more unidentified men in uniform

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 10:30 pm

hi

I have these two pictures and i wondered if anyone can shed any light on them.

I dont know who the men are or what the uniforms are or even what time period they could be.

any help would be appreciated

Karen

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-816

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:14 am

Hi Karen

This is only a guess and probably wont help much.

But I think they are WWI uniforms, the wrap round puttees lead me to that era.

The man in the left appears to be a "new" recruit, he doesnt appear to have any unit badges or any other chevrons or markings. As for the one on the right he appears to be around same era, but cant see his cap badge, and his uniform looks more "lived in" it doesnt look as new as the one on the left.

Of course it could be earlier in Boer war too.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:32 am

The one on the left will probably be impossible to identify, unless you do know his name, and his service record can be tracked down, always assuming that it's extant, of course.

The same applies to the one on the right unless you can persuade him to turn a bit to his right so that we can see the badge on his diced Glengarry bonnet

, - which at least indicates that this was a Scottish regiment (see http://www.it-serve.co.uk/argylls/dress.php for some good photies - you need to scroll down a bit......), - the colour of the "toorie" (the wee bobble on the top) might have helped, but the photie is B&W

The dress of both is very much everyday service dress, as opposed to ceremonial dress, and is most likely to be WWI, although the Boer War is not out of the question.

David

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:13 pm

Hi David

I wondered if the one on the left was possibly an RSM since he appears to have a swagger stick under his arm rather than a riding crop which was usually held at the side.
Officers would have had insignia even in what is effectively battle dress.

Just a thought.

Russell

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:15 pm

Russell wrote:Hi David

I wondered if the one on the left was possibly an RSM since he appears to have a swagger stick under his arm rather than a riding crop which was usually held at the side.
Officers would have had insignia even in what is effectively battle dress.

Just a thought.

Russell

The "swagger stick" does indeed most probably indicate the status of a an NCO, quite possibly a senior NCO !! .............

As regards officers' insignia, it didn't take the British Army on the Western Front in WWI long to realise that such insignia only made the officers more likely to be targeted by snipers .............

David

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:23 pm

hi

thanks for all the replies but what does RSM and NCO stand for

Im not really up on my millitary speak

Karen

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:30 pm

Hi Karen

RSM = Regimental Sargeant Major
ie the one who shouts at the troops to keep them in line.
NCO

= Non-Commissioned Officer Someone who can give orders but has never been to Sandhurst and probably wouldne hae a posh accent.

Russell
PS I have now exhausted my knowledge of the military almost

Russell

karenc · Post by **karenc** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:36 pm

thanks for that russell!

im sure that there will be more military questions for you in due course

I still dont think i will ever find out who the men in the photos are though.

i have no clue as to who they could be.

Karen

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:09 pm

Hi Karen

They will probably stand out in a wedding photo or family group because you have looked closely at the faces, posture, shape of the ears even the line of the mouth. Then you will find they are great-uncles, or some such, and were in your pile of family photos all along.

Fingers crossed for that

Russell