16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) looking for info on old photo

[Daveenb]

I found this photo of my Grandfather and was trying to find out some info on it. I believe it was originally a post card but it has been cut into an oval shape and glued into my Grandmothers scrap book. I think the condition is to fragile to try and remove. My question of the photo are is this the correct uniform (kilt ,cap and jacket) ? What I can guess from the photo is not much. I can see that his boots look worn and dirty. He had been shot though his right hand and that had resulted in some loss of function. Hard to tell but his hand looks like it is sort of a weird position. I know that there were photo studios at the camps in Canada and England does anyone know if there were any in France and Flanders ? #427391 Pte. Purl Moore 16th. Battalion ( Canadian Scottish ) #4 Company. Present at Hill 60 (The Yepres Salient), Mouquet Farm (The Somme), Kenora Trench (The Somme), Regina Trench (The Somme), Vimy Ridge, Ameins and The D.Q. Line (The Hundred Day Offensive). Wounded (shell shock & gas) Mouquet Farm, Wounded (shrapnel wounds & shell shock) Regina Trench, Wounded ( gunshot wounds & shrapnel wounds ) Vimy Ridge, Wounded (mustard gas) The D.Q. Line. Enlisted July 5th 1915 S.O.S. Feb. 20th. 1919.

[Steve Ashton]

Please follow this link to the Library and Archives of Canada website with the listing for Purl Moore in the 16th CEF.

http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discove...dNumber=182152

And his full service record in PDF fornat

http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?...&id=B6334-S055

You may also wish to follow this link to the Canadian Scottish Regimental Museum.

http://www.canadianscottishregiment....p?page_id=1021

[Daveenb]

Thanks Steve; Really want to visit the museum. The first picture when going to the link is that of Jimmy Richardson VC at Regina Trench. My Grandfather was also in No. 4 Company with Richardson and was at Regina Trench with him. Also in No. 4 was my Grandfathers best friend in the Battalion W.J. Milne V.C. Guess I'll have to get busy on my passport. Deas Gu Cath

[Steve Ashton]

And as an aside -

When the 16th was formed the Tartan they wore was MacKenzie/Seaforth. The Kilts were military box pleated to the white stripe.

Today the Regiment wears The Stewart Hunting Tartan pleated alternating red and yellow known as "Catsup & Mustard".

[figheadair]

And as an aside -

When the 16th was formed the Tartan they wore was MacKenzie/Seaforth. The Kilts were military box pleated to the white stripe.

Today the Regiment wears The Stewart Hunting Tartan pleated alternating red and yellow known as "Catsup & Mustard".

And as you know Steve, the pipers wore Lennox tartan. I've not yet worked out why they wore such an unusal tartan as it must have been a special weave even then.

[Tarheel]

Without the rank and other military insignia of the uniform, I guess this was a photo taken on or near the discharge date from service. The boots would have been worn from action in combat. His hand would have war wounds (as you have noted). The hair cut would be his last "battle cut" by the military. One last thing, is the look a combat soldier has soon after coming home. I have felt and have seen those eyes in soldiers. This man has those eyes.

[Jock Scot]

A man who had endured the thick end of a war AND THEN missed/survived the dreadful "Spanish" influenza pandemic that took so many of that generation(particularly returning servicemen) from around the world in 1918/19. He deserved a long life!

[Daveenb]

Does anyone know if getting pictures taken when discharged a common thing ? I too was thinking that this might have been between the end of the war and when he was SOS . I know its not in color but does the pattern of his kilt look right for the 16th, ? Deas Gu Cath

[Jock Scot]

Does anyone know if getting pictures taken when discharged a common thing ? I too was thinking that this might have been between the end of the war and when he was SOS . I know its not in color but does the pattern of his kilt look right for the 16th, ? Deas Gu Cath

I can't say about the tartan, but I fancy the picture was taken in a studio(a perfectly normal thing to do) before he fully passed out. Why? No unit insignia on his tunic, no wound stripes( which he certainly earned and were I think, still worn in 1918/19) and no medal ribbons ( he would have at least one "Campaign" Medal). Which he would have by the end of the war.

[Nomad]

I can't say about the tartan, but I fancy the picture was taken in a studio(a perfectly normal thing to do) before he fully passed out. Why? No unit insignia on his tunic, no wound stripes( which he certainly earned and were I think, still worn in 1918/19) and no medal ribbons ( he would have at least one "Campaign" Medal). Which he would have by the end of the war.

Some very astute reasoning jock, I think you are probably correct (to me the big giveaway is the 4 ft of white wall, where else but a studio would you find one of them )