the gentle man submitting this pic didn't really have much info but this was later added; News! 8th. March 2000. After an enquiry to Iain Kerr of Windsor, Iain replied to me regarding the Suffolk Yeomanry in great depth, this is part of his kind reply, ' In 1868 the 1st Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry amalgamated with the Long Melford troop to form the West Suffolk Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry, The Eye troop was known as the Suffolk and Norfolk Borderers. The regiment's title was changed in 1875 to The Loyal Suffolk Hussars and the Duke of York (later King George V) became Honorary Colonel in 1894. Two companies of the regiment served in the South African War 1899 -1902 as 43rd and 44th Companies in the Imperial Yeomanry. Following the end of the South African War, the role of the yeomanry was changed from cavalry to that of mounted infantry, carrying rifles instead of swords. The Haldane reforms created the Territorial Force (now called the Territorial Army) in1908 and that included all militia, volunteer and yeomanry regiments as a formal reserve force for the Regular Army. In common with other territorial units, on the outbreak of WWI, The Suffolk Yeomanry divided into two lines. Later the second line split to produce a third line. These were referred to as the 1/1st, 2/1st and 3/1st Suffolk Yeomanry.' Thank you once again Iain ! Ring a bell with anyone?? Joe

Steve I've just been looking throught the pics on that website military badges and think I've found a pic of something like what Alfred was wearing. pg47 Merry check this out and see if you think it looks like the same uniform, http://www.militarybadges.org(.)uk/mimage/photos47(.)htm The caps not the same but the jacket looks like the same. Joe

Thats shame Jo Steve

Unfotunatly I'm the only one interested so far, The relations that I do know and have contact with don't have computers. Lol Same old story isn't it? Joe

Jo have you not got any family or friends in the uk that can get them for you scan them an email the scan to you ?? Steve

LOL - Visions of Chinese postman doing your tree at home with the help of the certs you ordered!! Merry

That sounds fair to me Merry. You've done a fab job so far anyway and I really don't think I could evr thank you enough. If I trusted the post to China with things like that I'de try and get them sent but things get lost sometimes, the Chinse check all mail going in and out and if they don't like what they see or maybe think they may want it you never see it. Gypsy Joe

Lol Jo The good people on these boards like a good mystery to solve, hence three pages, I cant do look ups for people as i am plane usless at it, so i often help with computer problems, or as in your case pure research, and i often start daft threads just make people smile while they are hitting brick walls. Regards Steve

LOL Steve.......**hangs head in SHAME** Guess where my whole paternal family come from????? Well????? Only b****y Horfield!!!!!!!! Just shows how much I have bothered to find out about the area!! (NOT!) Quite happy to give things a rest on this thread until the postman has taken a cert or two to China or Joe has come back to the UK!..........(I still think there must me a third Alfred to go with the bandsman photo!) Merry

That's fine Steve, this is my first thread to really get a go along three pages wow!!:-) Gypsy Joe

Hi Jo I dont think Merry the Ferret is ready to give up on this one just yet lol Regards Steve

Hey everyone back from work now. 622pm here in china glad it's over got older kids tomorrow. Had some snow overnight so it's rather cold. You've given me some great stuff to go on. Hopefully I'll be in the UK over the summer and it will be easier to chase up certificates then. I'll keep checking all those sites as well. You've done a gread job and I owe you all a few drinks. Thanks again Gypsy Joe

Merry Bristol did have its own Barracks, Horfield Barracks was handed over to the Board of Ordnance on April 26th 1847. Steve

Yes......there doed seem something strange about them......I can't find a marriage for Alfred Davis to a Clara at the begining of the 1870's except for one in Clifton (Bristol) which I don't recall being an army city!!!!! Maybe it is that one though? I soppose anything's possible. Joe, maybe you should get Alfred jun'rs birth cert (or Dinah's if you don't have it........to confirm Clara's name. Maybe Clara isn't Mrs Davis' first name? Births Sep 1875 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAVIS Dinah Elizabeth Farnham 2a 94 Merry

Just a thought merry if Clara was from an army family she may have married into the army and ended up in some part of the empire lol thats an avenue for Jo to follow or perhaps he was moved to another barracks with his regement? Steve