RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: dizzi on Sunday 04 December 11 23:28 GMT (UK)
-
I found this in a Sussex junk shop at the weekend
sorry not a good scan but too large for my scanner
-
Good evening Dizzi,
Is it possible to blow up the bottom left portion of the photo and post the result. You need the first 6 in the front row, no5 is looking right so if we can get a clear look at his cap badge we may be able to ID them. Looking at the cuffs I suspect they are militia or Volunteers but not positive.
John915
There also appears to be some writing along the bottom, are you able to read it?
-
Sorry problems with photo editor and cant read it
will try to get another scan elsewhere
-
trouble posting cropped copy
changed title as message said but evertime i try to post site rejects it
-
try again
-
At last
hope this is okay best i can do
-
Good evening Dizzi,
Well done for trying but still can't see badges clearly so no ID on regt yet. I think certainly militia and pre WW1 as medals look like Boer war or earlier. Possibly taken on their return from war. Several marksmen among them including the portly sergeant in the front row.
Will have to wait and see who else picks up on this post for more brain power on the job.
John915
-
Their collar badges look like a fusil or grenade which perhaps signifes a Fusilier regiment, there are some with crossed sword and crossed swords and crown above chevrons could this mean Physical Training Instructors trade badge? maybe they were in what was the forerunner of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps or could they be trade badges in swordsmanship i.e. a cavalry or yeomanry regiment, I think they are recently returned from South Africa or have had some involvement with Queen Victoria's State funeral,
The cut of the Officers trouser bottoms suggest mounted but that hardly means anything as infantry officers rode horses then.
It may even be taken in India and pre dates the Boer War
James
-
All attempts to post a large version of the six men requested are being thwarted by the resulting file size but maybe just a couple of individuals will help.
Keith
-
It appears there may be men from different regiments, the pic Keith posted shows different sleeve braid and what looks like different field service cap badges.
James
-
The reason for identifying was if i could find names to offer them to anyone with family interests for free
-
Dizzi,
I can't see any way that individuals could be nmed without first identifying the unit or units depicted and the time period and I think that will take some of Rootschat's best military experts. If the unit(s) can be identified it might be possible to name individuals by referring to whatever regimental museum might be concerned but without knowing the regiment that's not possible.
Regards,
Keith
-
Okay Keith
it was just an idea for other folk to have something
to keep
guess i may have to forget the idea
-
Dizzi,
In principle it was a good idea. You can never tell whether someone might pop up with precise information, or even just a clue to set others on the right track. In my opinion it is always a shame when photographs like this lie discarded and unrecognised and I really do hope that someone benefits from your having taken the trouble to post it.
Regards,
Keith
-
I bought it from a junk shop,recently i bought a suitcase of letters and traced a family member,this photo was saved from the tip,awfull to think how many photos are lost this way,
-
Dizzi,
I recently finished researching the fate of 96 former students of a local school, all recorded on that school's war memorial tablet. The things I discovered never ceased to amaze me. For example, I managed to track down the daughter of one lost airman in Scotland, only to find that she had been trying tp find out about her father for many years. I was able to explain to her how she cold obtain a copy of her father's war record and she went away a very happy lady. In another instance I discovered that one man was related to a friend of mine, who equally knew nothing of his forebear's fate. In a third I found that the man shouldn't even be on the memorial because he died peacefully in his bed some time after the war.
If folk like us don't record these sort of things they will be lost forever. Keep plugging it. You never know where it will lead.
Regards,
Keith
-
This is a post 1893 pic...The soldiers are wearing the Filed Service Cap, and not Glengarries...The officers are in the new style of patrol dress, without the extra ribbons, and they are not in Frock Coats
The crossed swords are the trade bade of a PTI...Physical training instructor...
I would say that this is a company photograph and a number of Regts had this sort of knot to the sleeves...Dorsets, South Wales Borderers, Northumberland Fusiliers etc etc
-
A pic of a uniform of the era... ;)
-
Thanks Scrimnet. Now we're beginning to get somewhere. I knew it wouldn't be too long before those with military knowledge started to show up.
