Find the Drummer Boy

[Marengo]

You see, I'm a bit biased....well, a lot biased, actually.
But is there an objective eye out there prepared to give an opinion as to whether the bearded Drummer in the middle of the 1872 bandsmen is also in the larger group photo taken in 1864.
Your comments are eagerly awaited.
Ed

[Marengo]

You see, I'm a bit biased....well, a lot biased, actually.
But is there an objective eye out there prepared to give an opinion as to whether the bearded Drummer in the middle of the 1872 bandsmen is also in the larger group photo taken in 1864.
Your comments are eagerly awaited.
Ed

Here is a third photo which may help with comparison:
The 'old soldier' at the far right of the foursome (taken in 1868) is the same person as the drummer in the 1872 photo, previously shown. The question is,
Is this man in the large group photo?
Thanks
Ed

[Canuc]

What is the date of the "foursome" photo?

Do you know he is in the large group photo or would like to hope so?

If the later and because you have a full frontal face shot with the drum photo you could go through the process of matching the facial feature ratios, they don't change though the face fungus might.

Not an easy one.

Happy hunting
Canus

[Canuc]

In the "foursome" and drummer photos you man appears to have a dropped right shoulder.

In the group photo the man third from the left, back row, also has a dropped right shoulder. The hair colour appears similar. The parting of his is not dissimilar to that in the "foursome". The shape of his face and the height of his forehead appear appropriate as does the general shape of his moustache. You've got to have the hair follicles in the first place and they don't move even though the style might change.

So that's my estimation for what it's worth.

Happy hunting
Canuc

[Marengo]

Thanks for your interest Canuc.
I do not know whether or not the man (my great grandfather) we are concentrating on is in the large group photo or not.
This group is some of the soldiers of the ( British) 57th Regiment of Foot who were sent to NZ in the 1860's to fight in the NZ Land (Maori) Wars.
My ggf was in that regiment and definitely in the area where the photo was taken, around that time.
The puzzle that I have stems from the date given with the group photo of circa 1864. He was discharged from the regiment in March 1864. If I had a definite date for the photo I could say he was either possibly in it, or definitely not.
The date of the foursome? I'm not entirely certain. The photo gives a date (July,1868), but that is actually the date of the battle in which these four men served. (He joined the Armed Constabulary after his Imperial discharge). I think, from my enquiries, it is likely to be circa 1870. Then, he would've been 35.
I didn't mention previously that his left leg was badly injured in the 1868 battle, after which he often walked with a stick.  But I don't think he carried a stick prior to that date.
The Band photo was definitely taken in 1872 (when he was 37 yrs).

[Subaru]

I think the man in the foursome photo looks like the man in the large group photo.  The man in the 1872 photo looks fatter of face, darker hair and beard colour, and altogether more healthier.

[Canuc]

Marengo,

With those dates, and going back to your post I have to say that I think the man I am looking at in the group photo appears to be older than your man in the drummer photo. So that would knock my theory on the head.

Unfortunately, I don't see anyone else in the group photo who are young enough or have a similar face shape that makes me think "well maybe". Its not looking likely.

Happy hunting
Canuc

[Marengo]

Thankyou for your contributions, Canuc and Subaru.
It is a great grandfather that I'm trying to identify.
The 'band' photo and the 'foursome' are the only two known photos that I have of him.
I had felt that it was possibly him seated third from left (with a stick) but I didn't want to prejudice the opinions I was asking for.
I realise it is a toughie, that can probably never be absolutely resolved.
Thanks.

[Subaru]

Marengo, I think I've been looking at the wrong one.  I was looking at the one seated on the floor in the middle.
Do you mean the one in the middle row?  How do you know that he's a drummer on this photo.  It's probably really obvious if you know military history, but I thought they all looked the same.