Help with uniform identification please

[ellenbrora]

Hi folks

The attached photo is believed to be of Alexander MacKay, b.1867 at Talmine, Tongue, Sutherland, but the family are not sure.

I've had to convert it to pdf to make it small enough to upload, and the original scan is of a photocopy in the first place, so the quality is not great I'm afraid.

Any help in identifying the approx date and the regiment would be immensely useful.

Many thanks in advance.



Ellen

[macintosh]

The sporran cantle badge is the Gordon Highlanders. see item no. 181748079580 on eb*y

James

[ellenbrora]

Thanks James - that's a good start! I did wonder about the Gordons, as the photo appears taken at Fraserburgh. Seems strange for a man from Talmine, who to our present knowledge spent all of his life there. Perhaps we are to find out different!

Cheers

Ellen

[macintosh]

The photographers address is still standing in Fraserburgh, as for dating the photo itself looks like one of the tin types or something similar, not being knowledable on this subject it may help if you ask the experts on the photographic board. Others on here wil be along to advise on records etc,

James

[ellenbrora]

Thanks James, appreciate your interest.

Ellen

[ellenbrora]

Can anyone else give any further clues to this uniform please?

Ellen

[sarah]

Just attaching the image as .jpeg

[macintosh]

This has been buggin' me, the sporran badge is post 1881  when the 92nd Highlanders merged with the 75th Highlanders to form the Gordon Highlanders, the plaid brooch although very faint I can just make out the antlers of the stag's head, so Gordon Highlanders. His belt buckle would normally have the Gordon's crest on it
Your man having been born 1867 looks to be 30ish, so towards the end of the 1890s.but the photo looks to be much earlier, try posting on the photographic board for expert advice on the type of photo it is or try to contact the Gordon's Museum,  Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen.

I think this photo may be earlier than the age of the soldier.

James

[ellenbrora]

Thanks James. I have put it on the photographic board, with no response as yet, but will bump it up again.

So it may well be that the photo is of another family member, not Alexander. The pot thickens.

Cheers

Ellen