Help with Uniform Recognition?

[vea53]

I have been researching the Dible(Dibble)/Reynolds family of Dover for a friend. This photo is of Thomas J Reynolds, born County Cavan 1865 and his wife Alice Edith Dible, born Dover 1872. They married in 1891 in Dover.

I think it is dated about 1900, so I am assuming he was in the Boer War? He had a son Patrick born 1896 in Aldershot, a daughter Margaret was born in Malta in 1899 and another son John was born in Dublin in 1903. His wife and children are in the 1901 English Census, but he isn't. They are all together in Dublin in the 1911 Irish Census and he is shown as an Army Pensioner.

Is anyone able to recognise the uniform or give me any further information about where I might continue my research? I'm afraid the photo has been taken from a Mobile phone so it might not be clear enough.

Many Thanks

vea53

[FROGSMILE]

I have been researching the Dible(Dibble)/Reynolds family of Dover for a friend. This photo is of Thomas J Reynolds, born County Cavan 1865 and his wife Alice Edith Dible, born Dover 1872. They married in 1891 in Dover.

I think it is dated about 1900, so I am assuming he was in the Boer War? He had a son Patrick born 1896 in Aldershot, a daughter Margaret was born in Malta in 1899 and another son John was born in Dublin in 1903. His wife and children are in the 1901 English Census, but he isn't. They are all together in Dublin in the 1911 Irish Census and he is shown as an Army Pensioner.

Is anyone able to recognise the uniform or give me any further information about where I might continue my research? I'm afraid the photo has been taken from a Mobile phone so it might not be clear enough.

Many Thanks

vea53

The photo shows a soldier of a British line infantry regiment in the full dress tunic ('best' parade uniform) still worn at the time of the 1899-1902 Anglo/Boer War. The fact that the collar and cuffs are white would indicate that he was a member of an English or Welsh regiment without a Royal prefix to its title. This is not unusual for Irish men, as many men from the emerald isle had been recruited by all regiments of the army for over two hundred years. He is wearing the badge of 'appointment' (not 'rank' at that time) of a Lance Corporal (i.e. one stripe).

He seems likely to have been in the 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment, as they alone of the Malta garrison in 1899 had arrived from Aldershot in 1897 and were in Dover in 1891.

1881.07.01 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment

1881 India: Agra , 1885 Sialkot, 1889 Burma,

1890 England: Dover , 1893 England: Aldershot ,1897 Malta,

1899.09.27 at sea , 1899.10.21 Cape Colony: Cape Town, 1899.10 South Africa 5 Bde ,

1902.05 South Africa , 1902 England: Plymouth ,

1906 Gibraltar , 1908 Madras, 1910 Burma: Maymyo,

1915.01 Rugby 87 Bde, 29 Div , 1915.03 Egypt.

The Malta Garrison can be seen here: http://maltaramc.com...1899.html#1bord

And the movements of the 1st Batt Border Regt here: http://web.archive.o...g-inf/034-1.htm

You can learn more about the regiment here: http://border-regime...m.com/index.php

[vea53]

Thank you for a prompt reply. Each time I have uploaded a photo to the forum I have been amazed at the information people have posted to help me. I will follow up the links you have given me.

vea53

[7t2ndswinger]

Impressive I must say.