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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: sharronjury on Thursday 06 March 14 23:11 GMT (UK)

Title: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: sharronjury on Thursday 06 March 14 23:11 GMT (UK)
Can anyone help with details of the man in this picture. My guess was an ancestor in the early 1800's in Scotland.
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: macintosh on Friday 07 March 14 08:17 GMT (UK)
My guess would be the 72nd Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders who became Seaforth Highlanders in 1881, The trews and feather bonnet were worn by the 72nd as were kilts,
The medals are near impossible to identify as is the belt buckle.
The cuffs of the highland tunics usually had vertical vents with a button at top end of the vent whereas the 72nd had horizontal vents with  button at end.
The tartan would be MacKenzie.

James
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: Seoras on Friday 07 March 14 08:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Sharon, is there anything on the back. If so can you post as a design can help in dating. How tall is the photo, 4" or 6". It won't be early 1800's as this type of photography didn't come along till 1860's and later.

My GG grandfather's brother was in the 72nd and then Seaforths. Nice to see what he would have looked like in uniform.
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: sharronjury on Saturday 08 March 14 22:14 GMT (UK)
Thanks for that information. I would like to identify this fellow. Is there a way to access enlistment records. The photo is 6 x 9.5cm and has the name of an Australian photographer on the back so I am guessing it was brought to Australia and replicated for family.
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: gortonboy on Sunday 09 March 14 02:07 GMT (UK)
Hi,,,if he served long enough to be awarded a pension,,,or was awarded a pension for any other reason,,,,then a record can be looked for on findmypast,,,,however,,,you would of course need a name,,and place of birth.  ;)
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 09 March 14 19:20 GMT (UK)
This might help as they have a research enquiry page:

http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/72nd-duke-albanys-own-highlanders-regiment-foot

Carol
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: old rowley on Sunday 09 March 14 19:43 GMT (UK)
There is the use of a neck brace in this image which would date the photograph to pre 1875 as by that date Neck Brace's were not being used by photographer's as they stopped using them a few year's before, however a few kept the practise going to the mid 70's.

OR
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: John915 on Sunday 09 March 14 20:29 GMT (UK)
Good evening,

Definitely the 72nd, the only regt to wear feather bonnet with trews. The kilt was adopted in 1881 when they amalgamated with the 78th to form the Seaforths.

This will be dated between 1868 when the gauntlet style cuff came in and 1874 when collar badges were introduced to make up for the loss of regt'l buttons. prior to 1868 the doublet was double breasted and had the normal tunic style cuff but with the verticle vents.

The medals would probably be for India Mutiny but could be as early as crimea.

John915
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: alpinecottage on Sunday 09 March 14 20:43 GMT (UK)
He looks to have lost the tips of his small and ring  fingers of his left hand and possibly also some damage to his right hand? May help you identify him if there's a note in any service records you come across.
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: gortonboy on Sunday 09 March 14 22:06 GMT (UK)
great work as usual guys n gals,,,,,Sharron...are there any names you could throw into the hat ,so to speak ?  ;)
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: sharronjury on Monday 10 March 14 04:13 GMT (UK)
Yes, I agree - fantastic work. Thank you, I would never have noticed those fingers. My guess is that he may be an Isles. My g grandfather John Isles b in Guadaloupe in 1814 and arrived in Australia in 1854. His father was also John Isles and was in the Royal Artillery - b in Clayworth Nottinhanshire but moved with his brother Thomas to Leith. He had children in Ireland in 1812 and Barbados 1817 & 1819.  I'm assuming the photos belong to the John who travelled to Australia  as there are several other portraits that came from Haddington & Edinburgh. Otherwise I have one of his sisters, Mary, marrying Alexander Malcom and then Hugh Stevenson.
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: Telinlethaed on Sunday 16 March 14 19:15 GMT (UK)
My daughter uses www.victorianwars.com -- a public forum -- for all kinds of things like this. She thinks they're wonderful and suggests that you post over there!
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: km1971 on Saturday 22 March 14 18:59 GMT (UK)
The medal on our right is the Turkish Crimea War Medal. One of the others will be the British version.

Ken
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: sharronjury on Monday 24 March 14 10:10 GMT (UK)
Thank you, I will try that site. Ken, can you tell me anything about the Turkish Crimea medal.
Sharron
Title: Re: What can you tell me about this soldier
Post by: gortonboy on Monday 24 March 14 21:17 GMT (UK)
,,,just have a google,,,,plenty of info online re the Turkish Crimea Medal   eg  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Crimea_Medal