Militia Uniform?

[alanmack]

My great uncle Richard Watkins attested for the Cardigan RGA Militia on 28th september 1904 at the age of 18. His Militia record is endorsed with the comment,"Enlisted Welsh Regiment 22.9.05". Could someone please identify which regiment's uniform he is wearing here. I feel the belt buckle could be the key and a more detailed scan of this is also attached.

In the 1911 Census he was at home in Caerphilly; occupation - miner. Could he simply have transferred to another Militia unit of the Welsh Regiment?

Thanks in advance

Alan

[km1971]

Hi Alan

The belt buckle should be the standard lion and crown. A better scan of the collar badges and maybe the shoulder title would be more help. The latter should say WELSH as their tunics had white facings as in the photograph. The collar badges changed in 1908 – from dragons back to the Prince of Wales’ plumes with a scroll underneath.

Assuming he did not purchase his discharge he must have enlisted for 3 years in uniform followed by nine in the Army Reserve. The normal was 7 plus 5, but that would have him still in uniform for the 1911 census. Very few Reservists recorded the fact on BMDs and census. He would have been recalled in 1914 so if he papers are not on Ancestry they must have been lost in WW2.

What date of ‘entering theatre’ is on his medal card? You can confirm he was a Reservist if he did not sail with the 2nd Battalion in August 1914. They were usually kept back a month for extra training. The 1st Battalion were in India, and did not arrive in France until January 1915.

Ken

[alanmack]

Hi Ken,
           I thought someone might ask for those (attached) but not much help really.

Haven't looked for MIC's - no access. By 1915 he was a corporal in the Dublin Fusiliers on the Dardanelles. Wounded there he survived the War.

Alan