Major. Unknown
British Army Royal Artillery
I have found a portrait photo of a soldier hidden behind an old picture (which was a newspaper cutting of st Anthony, Roseland, of 3/9/1949). The picture was bought in a junk shop in Limerick Ireland. I would love to help find the family of this soldier but I have very little to go on... I know the photo was taken by J. Weinberg in Cairo it has the number 22496 printed on back of photo.. So far I think he was a major in the RA and received a MiD( but looks like the Older WW1 oak leaf from it shape on the photo), his uniform was American made (apparently)! (Historians from twitter helped me out). I know this is probably WW2 but I am trying any/ every available source to try to name him... Any information you give would be so great. I attach the picture of him in the hope you might be able to help or redirect me. I was wondering if anyone could help me... Anything at all would help.
A Twitter appeal identified the coastal scene as Cadgwith and has given certain details about the soldier, whom Claire and her daughter have nicknamed ‘SAM’ (short for Soldier And Mystery). The khaki colours of the shirt and tie on the uniform are in line with desert colours and from the badge on his cap he was a Commonwealth Royal Artillery Officer. He also has an artillery stripe on his arm. The epaulette on his shoulder looks to be a crown, meaning he was a major, and the badge near his collar appears to be an MiD award – “mentioned in dispatches” for gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy – a silver oak leaf symbol. His uniform has been suggested as a 1940s pattern battle dress, from the pockets and buttons, issued from 1942 onwards. The Canadian army did not adopt this jacket, although it is possible Australia and/or New Zealand may have, while the upright bar at the end of the oak leaf may be the start of a Star of Africa ribbon.
The picture appears to have been taken by J Weinberg in Cairo with the number 22496 printed on the back. Jean Weinberg was a Romanian Jewish photographer based in Cairo between 1938 and approx 1948 and photographed members of the Egyptian royal family, so it may have been prestigious for a military man to be photographed by him at the time. It suggests the photograph was taken during World War Two.
Anyone who has information on the identity of the soldier, or who can suggest why his photograph would be wrapped in a cutting about Cornwall, can contact Claire via Twitter using @clairemsb
