Identification of uniform

[tenby tart]

One of my relatives has found this picture of a soldier we have no idea who he is. Can anyone identify the uniform?
Thank you
Lynne

[John915]

Good morning,

The dark collar is a little unusual but it would seem to be a British uniform. So my first inclination would be to say it dates between 1905 and 1908. The cap has a shiny peak so not WW1, they were introduced in 1905 to replace the brodrick cap. I may be wrong but I think he could be either militia or a volunteer affiliated to the Staffordshire regt. In 1908 the militia and volunteers became the territorial force, the little details like the collar disappeared.

John915

[tenby tart]

Thank you John for your reply very interesting.

[philipsearching]

I may be wrong but I think he could be either militia or a volunteer affiliated to the Staffordshire regt.

I was wondering about the Stafford knot but I can't find a match (Stafford knots seem to have the loose ends pointing upwards and outwards).  The cap badge has me confused - I can't work out if it is a figure 8 on its side with an unidentified blob below and to the right or if the blob is sun glare on a narrow black band.

That said, your dating of the cap would put this chap's birth c1880-1890 which could narrow Lynne's search.

[John915]

Good evening,

I think that is definately glare from the chin strap.

Stafford knots varied vastly over the years but I have yet to check on them.

John915

[T1]

I strongly suspect this is indeed a Staffordshire knot, but simply the top half is obscured by the shade created by the top of the cap.

The uniform is a very good match for that worn by the Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment) from around 1905 onwards.

The basis of this uniform was the standard khaki introduced for the regular army in 1902, but the Staffordshire Yeomanry 'smartened' the standard uniform by adding an upright scarlet collar to the tunic, worn with a dark blue and scarlet coloured peaked cap, exactly as seen here.

T

[tenby tart]

Thank you for all for your replys my ancestors were originally from Staffordshire so my next challenge is to find out who the soldier is.
Thank you once again.
Regards Lynne