Campbell Harper

Postcard Portrait

Question

This postcard portrait of a soldier has been provided by Don Edward, Manningtree, Essex England.

The soldier's details are given on the back of the card.  Don is keen to discover the regiment of the soldier. 

A small section has been cut from the bottom of the photo, but I hope there is still sufficient  remaining for the regiment to be identified.   If you can help to identify it, please e-mail me.

Thank you.

Answer

1.

Thank you to John Hadden, Edinburgh, for making the following suggestion.

National Archives Web Site

A possible route of enquiry would be to check the online archive of WW1 Campaign Medal Cards at the National Archives web site.

Clicking on the link above should take you to the part of the National Archives web site that covers en-line enquiries about WW1 Campaign Medals.

As Don Edward has a name and probably a rank other than Private, that site should narrow down the possibilities.

John Hadden, Edinburgh.  19 July 2005

Answer

2.

Thank you to Don Edwards, Manningtree, Essex, who wrote:

"Thanks for all your help.   It transpires that William Rennie emigrated to New Zealand before the first war. 

He joined the NZ 6th Wellington Infantry Battalion when war broke out. 

The photo was taken in Edinburgh when he was on leave from the fighting in France and took the opportunity to visit his parents. 

He survived the war and died in NZ in the 1970's."

Don Edwards, Manningtree, Essex.  18 November 2005

Answer

3.

Thank you to Annie, Australia who wrote:

"I was interested to see the picture of the New Zealand Sergeant. The uniform is clearly ANZAC but the hat showed NEW ZEALAND.  They tweaked on all sides.

Australians usually wore one side pinned up (slouch hat).  World War 2 saw leather chaffs replacing the earlier boot coverings.  The hessian-type belt usually denotes infantry."

Annie, Australia:  February 25, 2006

Answer

4.

Thank you to Jonathan Paynter, New Zealand and Alan Culhane for sending the answer below.  This answer includes  far more detail than I expected!

Jonathan and Alan wrote:

"The badges are 9th Hawkes Bay Company, part of the 1st or 2nd Wellington Infantry Battalion

William Kemp Rennie's embarkation details can be found on this page of the Auckland Museum Cenotaph database."

Jonathan Paynter, New Zealand, April 12, 2008
 and Alan Culhane, April 20, 2008