Norfolk Militia 1909???

[Stormybay]

Can anyone help me to identify this group?  Words on the back say that this was taken in the summer of 1909 at Aldershot Camp.  I am hoping that someone might recognize the emblem on the drum.  This card was posted from King's Lynn in late August 1909.

The writer identifies the fellow third from the left in the back row as being the brother of my grandmother and that her father is also in the photo.  I am totally confused as her father died in 1907 and her mother's second husband was still married to another woman at the time. I do believe that the brother indicated is a Thompson, but he might be a Greenway. 

[findem]

Hi Stormbay,

This is of no help to you I know but the conductor appears to be not a Militia man like the rest of the band, his cap badge is that of the Norfolk Regiment.

Good luck with this topic.

[MaecW]

Hi Findem and Stormybay,

Checking out the cap-badges I was puzzled to find some sources showing the Norfolk's "Brittania" on her own while others show her surrounded with a wreath of some kind.  Given that the date for this photo is 1909, which is the year after the Army reforms came into effect is this perhaps the band of one of the newly formed "Territorial" battalions ?

Anyway I'd suggest you post this to the Rootschat Armed forces forum where there are some real experts on this sort of subject.

Maec

[findem]

Hi,

The badges with and without the wreath are both badges of the Norfolk Regiment regular army.  The badge showing Britannia on her own came into use in 1937  This info comes from a book by authors Kipling and King and is considered the bible of British Army badge collectors, i.e. the equivalent of Stanley Gibbons to stamp collectors.

I think it would be a good idea to follow the suggestion of MaecW, the experts might come up with further info.

Regards.

[Stormybay]

I agree with moving this but am not sure how to go about doing that? 

[John915]

Good evening,

The militia and volunteers ceased to exist in 1908 when the new territorial force came into being. This is most likely therefore the successors to the norfolk militia. Without blowing it up it looks like the norfolks badge, in many regt's the officers (and sometimes warrant officers) wore slightly different badges to the other ranks.
Suggest you ask mod to move it for you.

John915

[findem]

Hi,

I'd be interested in the experts opinions because on one hand I read in K & K that the badge showing Britannia on her own came in in 1937 and on the other hand a photo dated 1909 showing quite clearly a badge with Britannia on her own 

Regards,

[John915]

Good evening,

The Norfolks were given the right to wear the figure of Britannia, on her own, by Queen Anne in 1707. Quote from General Bainbridge 1848 when presenting new colours;
"This distinguished badge was given to you for your gallantry at the battle of ALMANZA, during the war of succession in Spain, by Queen Anne. On the occasion of that battle it is recorded that you lost 24 officers and had 300 killed or wounded out of 467. In retiring from the field the regiment covered the retreat of General Lord Galway, a most arduous, hazardous and difficult service. The regiment thus upheld the honour of Great britain, and was honoured for it by Queen Anne by allowing them to wear the figure of Britannia on their breastplates".
Like many regt's the badge has probably undergone several transformations over the years but it is wrong to say she  was first used on her own after 1937. Also as I previously mentioned, cap badges varied between other ranks and officers in many regt's, even today.

John915

[findem]

Hi john915,

Thanks for that info, I'll note it.

Regards.