anyone recognize this occupation ??

[loobylooayr]

Hi,
I have no idea what these Gentleman are - Firemen/ Coast Guard etc - but think the inclusion of the chap in the Sou'wester could indicate Coast Guard/Life Boat crew.
I also think the picture is more likely to be before WW2 - maybe circa WW1/1920s and I also agree with NDRFT , I don't think they are British. I think they are European.
Looby

[Rena]

Surely they must be some sort of security personnel, such as already mentioned.  I've been wondering about the chain which, when worn by an old fashioned policeman or railway guard, usually had a whistle on the end of it.

As for the horseshoe, I think it depends which part of the country you live in.  One belief is if the horseshoe was nailed up as in the picture a witch could ride anywhere on top of that to cause mischief.     Whereas in another area, it's unlucky to nail it upside down because it could catch bad spirits which would cause mischief and bring bad luck.

[NDRFT]

e picture is more likely to be before WW2 - maybe circa WW1/1920s and I also

Definitely pre WW2, probably between the wars more likely after looking at the pattern of the 'officers' tunic, seated centre front

[known_unknowns]

As regards badges: the gent with the stick has a different badge to those of the remainder of the men: to my mind, he LOOKS like a police officer.
The other cap-badges seem to have what looks like a rosette? with a scroll beneath, surmounted by a crown - or it even may be a thistle.
I'm guessing that the arm-bands with the 'flash' and sliding? buckle? are there for purposes of visibility. (Could it be that some are 'port' men - and some are 'starboard' men, if they have a connection to vessels?).

[Casinomagus]

New to the site and interested in the photo.   Don't know the occupation, but would suggest they are not English men.  Look at the horseshoe, it is fixed downwards, English would say the luck runs out, but up the other way, the French would say it is a seat for the devil.   The guy on the left also looks typically French.   I wonder.

[bykerlads]

Just looking at the faces and moustaches, I'd say they could be French or Belgian and perhaps rather more modern than it first appears, maybe even 1940/50's.
I note the man on the left of the officer-type in the centre is wearing what look like woollen gloves. This suggests an outdoor job but not one which is heavy manual work, as that would wear the wool away.
The style of the armbands with oblong buckle is unusual.
Could they be the security team or watchmen from a large factory/depot/docks?
Any chance of seeing an enlargement of the badge?

[bykerlads]

PS- is the chap on the left in the white jacket wearing wooden clogs/sabots?

[noble1945]

just a thought ireland 1917 to 1922?

[loobylooayr]

Wish we could get a better look at the cap badges.
I think the officer in the middle is different from the rest of the men. His uniform does look like that of a British police officer or perhaps fireman and yet I don't think rest of the men are British.
The men are not very regimented in their uniform  . Different coats, some with shirts, some with scarfs, armbands on different arms. The chap bottom left has a bit of a Hercule Poirot mustache  . And what about the chains attached to the coats....whistles or watches ??