12 – Reasonable doubt.
Never mind that Roy Webb on the right appears to be about the same height as Charlie Webb standing between the grandparents, forget that the height difference between the two is officially about three inches, take no notice that both of them are standing within close touching distance of said grandparents, heed not that Roy, supposedly the shorter of the two might appear even taller if he stood up straight. Instead, let’s take a look at the old folk.
My guess is that Richard is about three inches taller than his wife Eliza, give or take.
Many argue the reason Charlie appears to be the same height as Roy is that he is further away from the camera and this distance has subsequently reduced his height in comparison to the shorter Roy. Well, there is a rule of thumb guide that can be used to refute such an argument.
How far back from the camera would Richard have stand to appear to be the same height as Eliza?
A metre? Two metres?
Is Charlie standing that far back from Roy?
Of course the assumption here is that the photographer, being an old-fashioned type would have been sure to stand both old folks on a level surface for the pic, not wanting either of them to stumble over uneven ground.
Roy Webb’s enlistment file
You know it makes sense.
The Somerton Man .. 
If it be at all relevant, both Roy and his dad were the same height going by Richard Webb’s 1893 Victoria police records and Roy’s 1941 inlistment photo.
It might also be noted that Roy’s three known service pics from 1941 do not reveal any great age disparity between them and two depictions of him from the Webb family album, perportedly shot some 12 years ealier in early 1929.
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One day someone might take up the challenge put forward here, but I’m not optimistic.
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CIS/ASIO seconded Sapol hotshot Det. Ray Whitrod could have inadvertently left the SM connected Rubaiyat with other non produced evidence at the ’54 Espionage Royal Commission and may still be with archives. Make sense you reckon?
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No. This is about 3 inches.
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Nowhere in Roy’s service record does it state his actual height. Now take a close look at his height chart and you’ll note that it is superimposed over his phys. and be a military SNAFU. Could in that case be the simple solution to your 3 inch shortfall.
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You don’t say. I’ve just posted Roy’s enlistment photo, the one that shows him standing up against the measure of his height and was taken from the National Australian Archives, perhaps you could point out where it’s been altered.
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Not altered deliberately. I’m saying that the height chart was added later and is clearly evident especially in the frontal exposures. Nothing else I can add to allow for your three inch variation t’wixt ‘Charlie’ mate so if that don’t fit your agenda then I’m fresh out of ideas.
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Advice I’ve received is to the contrary, recruits were uniformly asked to stand adjacent to a height chart when photographed so that their height could be measured accurately. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous.
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Then the advice you received was clearly not gained from someone who was made (not asked) to toe the height line. Clearly you do not intend to let some smarter than average SG2 inductee circa. ’66 who did, help resolve your not at all ridiculous angle de la dangle height conundrum.
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JohnS … your time’s up.
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Expected as much. For a parting shot over the Bowes check out Charles R. Webbs chart height of 5′ 7″ compared with his stated discharge height of 5′ 9″. Might catch you for a schooner or two of saki and a sushi at Doma cafe mate.
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Ok, I checked it, the 5’9” written on Richard Webb’s discharge papers is wrong … but you’re comparing apples to pears.
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Plainly the overseeing MO at 115 Heidelberg added two inches by mistake. …and so the never give an inch Bowes dictum wins hands down against all evidence to the contrary. Apples and pears indeed old seed.
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I only wish more folks would be able to pursue their theories to the finish line. Thanks JohnS, you never disappoint.
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Jo, PB, Shabs & S. Peckerwood (deceased) #
Not to mention Roy’s big black Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Watch mit leather dust cover, that he wore at Webb’s Werribee garden party and five years later in Singas.
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Steve H has just trod in it … poor old lad, I hope his recovery isn’t too complicated.
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Trod in it and more; the swine wallows in it and chances for recovery be zip.
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