Vimy Ridge Centenary

My Great Grandfather, Albert Henry MacDonald was there too serving as a cook in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. A railroad man by trade, he joined on 24 May 1916 in London, Ontario, aged 31. I never knew him as he died in his 50's. My Grandfather told stories passed on to him about the cooks making huge caldrons of mutton, (with hair and all), and no one in the family ever touched lamb for generations afterward! I have his picture, discharge certificate, cap badge, service medals and veteran pins framed on the wall here in my office.

Was any sort of "official" photograph taken of British/British Commonwealth soldiers before they left for France/active service. If so is there or was there a place where these pictures were held and can copies still be obtained? I have seen many pictures of WW1 soldiers which look as if it was the last picture taken before they left for the front and they all look very similar apart from the persons face.

The reason that I ask is that I would like to obtain a photo of a distant relative in uniform during WW1 who was wounded in action, taken prisoner and died of his wounds in captivity, aged 20. The only picture that I found was a very poor quality one in the London Gazette.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

any sort of "official" photograph taken of British/British Commonwealth soldiers before they left for France

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The type you refer to, like the one I posted are about all there is. If man didn't get a photo taken for mother locally, and some didn't, then there well may be no record of the man whatsoever. Cameras weren't a family toy like today. Even when I went to basic, the only way we got pics was because a man had a Polaroid and it made pics on the spot. We paid him $1 for each picture in 1974. I was only paid $330 gross then... There are cases of soldiers of the great war that have no known pics. Imagine today, a man growing to 20 odd years and there being no known pics of him?

Many units had giant group photos done just before deployment, you can't really make out anyone in them, in many cases.

There was a picture taken, similar to yours, and I have actually seen it but unfortunately my Gran lost it a long time before she passed away and it was never found among her belongings after she died.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

a picture taken, similar to yours

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Yes, that was what most men had made...some cases with pals too. Although I can't say what was done in the UK...I'm not very familiar.

If he was killed it is very likely that his photo appeared in the local papers; you may be able to find a copy in some local respository. There was often a "roll of honour" section in the papers where the never-ending stream of casualties appeared, if as mentioned, their families could provide a photo. If he went to a school that had photos of classes taken that might be another option. The old prints often enlarge surprisingly well.

If you knew his battalion you can perhaps find the roll of honour book for that for 1914-18 some battalion books have pics some dont.

The photo I have is a a head and shoulders shot. The quality isn't too good as it's a copy of the original. I'm not sure who has that one. There aren't many left on my Mum's side of the family.

I have a copy of his service record although parts are difficult to read because some of the British WW1 records were lost or damaged in WW2 when the building they were held in was bombed. He was in the Kensingtons, a London T.A. regiment and he joined up in 1911. The form which he filled in when he joined the T.A. in 1911 asks for his occupation, as one of the questions and he has replied, "Nil, at school".

Does anyone know if the British equivalent of "The Roll of Honour Book", that Cinders mentions, is the London Gazette or were they two separate things please? I did get a poor quality image from the London Gazette.

As far as I'm aware, The London Gazette was only used for Awards and Promotions in the Military and Civilian sectors.
I would certainly look to the Regimental archive, and if he served in "The Kensingtons" which is Princess Louise's, I am sure they will have a thorough record and timeline of all who served such a unit, TA or otherwise.
Contact the Curator at:

Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment Museum

I'm sure they'll only be too glad to help.;)