Date and other information for Scottish soldier

[Silverlamp]

Among the old family photos, I came across this portrait of a (I think) Seaforth Highlander. I also have a Seaforth cap badge in amongst our memorabilia.

This is a bit of a mystery; my father was in the RAF in the second world war, and my grandfather was in the North Staffs in the first world war. One branch of the family is from Ayrshire, around Kilmarnock, so it's possibly one of my great uncles. An approximate date would help me identify him.

Is there any other information about him that can be deduced from his uniform?

Thanks, Simon

[scrimnet]

Indeed this is a Seaforth. Apart from the cap badge, kilt etc, they had he peculiarity of wearing x2 collar dogs...on each collar!

Now then...The doublet is of the 1922 ptn, and he is a L/Cpl with at least x5 yrs good conduct. He is also a regular.

I would say that this pic is from the early mid 1930s.

[Silverlamp]

That's brilliant - thanks very much scrimnet. The peculiarities of regimental dress are fascinating - and a useful aid in identification. I wonder if I could ask a couple of questions.

Did the Seaforths recruit widely in Scotland, or were they purely highland? How long was a regular signed on for at that time?

And following on from your post, did the uniform change in the later 1930's?, and is it the stripes on the lower arm that indicate good conduct? Please excuse my ignorance on matters military.

Many thanks once again
Simon

[scrimnet]

The uniform changed officially in 1937, but it didn't reach some second line units until after Dunkirk.

The inverted chevrons on the left lower sleeve are indeed the GCC.

Most Regts took from all over....I had a friend from Northampton, with no Scots ancestry at all who joined the Black Watch! Admittedly this was in the late 80s, but as the Regts moved around postings, they picked up recruits.

The 1st bn were at these locations...

  1919 Scotland: Fort George   
  1920 Ireland: Belfast   
  1924 England: Aldershot 2 Bde
  1928 Dover   
  1933 Egypt & Palestine   
  1937 China: Hong Kong 
  1938 Shanghai 
  1940.08 Hong Kong 
  1940.11 Malaya   
  1941.02 India 

And the 2nd bn...

 1922 Jan, Meerut   
 1924 Peshawar   
 1927 Lahore   
 1929 Meerut   
 1930 NW Frontier 
 1932 Palestine   
 1934 England: Dover (12 Bde) 
 1937 Scotland: Glasgow (15 Bde)
 1939 Sept, France & Belgium (5 Inf Div, BEF )
 1940 March, France & Belgium

[Silverlamp]

Many thanks for answering those queries for me scrimnet.

These clues point to the soldier being my great uncle Billy. My father told me that he was in the China police when the war broke out; subsequently he was interned by the Japanese (hence my question on length of service - I wondered when he might have left the regiment).

Thanks again, Simon

[scrimnet]

The Manual Of Military Law 1929 (with revisions to 1940) states...

Chapter X para 6

The ordinary period of colour service at present varies from 2-12 years in the different arms of the service. Men enlisted for less than 12 years colour service, if efficient soldiers of good character and fit for service at home and abroad, and if vacancies exist in the number of extensions permitted, are allowed under certain conditions to extend their service so as to complete 12 years with the colours (Kings Regulations 225-228) In a few instances enlistments for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years with the colours only are permitted.

[Silverlamp]

Thanks for that scrimnet
Simon