Thread: WWI Razor? James Barber - Hand Forged

Originally Posted by Mastershake

I traded for mine with a local barber, he didn't know what the markings were I had to do research on the forum to find out so I have no history, sorry.

Ah well. I'd love to know how these razors got to America, but I'll be content with running into the brick wall of all the burned records of WWI soldiers.

On that note, I have turned up some more stuff.

First up is that mark I mentioned. Here's a picture of it on my razor:



Here's a picture of a similar mark on another razor:



I feel pretty confident saying those are the same (well except mine is WD1 and the other one is WD2).

That symbol in between the W and the D is a Broad Arrow or crowsfoot. It means that these razors were, unequivocally, military gear.

I've heard back from the Imperial War Museum, but I'm not sure how helpful they'll be. It looks like what they're offering is to set up an appointment to come look at their collection. If I had a passport and spare money for visiting London, I'd do this in a heartbeat.

So I've started doing deeper research on my own.

It looks like a lot of the service records were lost during bombings in WWII, but many do still exist. Plus there are secondary sources for things like the Royal Engineers and the Royal Field Artillery.

What I'm wondering now, though, is if those numbers by themselves can tell us anything. I notice on yours that the first two digits are separated a bit from the last three, and I can convince myself that mine has the same separation. So, I'm wondering if the first two digits tell us about division. If so, that suggests your razor is from the 26th division of the Royal Engineers.

But that doesn't seem to actually follow based on the pictures and resources I can find in the website with info about the 26th division. Also, there doesn't appear to have been a 77th division (though there was a 77th Battery associated with the RFA, it was part of the Indian army and stationed in Peshawar).

So, a bit more forward progress.

I'm still digging, and I'll be getting in touch with the guy from the Imperial War Museum to see if he can help.

One step closer. Thanks for all the research you are doing!

Originally Posted by Mastershake

One step closer. Thanks for all the research you are doing!

I've got names now.

Anyone with one of these razors can go to the National Archives and do a search on the markings.

Mine appears to have belonged to George Turner, a driver for the RFA, who died in France, September 9th, 1915. That really makes it a mystery how it got here! (I spent the $4 to buy the PDF of his medal card) CORRECTION: there were kind of a lot of George Turners driving in the RFA. The George Turner who owned my razor did not die. He went to the Western Front in France in October of 1915 and was discharged in June of 1916 due to sickness or wound. He got four medals.

Yours turns up... Kind of a lot more. It appears that multiple individuals can have the same regiment number. At least, based on that search it looks like there were four people who could all be 26044 RE: Charles Wells, George Jarrett, William Holden or Michael O'Toole.

However! Only one of those men has the number 26044 RE. George Jarrett, Sapper.

All the others have a WR/ appended to the 26044, and I have seen razors with that marking on them.

Unless I'm badly misreading this information, your razor belonged to George Jarrett.

That is awesome! I just got a chill reading this. Now my son who is a history fanatic said "That razor's mine now!"
That is amazing thanks alot for looking up my number. This forum is the greatest!

Originally Posted by Mastershake

That is awesome! I just got a chill reading this. Now my son who is a history fanatic said "That razor's mine now!"
That is amazing thanks alot for looking up my number. This forum is the greatest!

I am pretty stoked, here! Deciphering the information you can get from the National Archives isn't the easiest thing, but I'm happy to give it a crack for anyone who has one of these and wants to trace their razor.

great job voidmonster with the research!

I probably got something similar.