Hello I have a good military photo possibly Afgan War Is it possible to post a photo The name of the Soldier is W McCombie and there is some writing on the back. One part says CAN BOEL . The Lapel Collar Badges have Bugles on so could be a Bandsman. Also wearing medal on photo (Queen Victoria) I don't know when this person was born but he is the Great Great Grandfather of a lady who is now in her 80s. Any help much appreciated Pam
Hello Pam
Thank you for sending the photos through. I am posting them and answering here in case others have any insights.
Are you certain that the relative is 'W McCombie', or is that just from the back of the picture? I ask because the only McCombie I can find on the Afghan War medal roll (and this may not be exhaustive) is a J McCombie. I wonder if on the back of the picture it actually says 'Mr McCombie'. Looking at other words, the M and the W of that handwriting are very similar, but the two dots under what appears to be an 'R' might point to 'Mr'.
As for 'Boel' I wonder if that says 'Back' and might be part of the instructions for mounting the image? Other words I can see include 'oval' (scribbled out) and 'wide'.
Anyway, that's definitely an Afghan medal on the front.
J McCombie was in the 85th Foot (later the King's Shropshire Light Infantry) and their badge was a stringed bugle. As it happens, according the medal roll, McCombie was also a bugler! His service no. was a pleasing '1234'.
His service record is available on Find My Past, showing he was John McCombie, born in Acton about 1850, enlisted in Dublin in 1867, was in India from 1868 to 1881 (including Afghan service) and also served in Natal, and was discharged in 1888 at Kilkenny. His mother was Maria McCombie, living in ChristChurch, Hants. There's lots more info on his military history there.
What do you think, could this be your man?
Best -
Garen