museumtom Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 I got a postcard sent to me with all sorts of different soldiers in it. Taken by Lambert Weston and Son, Folkestone, Dover an 39 Brompton Square, S.W. It is not dated/ The writing on the lying soldier seems to be Belgin Sold. I have no idea what it could portray, any ideas lads please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 German POWs and their camp guards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 26 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 26 June , 2014 The only ones with guns are not British. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 They are mixed British and Belgian soldiers in their early blue uniforms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 The only ones with guns are not British. But appear Belgian and many are German (without guns) Presumably during the opening stages of the war the Belgians took some prisoners. Were they transferred across the Channel as Belgium was over run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 But appear Belgian and many are German (without guns) Presumably during the opening stages of the war the Belgians took some prisoners. Were they transferred across the Channel as Belgium was over run? There are no Germans in this photo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 26 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 26 June , 2014 Curiouser and curiouser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 There are no Germans in this photo... What about the guys wearing feldmutz? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 What about the guys wearing feldmutz? What you are seeing as the feldmutz is, as I said back in post 4, part of the early blue Belgian soldiers uniform. Note most of them are clear enough to read the regimental number worn on the lower band, which is distinct to the Belgians, whereas the Germans used two cockardes. The cuff stripes, greatcoat styling, etc, etc, are all Belgian. The rifles visble also appear to be Belgian used Mausers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 26 June , 2014 Share Posted 26 June , 2014 The rifles are Belgian Mannlicher's khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museumtom Posted 26 June , 2014 Author Share Posted 26 June , 2014 One of the numbers on a hat, looks like under a rosette like the Germans have on their hats is 13. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 27 June , 2014 Share Posted 27 June , 2014 The rifles visble also appear to be Belgian used Mausers. The rifles are Belgian Mannlicher's Are you sure Khaki? I compared it to the Belgian M1889 Mauser and it's a spot on match. Mannlichers typically have a strangely angled magazine base which is not present. What is visible is a slight projection in front of the magazine, which matches the Mauser. I did a comparison picture below to illustrate. Top is the most obvious rifle visible turned through 180 degrees, bottom is a known Belgian M1889 Mauser sized to match:: http://postimg.org/image/hssxbz8e7/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorncliffe Posted 27 June , 2014 Share Posted 27 June , 2014 Looking at the building in the background i would say this was taken at Shorncliffe Camp early during WW1. These are Belguim soldiers who came over with the refugees, regrouped and returned to fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 28 June , 2014 Share Posted 28 June , 2014 Are you sure Khaki? I compared it to the Belgian M1889 Mauser and it's a spot on match. Mannlichers typically have a strangely angled magazine base which is not present. What is visible is a slight projection in front of the magazine, which matches the Mauser. I did a comparison picture below to illustrate. Top is the most obvious rifle visible turned through 180 degrees, bottom is a known Belgian M1889 Mauser sized to match:: http://postimg.org/image/hssxbz8e7/ Yes Andrew, you are correct, I don't know what I was thinking about to have come up with my 'hybrid' suggestion as no one mentioned Austrian's at all. I yield to your superior eye sight. well done ! khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany Posted 28 June , 2014 Share Posted 28 June , 2014 The caps on the British seem to be quite rigid which I understand makes th picture possibly before 1915? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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