Date for soldier please possibly Rackley or Watkins families

[josey]

I would be grateful if anyone can date this picture please. I realise regiment identification is unlikely but I can ask the relative who sent the picture to scan the collar buttons at higher resolution & will post that if she is able to provide it.

Thanks, Josey

[John915]

Good evening,

He is wearing the 1902 battle dress but the belt dates it to post 1908. The collar badges point to it being pre or post WW1 when they were not worn. I would go with 1920s.

The collar badges also point to him being in a fusilier regt but not sure which as yet.

John915

[josey]

Thanks John, will try to get a better scan of buttons. I was intrigued by jodhpur type trousers - what to they indicate?

[John915]

Back again,

I did look at the trousers, not sure whether they are jodhurs or just trousers tightly gathered to go under the puttees. He is not wearing spurs which I feel he would if a mounted man.

I see in your list of areas to search you have the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Tbat could be another good ID pointer.

John915

Added, the buttons will show the Royal coat of arms as worn by all in that era. Regt'l buttons started to make a comeback in the 30s.

[josey]

Thanks, didn't think of tucked in trousers!!

I don't think there can be any RIF connection - last RIF member died 1929 at age of 83!! Also different side of family.

[josey]

Back again!!

I know John915 suggests a fusilier; a name for a possible Watkins family member matches a WW1 casualty who was in the 25th Batt London Regiment [Cyclists]. Would a cyclist soldier have tucked his trousers in?

Thanks

[alan o]

The collar badge in the photo is definitely not that of the 25th London regt who wre a smaller version of their cap badge.

[josey]

OK, that's useful; thank you Alan.

[alan o]

The most likely collar is the Royal Fusiliers.  The 1st-3rd Bns of the Territorial London Regt TF wore the RF badges post WW1