Can anyone tell which regiment from this photo?

[haze73]

No idea what age this photo is or what regiment the man is in - I've been passed a family photo and no-one knows who is in the pics. Just says Gravesend on it.

My hunch is that it might just be my great-great grandmother and her first husband who was in the 24th Reg of Foot. Would have been c1871

Anyone any knowledge/ideas about which regiment the guy might be in as my own hunches are really not that reliable?! And I'd hate to suggest stuff to family to get their hopes up just to find out I'm hideously wrong.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

Hazel

[macintosh]

Looks like a Fusilier Regiment with the grenades on his collar, though Royal Engineers and  Royal Artillery used the same. The Glengarry hat was common in English Line Regiments at the time, probably late 1880s early 1890s.
The 24th Foot used a sphinx as a collar badge, famous for  Rorkes Drift and Isandlahwana in the Zulu wars of 1879.
There was a large Victorian barracks in Gravesend until around 1970 called Milton Barracks

James

[coelmar]

Hello haze73
     Don't think it can be 24th Foot, I believe they wore a Sphinx as collar badge, whereas this chappie is wearing grenades.    Grenades were worn by Artillery, Engineers, some Guards and I believe some Fusiliers.     At present Gunners have 7 flames and Sappers 9, but I know this has varied over time.
     As macintosh says there was a large barracks in Gravesend, and a fort which would have been garrisoned by Royal Artillery - there are numerous articles on the Tilbury and Gravesend fortifications.
     I always knew the collar badge as a collar dog, and the grenade as a bomb, but perhaps this was just an oddity of the unit in which I served.
Coelmar
      

[macintosh]

Further to my earlier answer, for a more precise date try posting on the Photograph and Restoration Board, they are experts on fashion and may be more precise with the ladie's dress, soldier's dress stayed much the same for decades.

James

[PrueM]

Popping my two cents worth in - early 1870s would be a perfect date based on the lady's clothing and general appearance of the photo 

[haze73]

Thanks everyone. I am very grateful for you telling me I'm on the wrong track as you've made my brain switch on and rethink...

Just trawled through looking for fusiliers/artillery folk after your comments. And one of my great great grandfathers was in the 5th Fusiliers based in Chatham area. He quit the army in 1878 after only a few years. So... based on what you've all said, I'm thinking it's more than likely him. I have a photo of him when he is older - I might post the two pics on the photo board and see if people think it's the same chap.

Very exciting as I have no previous pic of his wife, as she died very young.

Thanks for helping a dozy woman out! You guys are great :-) x

[John Young]

Haze73,

Just clarifying the previous answers he is a Fusilier, post-1874, but pre-1881.  The trefoil knot on his sleeves can be dated to that period.

He is also wearing the 1871-Valise Pattern waist belt.

If he is 5th (Northumberland) Fusiliers the facing colour on the sleeves and collar would be 'Gosling Green'.

You can discount Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery & the Grenadier Guards as they wore a Pillbox forage cap rather than the Glengarry cap as worn in the photograph.

John

[haze73]

thanks very much for the detailed response! Very grateful John x