I do belive that the gentleman in the centre bottom row could be my Grandfather, Thomas Edward Bend, My father remembers as a very small boy his Dad telling him of his Regiment in the war that only eight of them returned alive to England and that they had a photo taken of them all together. Thomas E Bend was in the Grenadier Guards Leicestershire and was born in Harby Leicestershire, He joined this regiment in 1913 to the 2nd Battalion, I do hope that this may help, The resemblance to my Father as a young man is uncanny, Best Wishes Jude

Thank you very much for this suggestion, which comes just at the time when we are remembering those who fought. Perhaps someone with specialist knowledge of uniforms and badges will have a close look at the picture and will be able to tell us more about the rank and regiment of the men in it. They all seem to be wearing Leicestershire Tiger cap badges.

I am a keen amateur rather than an expert but I would comment as follows. (a) It appears to be early WW1 given that the men are wearing the much hated puttees on their legs. (b) They are all Leics Rgt. The Indian Tiger cap badge is a give away. (c) They all appear to be private soldiers although the man seated in the centre may have a lance corporals stripe on his left arm (or is it a crease in the material?) (d) This also makes me believe it is at a camp in the UK prior to embarcation to France as if they were veterans of bloody fighting , I am sure some of them would have been made up to corporal or seargeant. (e) None of them are showing any sign of wearing a long or good conduct stripe and none of them are wearing wound stripes - again another reason to think it is before arrival in France and Flanders. (f) All of the men are carrying swagger sticks - most likely as a photographic prop as they were the preserve of senior NCOs on parade. Hope this helps.

Thank you very much for your helpful response to our request for information. Now we will be able examine other photographs for the points you mention.

I have just come back to this wonderful photo and now have some more info. (1) Ernest William Christmas, in the photo is Private 1893 1st/5th Battalion The Leicester regiment. His Medal Index Card shows that he reached the rank of sergeant and eventually transferred to the Tank Corps as sergeant 301947. He went to France on 27/2/1915 and earned the Victory and British Medal and the 1915 Star. To serve in tanks makes him a very pioneering soldier as they only came into being for the first time during WW1. (2) Sadly, I have to tell Judith Cook that the photo does not show her grandfather. Thomas E Bend served only in 2nd Battalion the Grenadier Guards as private 16833 and was never in the Leicesters. However, he went to France on 20/9/1914, war was declared in August 1914 and thus he is one of the "Old Contemptibles" i.e. a member of the pre war regular army, which confirms his joining date in 1913, and thus an original member of the BEF. (British Expeditionary Force). He was entitled to the British and Victory Medals, the 1914 Star and a Silver War Badge with Clasps. This indicates a wound and his MIC shows that he was eventually discharged.

Many thanks for the comment and extra information.

Thank you to Johnathan D'Hooghe. At least we now know that this is not my Grandad (although he is the image of my father). It has been very difficult to find any information on Thomas E as my Dad has very little memory of him, being only a little boy when they lost touch. We would like to thank you for the information that you have provided to us as we now have something new to work with. Do you know if there would be any surviving records or photographs of him or his regiment? and where we can get copies from. Once again my thanks for your interest, Best regards Jude

Almost certainly a pre-war Territorial training camp. Leicesters' (minus battle honour badges,) black leather clasp-belts and T.5 Titles (1st/5th Battallion) on the shoulder boards are a giveaway. Swagger sticks were permitted to be carried by other ranks during leave times or "Furlough" as it was termed then, as senior N.C.O's carried "Pace-Sticks" not swagger sticks. Leicesters Pre-war training camps were as follows: 1908 Garendon in Leicestershire, 1909 High Tor, 1910 Hindlow, 1911 High Tor, 1912 Aberystwyth. 1913 and 1914 planned for Aberystwyth but were, I believe, cancelled due to mobilisation.

Once again I am drawn to this picture, it seems to be haunting me! Because of the strong family resemblance to my father I have once again looked for a likely match and have found Reuben Bend, born 1892 who served in the Leicestershire regiment during WW1 his Regiment No was 203846 rank private, as he was a cousin to my dad that would explain the likeness, I know I may be clutching at straws here but if one member of the photograph is identified it may help to find the names of the others in the picture, I do hope that someone may be able to tell me if Reuben was in the Tigers and if anyone else recognises him. Thanks once again to your team. Best regards, Jude.

I would also go for a pre War Territorial Camp. If Ernest's number is 1893 that would mean he enlisted ~1912-1913. I would go for the 1913 Camp. Richard are you sure the 1913 Camp was cancelled? The others Brigades of the North Midland Division (of which the 1/5th Leicesters were a part) held Camps in 1913. The 1914 Camp was cancelled due to mobilisation. Great picture though.

Many thanks for your interest and most helpful observations

For Judith: Reuben Bend did indeed serve as a private soldier in the Leicestershire Regiment. However, his service No. of 203846 means (I believe) that he would not have been a pre war soldier. I have found his Medal Index Card and he was awarded a Victory Medal and a British War Medal but not a 1914 or 1915 Star which he would have had had he been a pre war TF soldier. Therefore, he is unlikely to be in this photo. Interestingly his MIC is noted under King's Regulations 1743 (12) which means that 10 years after the award, his medals had not been claimed.

After some delving, I believe that the TF Leicesters did attend a 1913 camp at High Tor, Whitwick. It was only 1914 that was cancelled due to the outbreak of war.

Johnathan D,Hooghe, You asked a question on one of the war pages about the Bevan brothers from Kilgwrrg Chepstow, they were my grandmothers brothers.