Godfrey Massy entered the army as a lieutenant in the 2nd Bn Norfolk Regiment. He transferred to the 1st Battalion in July 1888 with the rank of captain. In September 1897 he was appointed Adjutant of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion based at East Dereham. He commanded the 1st Battalion from January 1905 to 1909. The battalion was stationed in South Africa from 1904 to Jan 1907. It was the first time that both battalions of the Norfolk Regiment were together, at Bloemfontein, since 1864 when they were both in the Ionian Islands. In 1907 the 1st Battalion returned to England and was stationed at Warley, Essex. In February of that year King Edward VII became the regiment’s Colonel-in-Chief. The King presented new Colours to the battalion in June 1909 but by that time Colonel Massy had handed over command to John Marriott. During World War One Colonel Massy commanded an infantry base depot.
In this photo, Colonel Massy wears the officers' undress patrol jacket which is dark blue with black silk lace edges and flat black cord decoration across his chest. The rank badges on each shoulder are an embroidered crown and two stars, denoting full colonel. The forage cap is also dark blue with a black silk cap-band that has an oak-leaf pattern. The peak is edged with gold embroidery and the Britannia badge is also embroidered.
1881 Lieutenant in 2nd Bn Norfolks 22 Oct
1888 Captain 1st Bn Norfolks 21 Jul
1897 Adjutant 3rd Vol Bn Norfolks 15 Sep
1900 Major 12 Mar
1905 Lieutenant-Colonel 19 Jan
Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
