Help with unidentified WWI soldiers- uniforms

[MalcolmD]

New information-

Hello chaps, have just found some attestation and service details for Pvte Joseph Maher 1270- apparantly he joined up aged 19 in 1912, would that perhaps suggest the photo of the two lads together given that there is the suggestion the photo shows very early equipment c1913? Is it possible that the photo was taken as early as 1912 before conflict commenced?

Any thoughts?

M

[MBrockway]

New information-

Hello chaps, have just found some attestation and service details for Pvte Joseph Maher 1270- apparantly he joined up aged 19 in 1912, would that perhaps suggest the photo of the two lads together given that there is the suggestion the photo shows very early equipment c1913? Is it possible that the photo was taken as early as 1912 before conflict commenced?

Any thoughts?

M

M,

If you mean the picture of the two soldiers outside the hut with General Service buttons as cap badges, then I think it unlikely that that picture is pre-War.

There were no cap badge supply problems in 1912, so they would have been given their correct regimental badge as soon as they were issued their uniform. Also there was no equivalent of the Training Reserve where recruits joined the Army, but did ot immediately join a regiment.

My feeling is that picture is EITHER ...

1. volunteers in a Kitchener New Army Service battalion training in England in 1915; OR ...
2. conscripts in the Training Reserve in Sept 1916 or later.

Cheers,

Mark