Army/Equine meeting photo for identification

[apwright]

Pretty sure that is Kipling, flanked by his daughter Elsie and her husband George Bambridge.
See wedding photo at http://www.bambridge.org/php/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=576
The lady on Elsie's right could be Rudyard's wife Carrie, but it's hard to tell.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dHMUkWjxiWM/TOCDN1i-DbI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/NaRYmfp_m8U/s1600/U101129P-A.jpg

Elsie and George were married in 1924, so the photo is probably after that.

Adrian

[chinakay]

I think you're onto something, Adrian!

And George Bambridge died in 1934 so before that, obviously. He looks quite a bit older in this than in his wedding photo.

[PaddyInWales]

Adrian, spot on, thanks for confirming Kipling Corner! Well done.

And I think you might be right too about Carrie Kipling: do you know what year the photo you linked of her was taken? She appears to have the same face but different body...

I've noticed that five of the men have got round disks suspended from their breast pocket (eg far right, and the man standing next to the vicar) - anyone got any thoughts?

Thanks to all contributors to this thread: a great place to solve problems!

Paddy

[PaddyInWales]

And the photo owner (my bro-in-law) points out "fantastic research - I understand that Arthur Connaught's letters to Kipling are in the National archive and there was a long standing connection between them"

So you were right then! Please keep up the good work, this is better than the Sgt Pepper album cover!

Thanks again

Paddy

[chinakay]

 

BTW I think I see Lord Lucan too  

[PaddyInWales]

I've been told that we also have a spitting image of General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, front row with walking stick: see below.

Someone also pointed out that the Duke of Connaught appears to be wearing a black armband, which might help with dating (his wife died 1817, probably a bit early as we are looking at mid 20s, so maybe another royal?).

Paddy

[chinakay]

From what I've come across, originally the black mourning armband was considered only suitable for military or other uniformed men. In later periods it became acceptable for civilian men. The mourning period for widowers was, I think, a year...so this could be within that time frame.

If that's actually Princess Mary beside him and the armband were in honor of some royal, I wouldn't expect to see her dressed in such a light colour.

Just a thought

[PaddyInWales]

Thanks, a good thought.

Something else that occurs to me is that all the people identified so far are high-echelon freemasons. Another one I've identified today in the photo is William Howard Taft, one-time US president, who was in the UK in 1922 to work on a justice system - he's the chap in the boater, and he's a mason.

Also Googling around, I find that the Duke of Connaught popped up fairly regularly at horse shows, including one in France in 1917.

Paddy

[chinakay]

That's amazing...I do think it's him. He was Chief Justice after leaving the presidency and lost a few pounds.

Here he is as a Justice and below is a crop from the big photo.

I think he's even wearing the same shirt as above