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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: brigidmac on Wednesday 16 June 21 18:33 BST (UK)
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Is this a uniform of a royal Scots fusilier possibly part of a band
Taken at Royal Studio Vincent Street Glasgow
If the years fit he could be Walter Macdermid b1897 d 1916
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The only other photo with men in kilts is this rather battered one .... I don't know if the photos are connected
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Hi brigidmac - putting this here in case it helps connect dots at all. Same uniform in this photo: https://www.pagesofthesea.org.uk/soldier/robert-morrison/
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Here's the link to the photos which may be his brothers if it's the right man
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=850004.0
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Thanks Maddy that's the same outfit apart from the crossed guns on the sleeve
Does that mean man on grandads photo was a seaforth highlander + not a royal Scots fusilier therefore NOT. Walter
Or did many companies have same outfit ?
Walters bio from commonwealth war graves
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/802407/WALTER%20MacDERMID/
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Hi brigidmac - found out some information to take into account regarding the uniform question.
Summary: This may be Walter, but he's not wearing a standard issue RSF uniform in the shot.
About the style of photo:
1) It looks like a studio photograph where he wore various pieces of military uniform, a mix from different regiments. Here's a thread about another photo where the subject is wearing a mix of pieces that don't match a specific regiment: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=398213.0
Why would they do this? It was tradition for soldiers to get a photo in uniform before they left to join their regiment. However, they often didn't have their uniforms yet. It's believed the studio lent pieces for the shot and the pieces didn't always come from one regiment or match the regiment the man was joining: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/283249-studio-photos-ww1-loaned-uniform/
About the uniform he's wearing:
1) The sporran worn in your photo has 3 white tassels on black. It is not the standard issue sporran for the RSF. Here's a thread on the standard RSF sporran which is 2 black tassels on white: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/275204-royal-scots-fusiliers-sporran/
The group that appears to have a sporran with white tassels on black is the Cameron Highlanders. There are also a few photos with this sporran that say it's Seaforth Highlanders, but the majority of Seaforth Highlanders photos have sporrans with black tassels on white. Neither group has 3 tassels in their sporran in any photo.
Here's a thread on the Cameron Highlander sporran. Way down the page there are photos of Gordon Highlanders sporting sporrans with 3 white tassels on black, quite like the one in yours. It may be a Gordon Hignlander sporran on your gent: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/181095-guide-to-sporrans-continued/page/10/
2) The next thing is the tartan. It's hard to see, but doesn't seem to match any of Seaforth Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders, or Cameron Highlanders, the ones that were possible matches on the sporran. It looks like it may match the Black Watch?
3) The jacket is quite big on him and it doesn't resemble any others documented for the RSF in WW1. Here's a good shot of a group of RSF in France 1917 where you can see the arms quite clearly. While some have insignias on the sleeves, they don't match the one on the sleeve in the photo. (a couple guys in the back row aren't RSF, they're easy to spot bc their hats don't match the others) https://www.flickr.com/photos/14684508@N02/15198995352/in/album-72157647044333878/
Happy to look more if you want me to try and dig up any other details or info!
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Thanks for so much information Maddy
Yes it is a studio.
The idea that he posed in mixed lent items of uniform makes a lot of sense .
+ The jacket is white
So Walter is still in the running .The mixed clues dont help .
His short career doesnt give much opportunity for him to have changed regiments .
He died age 19.
My only other way to 'confirm' his identity is to compare photos of his brother ( my grandfather but i dont have any of him under 30)
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Yes - much information but no resolution unfortunately. :(