Is my grandfather in both of these pictures?
QI have two pictures that I believe show my grandfather Charles born in 1883. He joined the Army as a boy entrant at age 18 and whose service record has survived. After serving with the Bedfordshire Militia, Charles volunteered for the Boer War with the Medical Staff Corps Militia, after which he transferred to the Army Ordnance Corps 1902-05. His father may have purchased his release. Volunteering for WWI in 1914, Charles disembarked in France on 16/9/1914. I’m trying to confirm whether the picture with the Sun Helmet is the same person. In addition, I would like to find out what he actually did during both wars?
Jack Morath
A photo 1. This original black and white photograph of a soldier, who you know to be your grandfather, Charles Middleton Curtis, has been professionally colourised.
About the headgear
He is wearing the 1902 Brodrick NP Forage Cap (named after St. John Brodrick, the then Secretary of State for War) which, because it resembled Germanic style headgear, was very unpopular and consequently had a very short life, being discontinued in 1907.
cap & collar badges
The cap and collar badges are the Army Ordnance Corps, as is the brass shoulder title ‘AOC’.
chevron
The inverted chevron on his lower left arm represents a minimum of two years’ good conduct.
No. 1 dress & Queen’s south africa campaign medal
Charles is wearing his No-1 Dress Blues uniform on which he’s proudly wearing the Queen’s South Africa campaign medal
