ca 1911-1915 Uniform

[nickgc]

You all do such great work that I thought I'd post this photo for comments.

Charles Simpson, with Squadron "B", 18th Hussars from 1899 to 1920.  Was Sergeant 1911, Staff Sgt, then Warrant Officer by 1915, (all Quartermaster).

I was surprised that uniform is not as elaborate as most Hussar unies I've seen.

What can you tell me?  I might be able to rescan if resolution is not good enough.

Nick

[atom12]

Great photo 

I wish I could elaborate on it for you, but it appears to me to be a photo of the early Great War period.



 

[scrimnet]

A rescan at high resolution would be most helpful! 

The reason it does not look elaborate is that it is not Full Dress Uniform!

There were ooodles of the various forms of dress in the army (well there still is!)

What we have here is a Troop Sgt Maj in Patrol   (http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,272470.0.html )(later No1 Dress) Uniform. He has box spurs on (screwed into heel) and has a Walking Out Cane, not a crop by the looks of it...

The bandolier looks almost like the 9 pouch 90 round cavalry one...The other four pouches are on his back...

Anything else would have to await rescan though...

[nickgc]

Nice catch on the spur Scrimnet!  I would have guessed he was standing on a stick.

Here is a scan at 2400 ppi.

So if he is Sgt Maj, my understanding is that this photo would be from after the time he made Warrant Officer... correct?

OK, I have just checked some web sites and I think I understand the Sgt Maj, Quartermaster, Warrant Off. bit.

The cap and collar badges signify Hussars, and I can make out the crown and stripes on his sleeve, but what is the cloth badge between them?

From his service record (pension papers) it appears he wasn't with Quartermasters early on, but had been a Sgt since 1904:

Promoted  SQMS 14.6.13
Appointed Acting RQMS 1.10.14
Promoted RQMS 1.10.14
Promoted Warrant Officer Class II 29.1.15

Does this help narrow date?

Nick

[scrimnet]

Any muso's in the family???

I reckon that is a band lyre above his stripes and he is a Band Staff Sgt!

The badges are still indistinct, but they do have the shape of 18th Hussars...If we could make out the crown we could date it a bit better...

Also, there were x5 title changes between 1904 and 1922!! They became the 13/18th Hussars in 1922...

[scrimnet]

Also the pic of the various ranks of the Army would be out of date for this one....They are too early for him!!!

[nickgc]

No, I have his pension papers so know his service record pretty well.  No indication of band service.

Joined Dec 1899; So. Africa Oct 1900- Oct 1902 (Queen's Medal with clasps (Transvaal & Orange Free State), and King's medal with clasps).

Attending classes and being certified 1904-06 incl. "Awarded certificate at School of Cookery, Aldershot 30Jun1906".

Ireland in 1908 when he married.

Quartermaster's staff and went from Sgt to Staff Sgt to Warrant Officer between 1911 and 1915.

In France (WWI) from 15Aug1914 until 15Sep1919 (only 1 two week leave in all this time!).

Exemplary rating on discharge 4Dec1920.

Nick