Help with picture found today

[dooly]

Hi all, just found this today in a lot of local postcards and was wondering if anyone can help ID who/what they are ? is that a swiss cantons flag ?




the back

[Liz_in_Sussex]

Hi,

I think it says "Br?sse Germania ... am 27 Juni 87" - which would be on 27th June 87 (presumably 1887).

Germania is an old name for part of Europe but it doesn't equate to Germany as we know it today.  It could be a Swiss coat of Arms - but I can't think of one with a bend sinister (diagonal strip going up).

   Not sure about Brasse - it doesn't seem to exist any more - or perhaps that is an alternative name?  Could be Bourg en Brasse in France - but if so why not put that 

Liz

[Viktoria]

 The caps which most of the men are wearing are the same type that the  Americans wore in the Civil war. But the uniforms aren`t. Shoes unusual too.
 Quite a few medals, and a circle which may equate to our wounded stripe.
 One "pork pie " hat like WW1 German caps.

 Hope you solve the mystery. Viktoria.

[Liz_in_Sussex]

Hi Dooly,

It might be an idea to get a moderator to move this to the military board - I expect someone there may recognise the uniforms which, tied in with the date, would probably solve the mystery. 

Liz