Can anybody identify this regimentmental unit's origins

[134oxlade]

A relative of mine had this photo from the 1920's and on the back notated that while in Camp (probably Liverpool) he had gone for a few beers with one of the lads in the photo.
Can anyone identify the Platoons origins, my thought is a West Indian contingent under British training but that's just a guess.

Detail of the Man who owned the Photo
542937 Sergeant Alec Mark Blinko Royal Artillery
Killed while Japanese POW 5th March 1943 Ballale Island.

Alec's movements
Posted to 13/18th Hussars  8 Dec 1923
Transferred to Cavalry of the Line 31 Jul 1927
Posted 4/7th Dragoon Guards 20 sep 1929

Thanks
Roger

[ShaunJ]

This won't help much but the photographer was William John McCulloch, 561 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry. Certainly active before and after WW1.

[hoolianama0508]

I cannot make out the bottom of the photo. Does it say Black Platoon something something?

[PGC1962]

The writing looks to me like "The Black Platoon Birkenhead".

Which might fit in with Alec being at a camp in Liverpool.

[bugle boy]

l‎found this web site, maybe it can help?
The British West Indies Regiment in 1914-1918 - The Long, Long Trail
www.1914-1918.net/britishwestindiesregiment.html‎

sorry that this web site is not working maybe someone can figure out what Ive done wrong and correct it ,sorry

[orkrad]

 Sorry can't help with the regimental origin. However you may find this site most interesting http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/west_indies_01.shtml. A very interesting account of how West Indian soldiers were treated in WW1. The photo accompanying  the article is very similar to the one you posted.

Regards Orkrad

[134oxlade]

Hi All,
Thanks for your responses the photographer and location are confirmed I believe, the writing on the front "the Black Platoon" may have been Alec's.

I couldn't get to the West Indian Regt on Long Long trail but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies_Regiment provided an interesting First para  "The West India Regiment (WIR) was an infantry unit of the British Army recruited from and normally stationed in the British colonies of the Caribbean between 1795 and 1927. The regiment differed from similar forces raised in other parts of the British Empire in that it formed an integral part of the regular British Army."
The photograph of the men in WW1 on this page shows a uniform that looks similar dont you think?

If this is the West Indian platoon and part of the British Army then makes even more sense that they are  at a British Camp on training in the mid 1920's when Alec met up with them

Hi Orkrad,
Thanks for the link to the BBC site very interesting, I think I am on the right track with a West Indian force of some sort and the Wikipedia article while not much detail gives me more support.

[134oxlade]

Here's the cap badge of the West Indian Regiment it does it look like the one on some of the men's caps.

[bugle boy]

that picture shows a lot more troops than is normally in a platoon [usually30]