Can anyone identify this uniform?

janis1954 · Post by **janis1954** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:26 pm

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I have a feeling that this could be my great-great grandfather Duncan Stewart but have no idea when the picture was taken so it’s really just a hunch.

The uniform worn by Major Edward Robert Bigsby Barnes (taken at Curragh Camp in 1873) certainly looks similar to the one in my photograph.

Duncan Stewart was 24 years when he married Janet (Jessie) Brown (aged 25) in Bridgeton on 15th June 1860 and his occupation was dyer. That is the only certificate I have for him and he is deceased by 1900. I can’t trace a birth or a death certificate online.

I would guess that the man in the photograph is perhaps 35 – 45. If the mystery man is Duncan Stewart I suppose it could have been taken in the 1870s.

Janet (Jessie) Stewart died in December 1900 aged 63 years. She was the widow of Duncan Stewart, Volunteer Drill Instructor (deceased). Informant would appear to be my great grandmother Isabella Stewart.

When Isabella Stewart married Frederick M Rae on 31 December 1903 – her father’s occupation was given as sergeant major (?) battalion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders (deceased). I don’t think that is accurate.

I have found the Stewart family in the 1881 census and head of household is Jesie (sic) B Stewart aged 44 born in Ireland. My great grandmother Isabella is aged 8. Although the census says Isabella was born Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland I think I have found her in the 1901 census living at 12 Graeme Street, Glasgow (the age and occupation fit) but it says she was born in Ireland.

I’m afraid it is just going to remain a mystery but I’m grateful for all the links and suggestions.

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:47 pm

Hi Janis

If you follow the family through the census you'll see that he is enumerated as a sergeant major of the 5th lanark rifles in 1871. It's easy to narrow up the search by using the IGI for a parent search of the children's births. Noting where they were at those points in time and the expected ages of the children simplifies selecting a Stewart family out of the large return of possibles country wide!

Best wishes
Jean

Montrose Budie · Post by **Montrose Budie** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:16 pm

Hmmmm..... the Lanark Rifles were associated latterly with the Cameronians (The Scottish Rifles) - see http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/v ... /cam-5.htm , and would not have had a uniform anything like the mystery man; likewise, - obvious if you know, but then some readers may not, - the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, separately as the 91st and 93rd of Foot respectively, or the combined regiment after the 1881 Cardwell reforms (known as "the swinging six" from their sporran !), never mind that they've always been kilted regiments.

David (masquerading as MB)

janis1954 · Post by **janis1954** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:09 pm

I did an image search on rifle volunteer regiments and quite a few of the images showed similar uniforms so it may be that 'fancy' uniforms were worn by these volunteer regiments. My gut feeling is this person is likely to be my great great grandfather Duncan Stewart. I don't suppose I'll ever know for sure but trying to find out something about the picture and that branch of my family has kept me occupied for a couple of days.

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

Best wishes

Janis

James henderson · Post by **James henderson** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:39 pm

The unknown uniformed and bearded man may be a Head Constable of the Royal Irish Constabulary. It is possibly dress uniform of the mid 19th century. The RIC, formed by Sir Robert Peel around 1922 was the second organised police force in the British Isles (The Met was the first). The RIC adopted Light Infantry style and colour of uniform and somewhat similar rank insignia. The rank of Head Constable equated with that of the RSM in some ways i.e. the most senior Non-comissioned officer in the unit. The beard may have been a privilege of rank or part of the dress code. This rank existed until 1969 with an insignia of a variety of whorls or scrolls similar to that in the photograph. The gold inverted chevrons of the rank of Sergeant are still in use in the Police Service of Northern Ireland today. The sword is not unlike the RIC Officer's Dress sword of those years and by tradition the Senior Warrant Officer (the RSM of today) would have the right to carry such a sword on cermonial occasions.
Ex-soldiers of exemplary service were the primary source of recruits in the early years. The curator of the RIC/RUC/PSNI museum could probably help.

James henderson · Post by **James henderson** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:20 pm

Ref the unknown uniformed and bearded man. The crossbelt and whistle with chain lanyard was a part of the uniform of the RIC. The whistle is retained by British (and some Commonwealth ) police forces today as a tradition rather than a practical item. The Met Police were the first to introduce it as a formal part of police equipment although the earlier Watch Comittees would also have used a whistle. The tone was unique and recognisable.
It was rarely part of a military unifom except for those with specialised roles.