What can you tell me about this soldier

[sharronjury]

Can anyone help with details of the man in this picture. My guess was an ancestor in the early 1800's in Scotland.

[macintosh]

My guess would be the 72nd Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders who became Seaforth Highlanders in 1881, The trews and feather bonnet were worn by the 72nd as were kilts,
The medals are near impossible to identify as is the belt buckle.
The cuffs of the highland tunics usually had vertical vents with a button at top end of the vent whereas the 72nd had horizontal vents with  button at end.
The tartan would be MacKenzie.

James

[Seoras]

Hi Sharon, is there anything on the back. If so can you post as a design can help in dating. How tall is the photo, 4" or 6". It won't be early 1800's as this type of photography didn't come along till 1860's and later.

My GG grandfather's brother was in the 72nd and then Seaforths. Nice to see what he would have looked like in uniform.

[sharronjury]

Thanks for that information. I would like to identify this fellow. Is there a way to access enlistment records. The photo is 6 x 9.5cm and has the name of an Australian photographer on the back so I am guessing it was brought to Australia and replicated for family.

[gortonboy]

Hi,,,if he served long enough to be awarded a pension,,,or was awarded a pension for any other reason,,,,then a record can be looked for on findmypast,,,,however,,,you would of course need a name,,and place of birth. 

[Treetotal]

This might help as they have a research enquiry page:

http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/72nd-duke-albanys-own-highlanders-regiment-foot

Carol

[old rowley]

There is the use of a neck brace in this image which would date the photograph to pre 1875 as by that date Neck Brace's were not being used by photographer's as they stopped using them a few year's before, however a few kept the practise going to the mid 70's.

OR

[John915]

Good evening,

Definitely the 72nd, the only regt to wear feather bonnet with trews. The kilt was adopted in 1881 when they amalgamated with the 78th to form the Seaforths.

This will be dated between 1868 when the gauntlet style cuff came in and 1874 when collar badges were introduced to make up for the loss of regt'l buttons. prior to 1868 the doublet was double breasted and had the normal tunic style cuff but with the verticle vents.

The medals would probably be for India Mutiny but could be as early as crimea.

John915

[alpinecottage]

He looks to have lost the tips of his small and ring  fingers of his left hand and possibly also some damage to his right hand? May help you identify him if there's a note in any service records you come across.