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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Debbie in B.C. on Friday 09 November 07 21:12 GMT (UK)
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Uncle George " Wee Geordie" Stewart. Taken when he was 18 years old in his Highland Light Infantry uniform at Glasgow.
The photo is faded, any help would be appreciated.
It would be fabulous to see him in glorious colour, but I imagine the kilt would prove challenging.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/warmley/GeordieStewartat18Years.jpg)
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I unfaded him a little ;D
Sharon
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oh WOW! That's much better. :D
Thank you!
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What were those white things on his feet called, and what were they for ? They seem to have no practical purpose that I can think of !
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Here Lydart .... everything you ever wanted to know about "Spats " ;D ;D ;D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spats
Annie :)
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here's another for the album
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So ... spats ... Poirot wore them; but he was a bit of a dandy ... but for soldiers, they appear to have no practical use !
Learn something new every day,
It keeps alzeimers at bay !!
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Just a Thought!
I think the Original Idea for Spats was to stop splashes of Water (& Rain) getting Inside the Shoe (Soldiers did'nt generally wear Boots, accept those in certain Mounted Regiments).
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Thanks everyone! Not only is the photo looking brilliant, I even learned something about the spats. :)
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I have a feeling that the 'swagger stick' that he is holding wouldn't be standard issue for private soldiers, they were normally borne by officers. I'd guess that he borrowed it for the (excellently tidied up) photo.
Richard
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So we now know about spats ... what was the use of 'swagger sticks' ... or just 'for show' !!
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I would imagine that Wee Geordie insisted that have a swagger stick.... He was not very tall, but he was the boss of the family! (LOL)
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Lydart wrote:
...what was the use of 'swagger sticks' ... or just 'for show' !!
Nowadays, just for show, but originally as a symbol of authority. They are usually made of cane or malacca. Cavalry officers carry riding crops instead of swagger sticks.
Debbie's uncle would have got into quite a lot of trouble if he'd been found carrying one in public, but it does set off his HLI uniform!
BTW. When David Niven volunteered for the army at the beginning of the war, he insisted on joining a Scottish regiment. When asked - 'Which regiment?' He replied - 'Anything but the HLI'.....Which regiment do you think he was posted to? :)
Richard
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P.S. Just in case anyone thought I was disparaging the HLI.
The regiment wore trews in WWII and didn't wear the kilt. It was one of the reasons why David Niven, on passing out of Sandhurst, listed his preferred regiments as:-
1) Black Watch
2) Argyll & Sutherlands
3) Anything but the HLI
Unfortunately for Niven, his preferences followed him along with his posting!
Richard
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I never realised how much like Geordie his son John looked.
He was the boss of the family after Greta!
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Here is another try
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He'd have scrubbed up looking something like this.
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Beautiful!!!! Thank you so much!! :) :) :)
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I never realised how much like Geordie his son John looked.
He was the boss of the family after Greta!
You are right there! My Mum always said that Wee Geordie was the Boss of the family!
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From my memories of both Greta and Geordie, I think there was a degree of give and take.
There is a picture somewhere of John Stewart in the 3rd Duntocher scouts showing him wearing a kilt and they look so much alike.
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still learning Bubs
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Lydart wrote:
...what was the use of 'swagger sticks' ... or just 'for show' !!
Nowadays, just for show, but originally as a symbol of authority. They are usually made of cane or malacca. Cavalry officers carry riding crops instead of swagger sticks.
Debbie's uncle would have got into quite a lot of trouble if he'd been found carrying one in public, but it does set off his HLI uniform!
BTW. When David Niven volunteered for the army at the beginning of the war, he insisted on joining a Scottish regiment. When asked - 'Which regiment?' He replied - 'Anything but the HLI'.....Which regiment do you think he was posted to? :)
Richard
This is actually a "Walking Out Cane" and no self respecting private soldier or junior NCO would have been seen without one from the mid - late 19th century until WW2.
They were there to add a bit of "swank" to the young soldier and were an affectation, although quite normal and semi official. They had to be bought by the soldier himself, and were not issued.
Many variants are found, some with Regimental Crests or badges, some just plain topped.
He would certainly NOT have been in trouble for carrying one, and they can be seen in many period photos.
Officers canes are more plain and invariably leather covered ("can't face a German machine gun without my stick!" Lt George 1917), although some were of the plain Malacca mentioned. Officers in WW1 also quite often carried a walking stick with silver embellishments.
The term "Swagger Stick" has come to mean (with civvies - ::) )any of the above; and he RSM's Pace Stick, which apart form being the symbol of a "Drill Pig" (a Sgt Major trained in the teaching of drill) was used to measure the correct length of ones pace on the march, and especially for ceremonial duties practice.
A number of infantry officers were found with riding crops, as up until just before WW2, ANY officer was expected to provide his own horse at his own expense. This is why many period pics of soldiers on the march have a mounted officer at the front.
A number of officers still carry canes, and the Pace Stick of the "Drill Pig" is very much still extant, and they still very much symbols of rank.
The officers cane is still very useful in pointing out errant soldiers to the NCO's!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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sorry didnt read properly in the first place he should have had army colors BUBS