British Army Ancestors - 17th Lancers identified

About a year ago I launched British Army Ancestors, my initiative to provide a vehicle for people to upload army photographs and so, in time, build a useful free resource for others. This week I've been adding my own discoveries and I want to use this post to talk about two of these.

Under the caption, " A dismounted Lancer at a skirmishing display" this photograph first appeared in the The Navy & Army Illustrated that was published on the 6th March 1896.  The article notes "Here we have a picture which will serve to remind many of our readers of the Military Displays at the Agricultural Hall, and to others will explain the kind of fighting which Dr Jameson's troopers made with the Boers at Krugerdorp. It is a pretty idea, teaching a cavalry horse to lie down and serve as a living screen, from behind which his rider can fire in safety, and moreover, has its use in warfare. In the present instance the dismounted horseman (Rough-rider Corporal Long, of the 17th Lancers) is one of a line of skirmishers ordered to use their carbines on foot, against an enemy whom they are unable to get at owing to the nature of intervening obstacles."

The Corporal Long in question can only be 3000 Cpl Henry Long who joined the regiment in December 1885, transferring to the 16th Lancers in November 1905. He was discharged in December 1906 having served 21 years and was entitled to the QSA and KSA for service in South Africa, as well as the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal with gratuity. His character on discharge was recorded as "Exemplary". 

The second photo is actually quite well-known and was subsequently rendered as artwortk for a cigarette card (see below). This photo originally appeared in The Navy & Army Illustrated which was published on the 21st February 1896. The caption underneath the photo ran,

"Her mother was shot in Cashmere, eight years ago, by Prince Adolphus of Teck, who brought the cub to Lucknow, where the regiment was stationed, and gave her as a present to his troop. Shortly after this the cub was lost for a year. Then one day a man came round with a performing bear, which was recognized as " Lizzie " Since then "Lizzie" has remained with the 17th, with whom she came to England in 1889. She is a great pet with all ranks, for her own part reciprocating the affection, specially in favour of Corporal Baker, her particular guardian, who is shown in the illustration..."

I looked at medal rolls and service records for 17th Lancers corporals called Baker and the only possible candidate is 2881 Shoeing Smith Cpl Thomas Baker. In this photo, the clincher is the horseshoe, just visible on his right arm which marks him out as a shoeing smith. His service record confirms that he held that rank between July 1894 and February 1896 when he was promoted to sergeant farrier.

I am delighted to have identified these two men but was only able to do so as a result of understanding the regimental numbers for the 17th Lancers and, fortuitously in both cases, finding surviving records for them in WO 97.

If you've not already done so, do check out British Army Ancestors. The site is free and even if you don't want to upload photos, you can quickly and easily search over 12m records.

L/3204 George H Edney, 16th & 17th Lancers

When he enlisted with the Corps of Lancers on the 9th January 1911, George Herbert Edney was a 19-year-old waiter working in London. He was born in Stoke Newington on the 25th July 1891, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Edney, but by 1901 had moved south of the river and was living with his parents and siblings at 72 Alvey Street, Southwark. 

The 1911 census return shows George serving with the 16th Lancers and based at Shrapnel Barracks, Woolwich Common. The photo above may have been taken at around this time, or at least when George had completed basic training, as he is wearing the uniform of the 16th Lancers. He had only been in the army for three months by the time the census return was taken, but in due course he would transfer to the 17th Lancers and see service in India between the 18th December 1913 and the 15th October 1914. It was during this time that the photo, below, was taken.

On his lower left sleeve George wears a chevron representing two years' good conduct, and above that, a marksman's badge. George returned briefly to England in October 1914 and disembarked in France on the 8th November 1914. He would remain in France until April 1919, earning for himself the 1914 Star and British War and Victory Medals. 

George married Ada Ansell at the parish church, Warlingham on the 16th August 1919, and their daughter Joan Ruby Edney was born the following year.  His address on discharge on the 8th January 1923 was given as No 1 Flat, 29 Palace Gates, Kensington W8. 

George Edney died in 1968. His military photos, some of which I have posted here, and his discharge certificate are now in my possession. No service record survives for this man in WO 363/4 but there is an entry in a Royal Tank Regiment enlistment register which gives much useful information. In all likelihood, papers may still be with MoD as George served in the army beyond 1920.