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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: sammybill on Monday 18 August 08 21:30 BST (UK)
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Don't know much only possibly pre ww1 and possibly from the Oldham Lancs area.
Any ideas,
Thanks Sammybill
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Im pretty sure the insignia on the helmet is of the Lancashire Fusiliers
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Thank you Dudleylad
Anything else you know perhaps a guess at the year or what campaigns they were involved in.
Cheers Sammybill
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Sorry, it's definitely not the Lancashire Fusiliers. :)
And in fact, the uniform is definitely not British !!!
The badge on the hat looks like a double eagle, which would make it Russian? Austrian?
An interesting one though.
Will see what I can find.
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My first thought was that it was American, or theatrical. He is wearing medals on both sides of his chest, which they didn't do in the British army. The hilt of his sword looks like a cavalry sword from early in the 19th Century. I think the cap badge looks European.
Ken
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I know what you mean Ken.
Medals on both sides of his chest, the belt looks a bit out of place, and it's rather "messy" with caplines, aiguilettes, epaulettes and who knows what else all over the place!
The best match I have for the badge is Austro-Hungarian.
eg
http://www.hussards-photos.com/AutricheHongrie/Autriche_CAB_HR4.htm
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Yep deffo Austria-Hungary....
And our continental friends had a propensity to stick medals all over the place...The French Foreign Legion are a point in fact...
Also, foreign armies were not as "tidy" as us Brits...
I'll have a poke around for this one...
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Try posting it here....
http://austrohungarianlandforcesdiscussionforum.yuku.com/forums/1/t/Austro-Hungarian-Land-Forces-1848-1938.html?page=2
From what I can see in my books, the centre of the double eagle would have a number denoting the Regt...
There may be a No.1 on this one...
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Looks like fancy dress to me. The belt definitely looks "wrong".
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Have to say the moustache not only looks false but is of different colour to hair and eyebrows. Maybe another reason to think it is more theatrical?
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My Gt Uncle had black hair and a ginger moustache / beard, naturally!
The belt I reckon is a cloth one and maybe a bit battered....But...still in keeping with the general tone...
Lets wait and see what the Austro Hungary forum says...We may all be surprised!
I am aware it looks "Ruritainian" but the Central Powers were thus!
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Thanks everyone for your comments.
I am tending now to suspect it may be a theatrical type outfit as the photograph is produced as a postcard.
I agree the belt doesn't seem to fit with the tunic and the shoes almost look like dancing shoes.
Cheers Sammybill
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By gone days
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Hi
The double headed Eagle is the badge of my husband's old regiment The 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards. The Regimental Anthem is Strauss's Radestsky March [a Czech & Austrian General].
I too think the uniform is fancy dress.
Wendy47