Is this a Boer War Uniform - William Davies Welsh Fusiliers?

[forthekids]

Photo is of my great grandfather William Davies, a coal miner in Glamorgan Wales.  He died at 36 years old in 1913 so this photo was probably near the turn of the century.  We have no record of him in any conflict so the Boer War is a best guess given the time period.  I haven't been able to find a similar uniform in photos, particularly given the hat.   Every second Welsh man had the name of William Davies so searching for him by name is a no-go. 

[gortonboy]

Wouldnt say its a no go   Was he born in Glamorgan? do you know exactly where he was born?  who were his parents?  there may be a service record,,and if we have the above details ,theres a slight chance we could find one.

[gortonboy]

do you have him in the 1901 census?

[km1971]

They wore khaki in South Africa. They created mounted infantry companies from Regular infantry at home just before the Boer War, but had straight cuffs at the time. So it it could be a mounted infantryman post Boer War serving at home.

If he died while serving (even as a Reservist - which may not be recorded on BMDs, even his own, or census) they would not have kept his record.

Also worth checking with the local Record Office in case there was a local Yeomanry.

Ken

[alan o]

The slouch hat was adopted post Boer war by the Volunteers.  Odd to see it worn with a red tunic as it was usually worn with khaki in the first decade of the C20th; but that would be in the same period.

[ScouseBoy]

It may just be that he was on holiday,  and he went in to a photography  studio  and asked for a military style photo.

My dad was stationed  in Edinburgh in  December 1939.  He was in the RASC. But he got a photograph  taken of him  dressed in a traditional Scottish Regiment Uniform 

[John915]

Good evening,

Two questions, are you absolutely sure of this mans ID. At the time of the Boer War your GGrandfather would have been in his early 20s but this looks to be a much older man.

Was there a local volunteer battalion he could have belonged to.

The pointed cuff was replaced by the round cuff in the 1880s for the regulars. The slouch hat had mostly disappeared after the Boer War for regulars.

The red tunic was withdrawn in 1902 and replaced by the khaki battle dress as worn in ww1.

John915

[forthekids]

Wouldnt say its a no go   Was he born in Glamorgan? do you know exactly where he was born?  who were his parents?  there may be a service record,,and if we have the above details ,theres a slight chance we could find one.

Thanks Gortonboy. He was born in Treorchy, Rhondda, Wales in October 1878.  Parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Davies.  I have gone down so many rabbit holes searching for people in the Davies line that I almost shudder at the thought. 

[forthekids]

do you have him in the 1901 census?

Yes, he was in Senghenydd in 1901 working in the coal mines.