Which Scottish Regiment?

[FROGSMILE]

Thanks once more for your stellar observations and comments.

This is VERY interesting - to learn so much from an old photograph.

All this is making me more analytical when I now look at the photo.

Am I correct to say that the NCOs are wearing a mixture of TOS's and Balmorals?

Also, the NCO 2nd right of the officer (his right) appears to be holding the 'colours'.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

The man in Glengarry and Trews is not an officer, but is the platoon sergeant, complete with his pace stick. I am fairly sure of this having participated in many hundreds of such photographs. You are observant about the head dress seen, as they are indeed different shapes. However, they are all ToS and have simply been tailored in different ways. At that time I remember very clearly that each regiment had a different way of shaping and wearing their ToS. Some were tipped forward, some to one side and some made smaller and less pancake like in size at the top. I have not been able to iD what the item is that you have identified as colours, but it might be a company pennant of some kind. The photo is almost certainly of a platoon just beginning its basic training. This was invariably done with the recruits without head dress, but the platoon staff (instructors) with. This kind of photo was pinned in the platoon and company office and as a man dropped out from training(as many did), his face was blacked out.

This is simply a guess but based on my own training. This is a training platoon during their basic training. The man with the Gengarrie and trews is the officer. The men with the ticket hats ( TOS) are the NCOs and the rest of the bareheaded young men are the recruits. They may not yet have finished their training or passed out and so have not yet been presented with their cap badges. All pure guess work.

I think you have it spot on except that the soldier in trews and glengarry is the platoon sergeant (note pace stick).

[FROGSMILE]

I am tempting the wrath of ..., but, if there is a 'lowland' connection, here's another non-WW1 (I assume post-WW2) photograph. This was found with the others and a note saying "from James to Mother".

I am pretty certain that this is a Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) uniform, and since they disbanded in 1968, it may add to the 'connections' that you guys have implied.

I should add that I have a few relatives who were born in Douglas - and hence (maybe) the Cameronians.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang

He is definitely a Cameronian (Scottish Rifles) and wears a Rifle Green Glengarry, black buttons and Douglas Tartan trews. The cutaway jackets began to be issued pre-shaped in the 1920s and I would date the photo to between the wars, perhaps in the early 1930s.

[Tom Lang]

Gentlemen,

You're providing some astonishing and very helpful insights.

I'll use this to search my family tree - looking for James.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

[Stoppage Drill]

Can I ask you about another?

I'm not too sure that this is a WW1 photo, so please forgive my newbie abilities.

This looks like the Cameronians, but I'm sure I'll get the right answer here.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

Can't be. Cameronians disbanded 1968, green woolly pullies didn't come in until the '70's. Same with those Trousers Lightweight. Man front centre has diced band on glengarry cap - Cams were all rifle green. (Scottish Rifles)

[truthergw]

Good, innit? I'm afraid not but after my era. ( 50s) My boots were different.

[bill24chev]

I think the boots are the "Combat High" boots issued from about 1983 onwards I still have mine issued to me in 1984.

If they are recruits at that time it will be at either Glen Corse for adult recruits or Bridge of Don, the former Gordon's depot just outside Aberdeen. for junior soldiers.

At that time recruits from all the scottish line infantry regiments were trained together in mixed platoons With cap badges and head gear issued after about 6 weeks of training.e

[Tom Lang]

I'm pretty sure this group photo is before 1983.

I was born in 1948, so I was 35 in 1983, and I'm sure I'd know more about who/what/why/where/when was photo.

But I applaud all your efforts so far.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

[Ian Riley]

Thanks Ian,

My family are all from the Carluke, Lanark, Larkhall region. We've no known NI connection.

We're now thinking Maryhill Barracks; Hamilton Barracks; Winston Barracks, Lanark; or maybe Redford Barracks, Edinburgh.

I think if I can tie down the regiment, the likely barracks should come from that.

The officer has a Glengarry and the NCOs have Tam O' Shanters.

Kindest Regards,

Tom Lang.

The original photo looks like a group under training (without headdress) and their instructors, possibly of a mixture of regiments. Penicuik in the late 60's or 70s perhaps, just to add to your list of possibilities? I seem to remember that some of the walls were of pretty solid stone construction

Ian

[Tom Lang]

Thanks for your posting Ian.

[FROGSMILE]

Thanks for your posting Ian.

Tom, boots combat 'high' were not issued to recruits until the 1980s, who instead had boots, ankle, DMS and puttees.

Before that time a special high Northern Ireland boots (as mentioned), was issued specifically for trained soldiers operating in the province and would not have been seen on young trainees.

[Chris Hughes]

Boots, Combat High were first introduced in 1983. I was issued my first pair just after I got married and I had to go to the QM with a jam jar to get some neatsfoot oil to work into the boots to soften the leather. The oil worked, but the drawback was going running after the boots became supple and getting chased by dogs, attracted by the smell of the oil!

I'd also concur about the group photo being taken during basic recruit training before the Jocks were allowed to wear the badge of the Regiment they were allocated to. I remember the same in Woolwich during my basic training in 1973.

The photos were also used by the DS for "mug shot" purposes.

[Tom Lang]

Thanks ChrisH962.