TOPIC:

Many thanks for all the comment.
Here’s the information I have on (Edward) Thomas Hemming
Thomas Hemming, b.1857 Droitwich Wocs
1881 census General Labourer Droitwich Worcs
1891 census General Labourer Droitwich Worcs.
With other members of the Hemming family, he moved to Birmingham and married Mary Ann Murray of Smethwick.
1901 census 1901 House Court 1, 2, Dugdale Street, Birmingham
Thomas Hemming 37 1864 Head. Droitwich, Worcs Railway Mill Labourer     
Mary A Hemming 36 1865 Wife. Smethwick, Staffordshire   
Thomas W Hemming 1 1900 Son Birmingham, Warwickshire

Mary Ann Hemming died Oct - Dec 1905, aged 39 years

Edward Thomas Hemming married Annie Pardoe Oct - Dec 1906 Aston, Birmingham

1911 Census. 5, Steward Street, Birmingham
Thomas Hemming   47 1864 Male Head Married. Droitwich, Worcs, Labourer  
Annie Hemming 38 1873 Female Wife Married. Birmingham, Worcs    
Florence Hemming 7 1904 Female Daughter.     Birmingham, Wawks School    
Ivy Hemming 1 1910 Female Daughter. Birmingham, Wawks

Ann Hemming died July - Sept 1956
Thomas Hemming died Oct - Dec 3rd 1951


I date the pictures because of the little girls. My mother wrote on the back of the wedding photo: “Mom a bridesmaid at Tom & Annie’s wedding, Bourton-on-the-Hill”. She gives no date, but the elder girl, my Aunt Amy, was born in 1894, and the younger, my grandmother, Nellie, was born in 1898. Thus I guess the photo is from 1902-3. The lady on the left is their mother, my great-grandmother, Margaret Shaw, the sister of Tom Hemming. I have no idea of the other people, but the lady looks like Annie Hemming (née Pardoe).

The information in the last paragraph contradicts the information further above, that Tom and Annie married in Aston in 1906.

My mother seemed to have contact with Tom and Annie throughout their long lives but never mentioned them to me. I was born in 1956.

Tom and Annie seemed to have lived in Birmingham from their wedding to their deaths. I found no connection with Bourton-on-the-Hill, though there are a lot of Hemmings in Gloucestershire.

I don’t think that there is any question that the girls are my Aunt Amy and my grandmother Nellie; I have other early pictures of them.

Of course, my mother may have made a mistake, and this could be a picture of another couple, another wedding. This is a possibility.

Hope this helps,

John Milton

John
Thank you for the additional nformation. It's a shame your mother didn't mention anything about Hemming's military history. In my humble opinion I think that wedding photograph was taken cica 1917 or possibly later. Which probably rules out my 1906 date. Also, we have the enigma of the uniform. The hat is confusing and the 4 blue Chevrons on the right sleeve were certainly awarded for 4 years of overseas service. The Chevrons were created by the British Army in 1917. It was retroactive to December 1914 and was eligible for award until May 1920. My other observation is that the bride and the two flower girls and the lady on the left have similar facial features, especially the lips. Possibly mother of the bride and 2 sisters?.....Just a thought.



Dave.....

The image enclosed is of 3 soldiers from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who served in WW1. Note the chap on the far left. He is wearing similar collar badges and hat as in your photo. However, the hat badge is certainly different . This in my opinion adds to the confusion of who the soldier is in your picture. Is there any history in your family pertaining to Canada or New Zealand ?


To answer your original question John
Quote:-Can anyone tell me whether my distant great-uncle, Thomas hemming, is wearing a Boer War uniform at his wedding. The photo is1902-3.
I believe the answer is no. He isn't wearing a Boer War uniform, and the photo is later than 1903.

Hi,

The gentleman in uniform is wearing that of the New Zealand Engineers, and more specifically I think it is that of the NZ Tunneling Company, NZE (would need verification). He isn't wearing the red chevron denoting service up to 31 December 1914, so the four he is wearing indicate service in 1915-1918. I would suggest this photo dates from a visit to UK relatives circa 1918-19. It was very common for soldiers from far-flung places such as New Zealand to visit their UK relatives while on leave in the UK, and I think this image is simply showing one such visit, with everyone in their Sunday best for the occasion.

Regretably there is no one by the name of Thomas Hemming(s) in the NZEF so this must be someone else. He is not wearing medal ribbons, as someone previously mentioned so would suggest no Boer War service as such. Sorry I cannot identify the man - other than to tell you who he is not!

Cheers

Phil
Auckland, NZ

Just a quick update reference NZMR verification on above post.

I think Phil is bang on with his suggestion regarding the New Zealand Tunnelling Company
See enclosed image. The chap marked with red dot has the same collar badges and the hat badge is pretty close to the original image posted by Milton.
The above image was photographed in Arras during WW1.
Apologies for the image quality reproduction.

Many thanks to you all. Yes, this may not be Tom Hemming, but the girls are my grandmother Nellie, b. 1898, and sister Amy, b. 1894, and their mother, Margaret Shaw was born in 1870.