RootsChat.Com

Linking back to the birth and baptism certificates in your 2007 thread:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=248358.msg1374010#msg1374010

If it is the same man, he would only have been aged 11 when he joined the army in April 1876 (or possibly the birth was registered two years late, with a false birthdate).

That seems quite feasible to me Shaun.  Boy entry was always aligned with the statutory (legal) school leaving age, so an error with the birth registration seems most likely.

Dear Frogsmile
Thank you so much for your thoughts on this. I wonder if it would be possible for my ancestor to have served in India as well as South Africa? On a genealogy site I have identified two military records that could relate to my ancestor, one from the Boer War and another from the First World War (same army number, different wars).
I really do appreciate the help I've been given on this site, it's brilliant and it's so kind of you people out there to take the time to give this advice.  It's already been very helpful.
Best wishes 

Yes, he could indeed have served both in India and South Africa.

hi
 i need an opion on this could it be Royal Marine light infantry,
don t think its chap i thought it was but found his brother instead,

1.  Yes it is definitely pre-1881.  If you read my posts again you’ll see why.

2.  No, he cannot be RMLI.  They did not wear collar badges on their scarlet tunics, as I explained in my first post.

3.  I have gone to some detail to explain why he is either, 68th (Durham) Light Infantry, or 85th King’s (Shropshire) Light Infantry.  That is definite based on his uniform and collar badge combination.

thank you
              i had wondered about those stripes,
and thank you again your help is much appreciated.

I’m sorry but I’ve just realised that he has another good conduct stripe on the right lower sleeve (please forgive my old eyes), which means that my original assessment was correct. 
Before 1881 the general position for good conduct badges (inverted stripes) was the right lower sleeve, but there were some exceptions. Fusiliers, Light Infantry, Highlanders and Rifle regiments were to wear the stripes on both lower arms and that’s what we see here.  It confirms the photo as pre-1881 and takes us back to the numbered regiments.  However, we can rule out the 13th and 51st, as although they had dark facings at that time, their collar badges were distinctly different to those seen in the photo.  That leaves the 68th (after 1881 1st Bn DLI) and 85th (after 1881 2nd Bn KSLI).  On the table beside the soldier is a white helmet, which tells us he’s with a battalion serving overseas in a tropical climate, most probably India.  Going by the late 1870s date of the uniform style I can tell you that from 1872 to 1885 the 65th/1st DLI were in India, and from 1868 to 1880 the 85th/2nd KSLI were also in India.  In 1881 the latter served in South Africa for the 1st Anglo/Boer War, where their uniform was largely unchanged from when in India, apart perhaps from some units staining their helmets a darker colour (than white), often using tea.  Hopefully this still enables you to narrow down your search.
Again, my apologies for any confusion inadvertently caused.

The Commissariat (financial control and supplies) and Transport (operation of wagons and animal load carrying) Corps had the following roles:

Supplying:
The victualing of troops (food and drink).
Animal feed for elephants, camels, bullocks and horses (cavalry and artillery horses).
Military stores, and timber for magazines and arsenals.
Wrought materials for gun carriages.
Infantry accoutrements.
Harness,and saddles.

Camp equipage:
Bedding and Quilts.
Diet, clothing and necessaries for European and Native Hospitals.

Logistics:
Boats for transportation.
Hiring of camels and bullocks for transport(for grain and ordnance).
Carriers for the sick (palanquins and dhoolies).

The soldiers of the corps operated forward and were trained to fight when necessary, albeit with a principle focus on defence.  They were generally armed with short rifles called carbines and swords.  They drove animal drawn wagons, rode animals of various kinds, principally but not exclusively horses, and maintained a record of issues and consumption.  Their entire role was based on the financing, supply, and transport of the consumables necessary to maintain a military force in the field.

When operating in the field in the Sudan they were invariably moved as part of the ‘main body’ of advancing troops if in line-of-column (protected by advanced, flanking and rear guards), and if inching forward in a defensive posture they’d generally be at the very centre of a square along with all the animals.  At night and when in defence they would again be at the centre of a square whose perimeter was usually marked and surrounded by a fence of thorn bushes known as a Zariba that was cut and dragged into position by native labourers from the camp followers.

The Commissariat and Transport Corps wore a dark blue uniform with white facings and a double white stripe down the outer seam of their breeches/trousers.  The buglers of the corps were responsible for making sounds/calls to order the routine of the day when dismounted, and tactical movement when mounted, e.g. ‘advance’, in order that instructions could be heard and understood above the din of any battle going on around them.  In very extreme circumstances there were cases when groups of the mounted corps members were gathered together and used as improvised cavalry, although there’s no recorded instance of that during the Sudan campaigns.  You can listen to the bugle calls here: http://www.farmersboys.com/MAIN/Bugles_Calls.htm