Thank you to all who have contributed so far. I seem to have opened a can of worms lol.
Firstly I apologise for the blurriness but the original is no better. On googling with your suggestions it doesn't appear to be SWB cos they don't seem to have a crown & he looks as if he does but looks like a dragon.
Jebber - I like your suggestion of RE as on reading up changes were made in 1877 converting Monmouthshire Militia to engineers. He would have lived Glamorganshire/Monmouthshire at the time of signing up. They were aslo known in1812-1855 as the Corps of Sappers & Miners , this gentleman had a mining backgound.
Dod - I now like yours even better , just googled. I think we're getting closer. Thank you.
This gentleman is also holding what looks like a cane. I think he might have been a band Leader? He is wearing ordinary shoes.
Can anyone answer me, how did they choose a regiment to join? I know that SWB would have been the local regiment & that seems the obvious choice to me but obviously it isn't.
