Hello

[charlie]

Charlie, there is a badge on the collar, I cannot make it out clearly though, my eyesight is not brilliant.
Cliff

Edit: Done what I can with the cap and collar badges and a button.

Many thanks Cliff, it was worth a try.

Matthew,
Photo number 2 in reply 13 is definitely a Royal Irish Rifles button - a bugle horn surmounted by a crown. It looks like you now have a photo of your Great Grandfather.

Charlie

[Tim Bell]

The Sgt strips and RIR insignia without the Medal ribbons would indicate the photo was taken between 22/10/1999 when he was promoted Sgt and 17/9/1901 when he was transferred to the Guards.  Possibly in S Africa, ot more likley upon his return from the Boer War.

Great photos.

[Matthew john dowds]

Am so happy and sad at the same time , I have learnt more this week about my fathers family than I have in 34 years , my dad tried to find info out years ago but withought the internet he found it impossible . Am sad because I know how much he would have loved to know what I now know , this forum is by far the best web page on the planet . I want to thank every one who's helped me I really means a lot . Am so proud to be from Manchester and have these ties to the regiment . Are their any informative books or documents about the manchesters I can read and watch . Does any one know when the museum will be re opening .

[mack]

Your Great Grandfather is recorded as having died, which normally means he died of an illness.

He had enlisted aged 18 into the 2nd Bn Royal Irish Rifles in 1892, service number 3308. He served in the Boer War as a Sgt and was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with bar South Africa 1901. His service number with the Irish Guards was 1124. He was admitted to the Royal Hospital Chelsea as a pensioner on 19.10.1911 and is recorded as a Sgt Cook, service number 8288, Royal Irish Rifles.

The marvellous photo you have posted is a Sgt in the Manchester Regt pre 1914. The Sgt had served in Egypt and India. The Medals he is wearing are the Egypt Medal 1882, India General Service Medal and the Khedives Star, which would make him a member of the 2nd Bn. The medals could only be earned before your Great Grandfather enlisted so it cannot be him. I think it is probably Sgt Major Plested when he was a Sgt.

Charlie

sgt plested didn't enlist till 1885 Charlie,he did serve in india and he was entitled to the LSGC medal.also the photo was taken at a studio on ashton new road,sgt plested was from stockport.

mack

[charlie]

Thanks Mack, I put 2 and 2 together and got 5 interesting to note that Joseph Plested re-enlisted in 1914 and was also discharged as "unlikely to become an efficient soldier" it must have come as a bit of a blow to both of them.

Charlie

[Tim Bell]

Would it be the case that Joseph Plested and John Dowds may not have been fit enough for the New Army, but they would have been ideal for breaking in the new recruits into the ways of the Military?  The Service and Pals Battalions had numerous retired NCOs at the outset and many were retired by the time they left Manchester.  Others received Commissions.

[Matthew john dowds]

When people go to Egypt and South Africa these days the get loads of injections and all sorts. These men wouldn't of got any of that I bet they come back with things that were not even descovered in them days . It sounds to me like putting these men's knowledge  of being deployed to educate the new soilders would be a better use of their time and be more efficient for the army as a whole . I bet hearing of the young men they had trained , befriended and spent time with dieing would have been deverstating .

[sphinx]

The soldier in the first photo is wearing the Egypt Medal, the ALS&GC Medal & the Khedives Star, but not the IGS.

regards

[Matthew john dowds]

Would it be ok if I put some pictures up of Cyril john dowds and his wife my grand mother Freda cohen

[Tim Bell]

Matthew,
Please do post pics
The others have been great

[Matthew john dowds]

This photo is of my grandfather and grandmother Cyril john dowds and Freda cohen out side 53 Clifton street miles plating , my father lived her until about 1960 until they moved to  Manchester  wher I still live to this day

[Matthew john dowds]

Don't know wher this photo was taken , my grandmother looks very young she died when she was only 46 my dad was 12 or 14

[Matthew john dowds]

This photo is of my dad as a baby took around 1952, the man on the right was called ted am assuming he was called Edward he was Cyril dowds sisters husband I don't know who the man in the navy was.

[Matthew john dowds]

Cyril dowds and Freda cohen

[Matthew john dowds]

 Don't know wher this was took my mum seems to think it was took in scotland that's why the little boy(my dad)  has a kilt on the man on the photo was Cyril Freind .