13th Battalion Rifle Brigade

[Pipsqueek]

I have come across a photo of (I think) a young Uncle Fred with an army officer and I wondered if anyone could shed some light on who the officer is. Written on the back of the photo/postcard is 4903 Sergeant Major ??? 13th Battalion Rifles Brigade B company, but I can't read the name. Can anyone help with this as I have tried everything to find a surname that looks like that!?

Many thanks for any help you can offer. If I know who the officer is I might be able to date the photo. From what I can see the 13th battalion were based in Wycombe for a time but I can't seem to find more than that.

[Lesley Robertson]

The combination of his number and regiment, plus a C (which I’m pretty certain is at the start) leads to CSM (Company Sgt Major) and WOII Joseph Croutcher. I think that fits with the Ned of he name as well, I think.

[Pipsqueek]

Thank you for your quick reply, Lesley - I was going for tcher or tchen and the letter C at the beginning but felt the name was longer than Croutcher. Do you mean that CSM and then the beginning of his name is blanked out?

ETA: S4903 on the records, so I think you have found my man! Do you (or anyone) have any idea why this kind of photo would have been taken? Again, thank you for your help.

[Pipsqueek]

One other quick question... do you know if CSM Croutcher died during the war or if he went on to fight another day?

[Lesley Robertson]

No, they are not blanked out, the medal card was made at a different time to the writing of the card, that’s why the ranks (RSM vs CSM) are different.

Have a look for him on CWGC.org. If he died in the the War, he should be there. It’s not so simple on my phone and I won’t be turning the pc on again tonight.

[Pipsqueek]

Thank you again - I will go check :-)