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Author Topic: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?  (Read 1351 times)

Offline blueskyehelen

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What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« on: Sunday 30 September 18 15:03 BST (UK) »
Photo was found in an Australian photo album and very intrigued what army dress was this and what war would he have been fighting in? Foreign Legion?

Offline Regorian

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 30 September 18 16:03 BST (UK) »
Could well be officer Australian Army, Boer war period. the Sam Browne belt looks familiar. I'll keep looking.
Griffiths Llandogo, Mitcheltroy, Mon. and Whitchurch Here (Also Edwards),  18th C., Griffiths FoD 19th Century.

Offline Maiden Stone

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 30 September 18 21:54 BST (UK) »
He's wearing interesting buttons. First thing I noticed was his "Hercule Poirot" moustache with waxed ends.
Cowban

Offline blueskyehelen

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #3 on: Monday 01 October 18 01:17 BST (UK) »
Quote from: Regorian on Sunday 30 September 18 16:03 BST (UK)
Could well be officer Australian Army, Boer war period. the Sam Browne belt looks familiar. I'll keep looking.
Thankyou for that info Regorian. His hat threw me as I am so used to seeing the Australian army slouch hat that I was wondering if this was a photo of an overseas relative. Wondering now if you can research family members who fought in the Boer War. Have to investigate the Aust. War Memorial.


Quote from: Maiden Stone on Sunday 30 September 18 21:54 BST (UK)
He's wearing interesting buttons. First thing I noticed was his "Hercule Poirot" moustache with waxed ends.
Thankyou Maiden Stone. Yes isn't his moustache something!!! However his face looks quite young so am thinking late teens early 20's?

Offline Maiden Stone

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #4 on: Monday 01 October 18 01:39 BST (UK) »
Quote from: blueskyehelen on Monday 01 October 18 01:17 BST (UK)
Thankyou Maiden Stone. Yes isn't his moustache something!!! However his face looks quite young so am thinking late teens early 20's?

I agree he looks young. Moustache may be to give him maturity. That and eyebrows seem darker than hair on his head. He was a good-looking lad. I'd prefer him without moustache though.
A hat like that wasn't practical for fighting; it would have fallen off.
Cowban

Offline blueskyehelen

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #5 on: Monday 01 October 18 01:49 BST (UK) »
Some quick google searches just now have ruled out the Boer War. Apparently the slouch hat was worn even back then.

Offline q98

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #6 on: Monday 01 October 18 03:13 BST (UK) »
Do not rule out para-military or civil (eg. Police)
q98
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Offline Regorian

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #7 on: Monday 01 October 18 08:00 BST (UK) »
This would not be a field uniform. It's full dress apart from the pill box hat that was worn in barracks or walking out. In widespread use in British and Imperial armies of the time. 

The Australian Army had many units and many super uniforms.

Attached is NSW Mounted Police about the same time. 
Griffiths Llandogo, Mitcheltroy, Mon. and Whitchurch Here (Also Edwards),  18th C., Griffiths FoD 19th Century.

Offline blueskyehelen

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Re: What army and war would he have been enlisted in?
« Reply #8 on: Monday 01 October 18 10:00 BST (UK) »
I did some Googling this afternoon and found a photo with 6 men wearing the exact same uniform. They were from the South Australian Mounted Rifles 1897. I have now emailed the SA Military Museum in the hope they can confirm it is the Mounted Rifle unit or another.
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