Can anyone date this picture of Young soldiers - photo is on metal

[PopNorth22]

I do not know who these boys/young men are but if I could date it and identify the uniforms it might give me a clue!  The photo was passed to me from the Burman side of my  Family, Northants./ North Bucks.  Does anyone know what the uniforms might be?  The picture is on metal and rather crumpled - this scan was  the best I could get. If anyone could improve it too, I'd be grateful.
Thanks in anticipation.

[jim1]

An interesting picture. I would put this on the armed forces board as you will get better info from there.
Tintypes first arrived in the mid 1860's but the process didn't really catch on & we don't see many from that time however they were popular with travelling photographers in the 1880's - 90's.
So from that perspective the date is quite broad.

[PopNorth22]

Thanks for the advice and information - I'll try that.

[Wiggy]

What a great photo to find.

I started playing with it but quite frankly it is beyond me with all that damage and the frogging on their uniforms . . . . and I found I didn't want to mess around with such a wonderful old photo . . .  so I just cleaned their faces a little  . . .

Sounds like excuses doesn't it . . maybe it is. But I would love to own a photo like that!   

(For some reason it isn't allowing me to post my effort - even though it is registering at only 260kbs - this happens often and drives me mad!  If I make it much smaller you won't be able to see it!!)   

[Wiggy]

Persistence - but the file is now registering as very small on my computer though not here I notice.   And hardly worth the effort really.  Ah well  . . . .   

Wiggy     

[ScouseBoy]

Maybe Boys Brigade?  which tended to popular in Methodist and Non conformist churches, I believe.

[Regorian]

Definite improvement Wiggy considering the poor quality of original. First thing is probably regiment of British hussars. Man on right has medal, 7 pointed star. Medal ribbon has eagle superimposed on it. German probably. Collars and cuffs look like same blue as dolmans. I can't take it further, but no doubt someone here can.

Added: I suppose they do look rather young for soldiers. I did Google for BB uniforms and medals, but found nothing.

[Wiggy]

I wondered about European too. 

They did take them young into the army didn't they? - - - often as Drummer boys I think - - which might be a reason for the splendid uniforms?

[Regorian]

They look British, I don't now what they are. The BB is the best way to follow up.