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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: graeme121 on Tuesday 05 March 13 17:39 GMT (UK)

Title: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: graeme121 on Tuesday 05 March 13 17:39 GMT (UK)
This is my Great Grandad who was born around 1882. I don't have any information on this picture so have no idea where it was taken, but it looks as if he may be holding drumsticks?? Any help would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: SmowGY on Tuesday 05 March 13 21:00 GMT (UK)
Looks like a swagger stick, though he has no obvious rank badges.  I don't know if an ordinary soldier would carry one.

Middle east in WW1, just a thought ???
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: PrueM on Tuesday 05 March 13 22:22 GMT (UK)
I can only see part of the man - has the rest of the photo been cut off or is it just me?!
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: graeme121 on Tuesday 05 March 13 22:24 GMT (UK)
I'm afraid part of the photo has been cut away
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: REIVER CLAN on Tuesday 05 March 13 22:53 GMT (UK)
Hi there, i believe the clue is in the sporrin, The black watch had a white sporrin with 5 black tassles.  if you look on the black watch web site or scottish military disasters site. you will find links to pictures which show several shots of soldiers in similar uniforms.
 
good luck in your search

steve
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: graeme121 on Tuesday 05 March 13 23:33 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the info Steve it certainly does look like a Black Watch sporran. It's such a shame that only 40 per cent of records remain from WW1 making it extremely difficult to find out any more. 
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: PrueM on Wednesday 06 March 13 00:39 GMT (UK)
Would the Black Watch wear a slouch hat? * answered - see next reply!
 
Unfortunate that we can't see the collar badges, they would give a big clue.  to me, his top half looks Australian and his bottom half Scottish! 
 
Have you thought about posting a message on the Armed Forces board, in which you can paste the URL for this topic, and asking the experts there to try to identify the uniform?
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: PrueM on Wednesday 06 March 13 00:43 GMT (UK)
Answering my own question, it looks like they did wear the slouch hat.  http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/photo-archive (http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/photo-archive) has a photo of men similarly attired (although their kilts are covered).
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 07 March 13 01:55 GMT (UK)
my try

Irene
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: cazza59 on Thursday 07 March 13 05:16 GMT (UK)
Hi Graeme

My effort, bit of artistic licence here!

Definitely a swagger stick, most probably the photographer's prop!

Regards
Caroline
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: PrueM on Thursday 07 March 13 07:34 GMT (UK)
Great work Caroline  :D Well done!

And Irene, I like the atmospheric soft vignette of yours, clever way to disguise the damage :)
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: cazza59 on Thursday 07 March 13 07:41 GMT (UK)
Thank you Prue, much appreciated!  Must say I had some fun with it. :)

Regards
Caroline
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: REIVER CLAN on Sunday 10 March 13 00:11 GMT (UK)
hi graeme,

i found this pic of a black watch sporrin, as you can see it looks like the  same as the one in your pic.

steve
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: REIVER CLAN on Sunday 10 March 13 00:13 GMT (UK)
oops

a laps in conentration , forgot to add the attatchment, sorry.

steve
Title: Re: Colour and possibly date please.
Post by: graeme121 on Friday 15 March 13 23:23 GMT (UK)
Wow! Great work guys sorry for  the late reply I didn't know anyone had responded to the later posts. Caroline and Irene fantastic work and thanks Steve for finding the sporran picture! Keep up the good work!