What uniform is my grandfather wearing?

Q

My grandfather, Thomas L Evans, served in the British Red Cross 1914–1915. I think he was part of the RAMC, Boulogne Unit No. 5, and was a sapper in the Royal Engineers from 1915. What uniform is he wearing in this photograph? Jane Clarke

A

These are Royal Engineers (RE) signaller sappers (equivalent to privates) serving as linesmen in France, probably in 1917, with the Royal Naval Division (RND).

Thomas enlisted as a Red Cross (RC) orderly in October 1914 and was sent straight to Boulogne, serving in an RC unit for a year (he was awarded the 1914 Star) then enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps (before he was conscripted into the Army perhaps), doing his army training in Britain. We know this because RAMC doesn’t appear on his Medal Index Card, as it would if he’d served abroad with them. He then transferred to the RE, and his RE medal roll shows he was sent to France to serve in the RND in 1916.

Formed in 1914 from a surplus of volunteers for the fleet, the RND consisted of infantry battalions including sailors, army infantry and technical units. The roll says he was in “R. Nav. Div. (E)”, then became a ‘proper’ RE, probably in February 1917. There were three RE companies in the RND, numbered 247, 248 and 249, and you can download War Diaries for free via The National Archives’ website: tinyurl. com/tna-war-diaries. Thomas is unlikely to be mentioned by name, but No. 5 Section might appear.

Phil Tomaselli

1 SHOULDER TITLES

Most men have “RE” as their shoulder title.

2 ROYAL ENGINEERS BADGE

This features a laurel wreath around the motto of the Order of the Garter with the Crown above and the royal cypher central.

3 BANDOLIERS

The white-and-blue armlets indicate that they’re signallers, and the bandoliers show they are sometimes mounted for extra mobility.

4 SERVICE CHEVRONS

From early 1918, chevrons on the right lower sleeve indicate a year’s service overseas. I’d expect to see at least one in a photo taken in 1918 or later, so the date must be earlier.

5 NAME BOARD

The Foul Anchor is traditionally associated with the Royal Navy, not the British Army. The ERBS is clearly their nickname as a group. As linesmen, they’re responsible for laying communication cables for divisional HQ.