Help needed please to identify Scottish Regiment/Unit

[loobylooayr]

I think it is the Royal Scots Fusiliers, some are wearing a Tam o Shanter (TOS) cap and other are wearing what looks like a army side cap with the same RSF flaming grenade badge, the side cap may be a Glengarry but detail is obscured  and if it was a Glengarry it would have diced band around.
Their main depot area was  the Churchill Barracks in Ayr (renamed after Winston in 1942) now demolished.

James

Thank you James,
That 's interesting. I had thought because a Kilmarnock photographer had been used that the location was Kilmarnock , but of course it is perfectly feasible that the location is in Ayr.
I didn't know there were barracks - the Churchill Barracks - in Ayr and now I'm going to try and find images of that.
The Royal Fusiliers - that's very interesting too. Thanks for the cap information. It's such a shame the photo can't be enlarged to show sufficient detail .

Many thanks again for giving me more to investigate ,

Looby

[macintosh]

Not Royal Fusiliers..............Royal Scots Fusiliers, one of the largest Fusilier Badges

There would always be a photographer near a military installation/barracks who would travel to the barracks to take photgraphs of passing out parades,cadre courses etc.
James

[BW252]

I think they are definitely side caps and NOT glengarrys.    The glengarry would have a bobble on the top similar to the TOS.    They also appear to have piping and buttons at the front

[macintosh]

I wasn't sure at first now agree, not Glengarry bonnet no wee red tourie on it, the "piping" is two buttons that hold the ear flaps on the hat.

I wonder if it is a Home Guard unit, usually they came last in the queue for equipment and uniform hence the mix of head wear.


James 

[jess5athome]

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I wonder if it is a Home Guard unit, usually they came last in the queue for equipment and uniform hence the mix of head wear.


James

That's a good point, all of the men appear to be of various age, some look to old for service 
also the man sat dead center on the front row (the one who looks to be in charge) is wearing what looks like WWI medal ribbons.

Frank.

[Rosinish]

"Their main depot area was  the Churchill Barracks in Ayr (renamed after Winston in 1942)"

Possibly the photo was to celebrate the above?

Not much help of course 

Annie

[loobylooayr]

Not Royal Fusiliers..............Royal Scots Fusiliers, one of the largest Fusilier Badges

There would always be a photographer near a military installation/barracks who would travel to the barracks to take photgraphs of passing out parades,cadre courses etc.
James

Ooops sorry James, my silly mistake. I was typing in a hurry because I was due out the door  in 10 minutes to make an appointment.

Frank and James - your comments regarding the mixture of headwear , the appearance of "older" men and the older man in charge - are very interesting.  A Home Guard unit could be a strong possibility then. I now need to make enquiries of surviving family members to find out if my paternal grandfather was involved with the Home Guard.
Funnily enough on looking with a magnifying glass again I see a man who looks very like my great-grandfather too !!

I know Dad's Army portrays the Home Guard as having very old men in it's ranks - Fraser, Jones and Godfrey - but was there an age limit as too how old a man could be ?

Looby

[loobylooayr]

BW252 , thanks for your comment and for clarifying the side caps.

Scouseboy, sorry I missed your comments earlier.  I will try to enlarge one area of photo but to be honest I think it loses focus and detail . You could be right about it being a unit being photographed before leaving for overseas. But I am now considering more the Home Guard. Thanks for you help !

Looby

[loobylooayr]

Hi all,

After researching and looking for images of Churchill Barracks, Ayr online I have come to the conclusion that my photo was not taken there.
I then started looking at images of large existing buildings in Ayr & Kilmarnock. My original gut feeling was that the building reminded me of Kilmarnock Academy - but it isn't.

However a further search led me to this   https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/Image/H/Hurlford-PS-03.08-4.JPG

I now believe the photo was taken outside Hurlford School which is still open today as Hurlford Primary school.  Hurlford is a small town just a mile or so from Kilmarnock.

Can others see the similarities between building  in the two images please? Or do I need to move this to another board for this help?

If it is Hurlford School, why would these soldiers be gathered there for a photograph?

Any comments welcome please,

Looby