Which one in the Photo is the Drum Major?

[KB783]

Can anyone help please. My GG Grandfather was the Drum Major in the 47th Regiment of Foot when the photo was taken. Is it possible to identify him from his dress. I know its a long shot -they appear a scruffy bunch 

[km1971]

A good rule of thumb is that the senior man got the chair (or stood in the middle). And they radiated out to the most junior.

The two standing with the stripes are Sergeants - the stripes were quite wide then. So almost certainly the most senior is seated wearing the medals. He will have four stripes above his cuff. But he may be the Sergeant Major and not the Drum Major. It is a pity the one standing far left is not wearing a tunic. I do not recognize the 'waistcoat'. That may be 'musical'.

Ken

[KB783]

Thanks Ken

I'll see what I find out when I visit Fulwood Army Museum. All the family say second from left standing has a family resemblence but I share your thought about the 'musical' waistcoat.

Keith

[KB783]

I have now obtained a known photograph of my GG Grandfather taken some 7 or 8 years later. I am having difficulty in deciding which is him in the original photo and would invite members comments. I must go to specsavers 

[km1971]

Hi Keith

He may not be in the first photograph. The 47th Regiment would have had 8 or 9 service companies in Canada in 1866. So there would have been one Sergeant Major, 8-9 Colour Sergeants and about 20-22 Sergeants. So not all NCOs are shown. The photograph looks to be from a modern book, so 150 years after it was taken. The ones in the front without tunics may not even be NCOs.

The three medals are likely to be Crimean War, Turkish Crimea and Long Service Good Conduct. The Crimean War medal roll has a 2734 Corporal Henry Bishop listed. Only one company of the 47th earned the Canadian General Service medal with "Fenian Raid 1866" clasp. So the photograph may be just the NCOs from that company. This medal is not shown on the second photograph. The middle medal has a ring suspender, and is almost certainly the Turkish medal, so the Canadian would have been worn inside it.

Have you looked for his service record on Findmypast?

Ken

[KB783]

Thanks for your comments Ken.

The first photograph was published in the Book 'The loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1855-1970' published in 2002. the caption reads NCO's of the 47th in Canada c 1866. I appreciate that corporals are NCO's. It was the family resemblance to one in the photo that prompted my original post.

I only obtained the second photograph yesterday.  I think it was taken following his promotion to Sgt Major in the 1st (City of Bristol) Volunteer Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment in 1878, which he joined as a Sgt Instructor of Musketry on being pensioned from the 47th in 1873.

I do have his service record and he does not have the Canadian GSM. He had the Crimea with Sevastopol Clasp, Turkish Crimea Medal and LSGC medal

Keith