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Hannah sent me this image, asking if I could add it, in the hope that one of you might be able to identify the regiment.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

I'm trying to enlarge this man's cap badge, but the clues I have are ?RAMC Field Amb. or his brother who was in the MGC42? which means nothing to me.

Any views would be much appreciated, thanks

My husband tells me that the badge on the cap is that of the East Lancashire Regiment, no doubt at all.

"MGC 42". At first my husband thought this would be "42nd Company, The Machine Gun Corps". But on balance he says it seems more likely it stands for "No. 42 Battalion The Machine Gun Corps", which was attached to the 42nd East Lancashire Division, which would tie in with the cap badge.

Hannah, if you post the names of your ancestors, my husband will try looking them up in the 42nd East Lancashire Division history, which he happens to have!

Ruth

Wow!!! a reply so quickly!

This will then be Private Robert Robert Whitaker ( maybe spelt with two tt in error).


A gunner? so was his elder brother John at the same time.

Baby of the family Andrew Whitaker in the RAMC Field Ambulance is all I now have to identify and I'll have a full set

Thanks to your sharp eyed hubby from me

Hannah

Unfortunately there was no mention of Private Robert Whitaker indexed in my husband's copy of the regimental history.

My military advisor tells me that members of the Machine Gun Corps are not known as 'gunners'. To be a gunner someone needs to be in the Artillery (who use longer distance weapons such as cannon, shell-firing guns, mortars, rockets).

Good luck with your researches.

Ruth

Thank you Ruth and your military advisor, you have solved another mystery in my family.

No doubt there are more going to sneak up on me but one less is good news for me.

Hannah