Burma or India 1890's

[longtallsally]

Can anyone tell if this was taken in India or Burma ? 
I believe this is the Royal Scots 2nd Battalion

[Salty]

Sorry, cannot tell you where the photo was taken, but definitely in the tropics.

Plus at the back, you have a row of Ghurka's.

Could be anywhere in the far east.

Salty

[Salty]

Forgot to mention the Sikh's at the front.

So could be somewhere in India even.

Salty

[manmack]

hello sal,i have been looking at this picture since you posted it,i cant find the royal scots in burma/india in the 1890s,the earliest is i think 1881ish,that photo was taken for some big event,because you have men from 4 different regts,as well as the british regt you have gurkha bagpipers,sikh/indian side tippers and men of either a jat or presidential bodyguard band,some of the gurkhas are wearing a single medal,but ??,is there anything else amongst your ancestors papers that may help,the following is only an opinion so dont quote me.
these men look like they performed togethor as a mixed band because they cover the main elements of the indian army,they are all bulled up and polished nicely so its some big occasion like the delhi durbar??ime in full agreement with salty,it looks like the far east to me as well,are you certain about the royal scots,could it be the royal scots fusiliers,not very helpful am i sal sorry,mack

[longtallsally]

Thank you both for being so helpful !  I am finding all this information quite fascinating.
I have my grandfathers obituary from the "Thistle"and it says he joined the army age 12 in 1887 (nearly all his family had died from TB).  I can't imagine what his life must have been like as a child in the army a long way from home..

It says "Royal Scots" nothing more specific than -  served with the second battalion in India, Burma and Malta.  He was invalidid home from Burma in 1898 and discharged as medically unfit.  It does say he was a drum major and he does rather stand out being so tall and in the Leopard skin !

Now, don't laugh but he told his grandchildren he had been wounded by a spear, and I have yet to find out if that is true!

Anyway, thank you both

[longtallsally]

p.s.

This one is not quite so elegant !  Sorry its not a better copy - its a scan of a photocopy

[Shaztoni]

That's an excellent photo you have there Sally.  your so luck to have it (even a copy of a copy)

[manmack]

hiya sal,no doubt about them being pontius pilates bodyguard,i have them in malta also in 1880/81,that picture is magnificent so is the other one,i will keep looking sal,mack

[longtallsally]

I have one more, but its not a good copy !  I love it though, as it has "me" written on it!
In his obit there is a note about him being one of the best rifleman in the battalion.  They have a trophy there of some kind, and it looks like it was taken in the same place as the 2nd photo.

I just got these at xmas, and they are treasures aren't they!?  I didn't know anything about my grandad until then.  Too bad they aren't dated or named at all, but not complaining !