Photo from Co. Down in Northern Ireland - Unidentified Uniform

[OzKat]

When my last surviving relative in Northern Ireland died in the 1990s, the following photo was over the fireplace of his cottage in Hillsborough, Co. Down. Since he had no brothers and sisters or wife or children I would dearly love to be able to identify this young man as it is highly likely an ancestor of mine.

Would anyone be able to identify the uniform and suggest a time period for me to start my enquiries. Is it military or from the constabulary? I would think it was pre 1900 but maybe I am wrong.

[liverpool annie]

Hi OzKat

As he has spurs - he's probably Cavalry - I can't tell about the uniform but maybe this site could give you a few ideas - as to regiments at least be a starting off point

http://www.sci.net.au/userpages/mgrogan/cork/regiment.htm

This is the RIC

http://www.psni.police.uk/index/pg_police_museum/pg_the_royal_irish_constabulary/pg_ric_ranks_and_uniforms.htm



Regards

Annie

[OzKat]

Thanks for the info. I looked at the RIC site and as a result I don't think he is RIC. I'll try to follow up a bit more on the companies mentioned on the other site and see if I can find some pictures - they seem few and far between on the net.
Ozkat

[manmack]

ozkat,i think hes a royal marine,the spurs are probably an added touch,thats not a cavalry helmet or a cavalry uniform,mack

[Rod In Sussex]

I think that the photo may be of a member of a yeomanry unit. such cork helmets were often used around 1900 by both infantry and some cavalry units. The spurs are occasionally used by some officers in other units, such as the Engineers, but it is very unlikely that some one would have put them on if they were a marine. Do you have any other information? If you think he is northern Irland and he is Yeomanry, try

http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/lists/mvcxeng.htm

Good luck

Rod

[manmack]

ozkat,you are going to have me and rod debating about this for a while[all in fun]rods right about the helmet being cavalry BUT so am i,and thats not the end of it,the infantry had the very same head gear,two regts that match both helmet and uniform are,6th inniskilling dragoons and the royal irish regt [18th foot]the spurs swing it over to rods theory,but it was common for soldiers to don spurs and other finery when having their picture taken,mack

[OzKat]

Thanks so far. I have lot's to look into.

And by the way, sorry for making the photo so large. How inconvenient.

As for providing more information, I don't have any. As far as I am aware, none of my Irish relatives strayed very far from Dromore apart from one family in Hillsborough and a couple who went as far as Belfast briefly. Oh and one who went to the United States for a while, went mad and was found unconscious in a New York street and was returned home to Magherabeg.

The photo was found in the house of my last surviving Irish relative in Hillsborough - Sammy Morrison. He was born in Magherabeg then went back to live in Hillsborough with his mother as an infant. I don't believe he ever left.

My mother convinced herself that the photo might be of her great grandfather (also Samuel Morrison) because he was this recently deceased's relative's father. The generations seem to get all mixed up in the Irish part of my family. But I think this photo is too recent. Her great grandfather died in 1910 aged 60. But Sammy who had the photo, kept it in pride of place over his fireplace. And as far as I know he had no other relatives but us. So who could it be?

My grandmother came to Australia as an orphan in her teens and really didn't know much about her family. And I didn't ask the right questions when she was alive.

So this is all I have to go on.

If anyone can at least suggest a time period that would be a great start. I see a mention of 1900 or so in one of the mails?

Regards,
Kat

[Rod In Sussex]

The Date?

I am sure that someone will put me right, but here are a few thoughts. The type of mustache is typical of the 1890s. So is the style of the posed photo with a chair etc. If it was as early as 1870 then the quality of the photo would be more grainy and due to the need to stay still while the photo was taken, it is more likely that he would be sat down. If it was as late as World War 1, then I would expect khaki service dress etc.

So I would look at 1895-1905. What does everyone else think?

Rod

[Christopher]

Hiya Kat,

I think the guy in the pic could be a member of the RIC.
It looks to me as though he is wearing jodphurs.
The trousers are wider at the top and narrower at his feet.
He appears to have a whip or riding crop in hie hand.
He is not in full ceremonial dress.
The helmet may possibly be the Summer helmet.

There were four guys named Samuel Morrison in the RIC
Their registration numbers are shown below. 
These will enable you, or someone on your behalf to view
their details on microfilm at PRONI, Balmoral Avenue, Belfast;
The National Archives, Pearse Street, Dublin;
Garda Museum and Archives, Record Tower, Dublin Castle
or the Royal Ulster Constabulary Museum, Belfast.

1293
24412
44006
45478

All the Best, Chris