Identify uniform please

[Top-of-the-hill]

   Can anyone help with this uniform? This is local history - not a member of my family. He was born in 1889 and is probably about 20 when this was taken. I haven't found an obvious army record for him.

[jim1]

Royal Engineers possibly & a Signaller.

[John915]

Good morning,

I would say Royal Marines Artillery from the cuffs. This would be only a couple of years before the RMA and RMLI were amalgamated in 1923.

John915

[Top-of-the-hill]

   Thanks both. I thought the crossed flags might mean signaller. What is the symbol on his collar? It is a very smart looking uniform - would it be "best dress"? John- I think the picture was probably taken about 1910. Could it be a lions head on the belt buckle?

[Top-of-the-hill]

  P.S. I have just found a picture of R.M. Artillery officers uniform with the same flashes on the collar.

[John915]

Good afternoon,

 Collar badges were as follows, RA and RE had the flaming grenade with scroll under saying "ubique". RMA had the flaming grenade without scroll as far as I can see so that would be correct.

The buckle has "ROYAL MARINES ARTILLERY" around the ring and lion upon crown in the center. Can't see it clearly but I would say that is what we are looking at.

The uniform is all blue, in line with RA. They were known as the "Blue Marines". The RMLI had red uniforms in line with the infantry, they were known as the "red marines". They changed to the present uniform on amalgamation.

John915

Added; does the original photo show a hat?

[Top-of-the-hill]

   No, there is no headgear in the original. So it looks like R.M. Artillery. Where should I look for his service records, if any? (I don't use Ancestry.)

[gortonboy]

hi,,,do you have a name and when and where born?

[Top-of-the-hill]

   Thanks, but as he is not a member of my family, I don't think I will take this any further. And I now know which branch of the services he belonged to.