Your comparison photo is very interesting.
Keith
-
Good evening,
Well, well, well, is that you scrimnet. Tell me why do officers hang the scabbard on its hook instead of leaving it hanging by the straps. It always looks so uncomfortable. I'm used to the cavalry style where it hangs on long straps and is carried in the left hand hilt backwards.
Anyway, are we agreed that the photo is of a regular unit militia battalion or am I barking up the wrong tree. It's a shame we can't get a clear view of the cap badge, I had hoped that when enlarged the 5th man from left had his head turned far enough to see it. James said the collar dogs looked like fusils but I don't think so.
The hanging bar on some of the medals looks like that of the QSA although there may be others like it that I hav'nt looked up.
John915
-
TBH I would have expected a "V" above the "county" designation on the shoulder title...not just the one word....
I am erring towards a regular unit....I am going to spend some time in my collar dog book...Not grenades i should say...
As for the sword hanger...its easier when walking about, and that is what the hook is for...Full ceremonial, it comes down :D Thus you dont get it tangled in ones feet!
-
After much wailing and gnashing of teeth...I went back to the original post, and stumbled upon the glaringly patent....
Nice maltese cross collar dogs??
Royal Sussex Regt
A word with the Regt Museum should get some confirmation
http://www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk/Contact.htm
-
Hey Scrimnet
thats brilliant
thank you
Dizz
-
Contacted museum an sent copy of the photo
thank you all very much
-
Dizzi,
Please let us know what response you get.
Regards,
Keith
-
WILL DO KEITH
AND MANY THANKS
DIZZ
-
Good evening,
Getting my medals mixed up, not QSA. The medal hanger bar I was looking at appears on several medals but for that time period we are looking at;
India GSM 1854/95 - ribbon striped red blue red blue red
India Medal 1895/1902 - ribbon striped mauve green mauve green mauve
South Africa Medal 1877/79 - ribbon striped in yellow and blue
http://www.worldmedals.co.uk/Rib/Britrib/britribb.htm look at no's 117, 127, 142
The first two would fit with Scrimnets dating the third may be a little early.
If they are 1st batt Royal Sussex they were in SA for Boer war the first would seem most likely which means the pic dates from 1893/1895
If they are 2nd batt I hav'nt located there whereabouts but not SA so that could take the date to 1893/1902.
John915
-
2nd Bn Sussex...
1881 Curragh
1882 Malta
1885 Jan Egypt: Cairo
1885 Dec India: Hazara
1888 Hazara Expedition
1889 Ferozepore
1897 Fyzabad
1897 NW Frontier
1897 Fyzabad
1902 England: Shorncliffe
1904 Malta
1905 Crete
-
And for completeness....
1st Bn...
1882 Egypt
1885 Sudan
1885 Nov England: Portsmouth
1888 Preston
1891 Ireland: Dublin
1896 England: Brighton
1899 Malta
1900 Apr South Africa
1902 Sitapur
1904 Rhaniket
1905 Rawalpindi
1906 Umballa
-
Are we looking at 1899 Malta...
1st bn???
-
Good evening,
From the postings you give Scrimnet not 1st batt, nothing in India 1800s. I would say 2nd batt and photo taken between 1893 and 1902 in India. Funny but I hadn't really taken notice of the background but possible Fyzabad. It would fit with them showing up to 4 clasps on some of the medals.
John915
-
Just to update you,still awaiting the reply from the Regiment
will tell you as soon as i know.
-
Good evening,
Next time I visit my aunt, about 1/2 mile from the museum, I will pop in. My old regt'l museum shares the redoubt with the royal sx so I go in periodically.
John915
-
2nd Update
Rang museum
Lady there didnt know anything
and none else to speak to
Dizz
-
A very similar building to the one in Mhow in the link posted by gortonboy – minus the wooden shades - or is that a standard barracks pattern?
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,609909.msg4592341.html#msg4592341
Rex