Can anyone help with this photo please?

[Nimrod58]

I am trying to identify the service and date of the people in the photo.

I have an inkling that it was taken in approximately 1944 in Madagascar & that it is the Royal Marines but I could be very wrong!

Can anyone help please

H

[scrimnet]

The bugler may be a Marine, but most of the rest of the party are Navy, even the riflemen firing over the coffin!

The Wolesely sun helmets were general issue in the tropics, not just for the Marines as it is now....

The firing party also appear to be wearing 1908 pattern belts, this may make it a little pre war....I can't remember off hand as to when the 1937 pattern was adopted by the Navy

[Nimrod58]

Thanks Scrimnet.

I wonder if I could trouble you to have alook at another one, which might give more info.

Kind regards

H

[scrimnet]

Ooh this is difficult!!!

There are still in tropical whites, the front two have what appear to be Naval swords...but...the epuallettes are indistinct and I can discern no ranks on them!!! this would be a clue as which arm they are, Navy or Marines...Ditto for the medals!! They would be a great help, but alas....Doh!!!

[scrimnet]

It used to be the case that every ship had a contingent of marines on board...Ergo the mix of uniforms...

[scrimnet]

Well...the 1908 ptn webbing was not issued to the Navy until 1919...and they did not get SMLE rifles until 1921...Oooh if it was only a sharper picture!!!

[Nimrod58]

Thanks for your help - it's more than I knew.

H