Uniform question

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Paul E, Dec 18, 2018.

  1. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    I have attached a photo that I received from a deceased relative. I believe it may be my Uncle who I know was in the Army during WW2. The photo is probably post-war but if anyone can help with which rank and regiment I would be most grateful.

    I have looked closely at the photo and it may be that it is not clear enough to identify the regiment etc, but I thought it might be worth a try.

    Many thanks

    Paul
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Paul E likes this.
  3. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    Hi TD

    Thanks for the suggestion but as I am not his next of kin and am not in contact with any other of his decendants it isn't possible to request his records, and to be honest I am not certain it is my uncle, who I believe became a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army.

    Paul
     
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Paul E and Tricky Dicky like this.
  5. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Paul

    The link states -

    .........for a period of 25 years following the date of death of the subject and without the consent of the next of kin, MOD will disclose only:

    Thats why you will need a copy of his death certificate - many members on here have applied for and received records for non relatives

    TD
     
    Paul E likes this.
  6. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    Many thanks TD, I hadn't appreciated that although I am unsure of his date of death but will try and look it up somehow. I would like to get his Brother's service details, who was a Chief Petty Officer on HMS Formidable in WW2, but I know he died less than 25 years ago.

    The man in the photo I think may be called Thomas Henry Thatcher (B:1920)
    His brother who was in the RN was Leonard John Thatche (B 1922 - D 1998)

    Paul
     
  7. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Leonard John Thatcher
    1922–1998
    BIRTH 27.07.1922 • Lambeth, London, England
    DEATH 23.11.1998 • Warminster Wiltshire, England

    The problem from this family tree is that when you check out the detail on the death certificate his date of birth changes

    England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
    Name: Leonard John Thatcher
    Death Age: 75
    Birth Date: 27 Jul 1923
    Registration Date: Nov 1998
    Registration district: Warminster
    Inferred County: Wiltshire
    Register Number: 15D
    District and Subdistrict: 7981

    [​IMG]

    TD
     
    Paul E and timuk like this.
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Unfortunately I cannot as yet find details (except birth) fpr Thomas Henry - he may still be alive or may have emigrated and died in another country

    TD
     
    Paul E likes this.
  9. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Paul, can I assume that the family tree on Ancestry is yours? It is useful to know as it saves us looking through sources that have already been searched.

    As he was a relative is there no one around who can say if he is still alive? Did he marry? There is a Thomas Harry Thatcher who died 17 Aug 2013.

    Can you get a clearer image of the cap badge, perhaps close up photo?

    If Leonard was in the Royal Navy interested in why he is standing in front of an aeroplane.
     
    Paul E and Tricky Dicky like this.
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Formidable underway, 3 August 1942
    [​IMG]

    Hence the connection to aircraft
     
    Paul E and Tony56 like this.
  11. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    Thanks for all the replies. Yes the family tree on Ancestry is mine.
    I have some info on Leonard but almost nothing on Thomas. I am pretty sure he didn't move abroad and last time I had any contact with his sons it was in the early 70's and they lived in Shrewsbury.
    The photo of Len was taken on board HMS Formidable, I have another photo of the plane he was sitting on (see attached)
    Thanks again
    Paul
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    mmmmmmmmmmm good point TD! I assume that is Leonard sitting on the tyre.
     
    Paul E and Tricky Dicky like this.
  13. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Paul E likes this.
  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I have looked through - All England and Wales, Death Index, 2007-2017 results for Thatcher born 1920 +/- 1 year (1919 - 1921) and there isnt one, so I would assume therefore he died outside of England & Wales.

    TD
     
    Paul E likes this.
  15. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    I suppose that's possible but it doesn't fit well with what little my Mother (his half-sister) knew about him. My wife is visiting my Mother this morning and although my Mother has dementia she may will recall something more, I will get her to ask.
     
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Only cap badge I can think of that looks similar is the old style oval Royal Signals badge.
    WW2 Royal Corps of Signals RCOS Cap Badge
     
    Paul E and timuk like this.
  17. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Need to consider the limitations on Ancestry:
    "About England and Wales, Death Index, 2007-2017
    This collection is a compiled index that covers approximately 55% of the total deaths that occurred in this time period."
     
    Paul E likes this.
  18. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Tony56 - my time to mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm you are right I forgot that Ancestry is not what we, sorry I expect it to be

    However I would have expected deaths between 2008 and 2013/2014 to have been written up by now, or am I expecting too much?? They do already have some that are 2016, born 1920, and some from 2017, maybe they havent got around to his geographical area yet ??
    Mrs Marjorie Winifred Thatcher 11 Jan 1920 17 Feb 2016 Bristol, Bristol, England

    Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow

    TD
     
    Tony56 and Paul E like this.
  19. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    I cannot see any pips on shoulders but that may be due to the quality of the photo so I tend towards thinking this is an RSM. The lanyard is hatched rather than plain (two colour?). Does that tie in with RCOS?

    Tim
     
    Paul E likes this.
  20. Paul E

    Paul E Member

    Thanks for all your help and suggestions. I too had not realised Ancestry's limitations on that, I wrongly assumed relatively recent births deaths and marriages would be pretty complete.

    PS - Apologies if I should have said Len was in the Fleet Air Arm, not the RN. In the photo he is the one sitting on the wheel of the Fairy Barracuda nicknamed the "Meteoric Dustbin".
     

Share This Page