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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Stirrick on Friday 01 October 21 14:35 BST (UK)
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My wife was recently given a box of old photographs, very few of which were identifiable.
Amongst them was this soldier.
Can anyone put a rough date on it and identify the unit ?
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Others may disagree but the cap badge looks like the 3rd Kings Own Hussars, probably mid WW1.
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I agree with Jebber:3rd Kings Own Hussars. He's clearly a mounted soldier so it's unlikely to be West Yorkshire Regiment which had a very similar badge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_The_King%27s_Own_Hussars
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Thanks guys.
This really has thrown a curve ball.
As far as is known, there's no link in my wife's family to the 3rd Hussars or any other Cavalry Regiment. She did have an Ancestor who served in the Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War, but it sounds like that was too early for this photo.
So we're a bit lost with identifying this young man!
But thanks again for your help
Andy
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I definitely agree with Jebber regarding Regiment and time period and can confirm that this is not a Boer War uniform, so it isn't that man.
It's so frustrating not to have a name isn't it.
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1903 pattern bandolier, 1908/1921 pattern uniforn by pockets and coller, hob nailed deck boots this guty with jollopers was a carriage horse rider with whip for gun carriages plus the 18 pounder, wearing gun carriage white lanyard on left shoulder.
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It is indeed. ;-)
Thanks again, guys.
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1903 pattern bandolier, 1908/1921 pattern uniforn by pockets and coller, hob nailed deck boots this guty with jollopers was a carriage horse rider with whip for gun carriages plus the 18 pounder, wearing gun carriage white lanyard on left shoulder.
Thank you for adding this information. I had not come across the details you have knowledge of so I have learnt something new. This forum is a great way of sharing knowledge and those details are an excellent example.
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this guty with jollopers was a carriage horse rider with whip for gun carriages plus the 18 pounder, wearing gun carriage white lanyard on left shoulder.
So you don't think the badge is 3rd Kings Own Hussars?
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1903 pattern bandolier, 1908/1921 pattern uniforn by pockets and coller, hob nailed deck boots this guty with jollopers was a carriage horse rider with whip for gun carriages plus the 18 pounder, wearing gun carriage white lanyard on left shoulder.
The full uniform does indeed appear to match that of a WWI RGA gunner ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/imperialwarmuseum/6260268805/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/imperialwarmuseum/6260268805/) ), although the upper pockets of Stirrick's photo have a pleat* in them.
However, as has been pointed out, the cap badge doesn't match - unless of course somebody can identify such an artillery cap badge.
Luckily the uniform also appears to match cavalry and yeomanry regiments, for which a matching cap badge has been found already.
Apparently although (shoulder) lanyards originated with the artillery they were issued to all soldiers in WWI ( second post here https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/106761-identification-of-item-around-shoulder-on-wwi-uniform/ (https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/106761-identification-of-item-around-shoulder-on-wwi-uniform/) ) for holding the issue jack knife.
*Edit: the pleat appears to be standard 1902 pattern ( https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30094285 (https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30094285) ), whereas the IWM photo appears to show the 1902 simplified pattern ( the only picture I could find stating this was https://www.tommysmilitaria.com/en-GB/ww1-british-uniforms/rare-1902-pattern-simplified-british-ww1-service-dress-tunic-1915-date/prod_11283#.YV14gWJByUk (https://www.tommysmilitaria.com/en-GB/ww1-british-uniforms/rare-1902-pattern-simplified-british-ww1-service-dress-tunic-1915-date/prod_11283#.YV14gWJByUk) )
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Im not sure to be honest there were a lots of badges in the british army over those years and only a clearer image will nail it, its obviously post 1881 army reshufle which used until then the numerical system of regiments , the soldier isnt married as no rings on his finger. It does look quite like the hussars badge but it needs to be clearer, ie horse running left to right with a turf of ground beneath the hoofs. But by end ww1 they had become armoured ie tanks and horses consigned to history them then using vehicles but rem he isnt wearing the hussar uniform embroidered in the photo but an sd kings kharki uniform pattern ww1 nor is he wearing a belt and his uniform is too tight for him as his belly is hanging out. Cavalry uniforms are slightly looser to give the soldier freedim of movement., my gut is hes involved in gun carriages and 18 pounder gunnery. The gun white lanyard points to this google this
Picture if ww1 soldier with white lanyard
You see if u scroll down pictures similar with what u have ie the bandolier plus lanyard plus horse crop. Im not sure how to post photos on here
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I see ur point about lanyards but these look like artillery lanyards as they are thicker for trigger / catch fired guns , jack knives, pistol and whistle lanyards are thinner in consistancy. Yes ur correct the badge points towards the kings own hussars 3rd as ive blown it up and been trying to compare it with all horse troop badges 1881 to 1922 era and seems to point to this regiment. We have learnt all of us very salient points about the uniform. Hsve a good day every one
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Good evening,
I would say definately 3rd Kings Royal Hussars, their are many variations of their capbadge, one of which matches this one. It has a flatter scroll at the bottom and a very wide turf strip. This makes the two look like one in some photo's.
Artillery postillions didn't carry that type of whip generally. They use a short heavy stick with "L" shaped handle and a long lash which was held coiled.
See attatched which is of a 3rd Hussar
John915