anthony Posted 18 November , 2004 Share Posted 18 November , 2004 Hi, posted this before in another section but did not get a great response. I wondered who these men were- some seemed quite young and others quite old.No apparent medal ribbons, but a wound stripe on the middle row(next to the sergeant)?. Was this a pre-war terriers camp or something else-I would really welcome your thoughts! Cheers, anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrick Posted 18 November , 2004 Share Posted 18 November , 2004 Hi mate, Seeing the equipment laying on the ground, my educauted guess would be a mounted regiment, as they seem to train in fencing with P 08 training sabers, bayonetpractice, but in the background lays a training lance. Can't see infantry troops train with those. coo-ee patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 19 November , 2004 Share Posted 19 November , 2004 They've also got tin helmets on the ground. I'm not sure, but didn't tin hats get introduced in or shortly after 1915? Certainly not pre-war. Any chance of a scan/close up of 2 or 3 men - so we can get a better look at the cap badges? Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 19 November , 2004 Share Posted 19 November , 2004 What makes you think "King`s Own", Anthony? Phil B PS How about 4th Queen`s Own Hussars? (The IV on the instructor`s vest) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deepathart Posted 19 November , 2004 Share Posted 19 November , 2004 Les I thought they were helmets also until I realised that they were probably fencing masks Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 19 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2004 Hi guys-thanks for your thoughts. They certainly seem to be a group "enjoying" some instruction, though I find it hard to imagine the 40+ group fencing. The photo I am posting here is a close up of the cap badges. Cheers Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 19 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2004 Next pic- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 19 November , 2004 Share Posted 19 November , 2004 Flippin' heck! My mistake - They're bee-keepers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 19 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2004 The cap badges seem to be Kings Own, the instructor seems to point to 4th Kings Own, but the mixture of age groups and lack of medals confuse me. The only chap I can see with any evidence of service seems to be this chap- or does the stripe at the bottom of his arm mean something else? Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 19 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2004 Something tells me they would have preferred a stronger tipple than honey Les! Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deepathart Posted 20 November , 2004 Share Posted 20 November , 2004 Les Bloke in the front - don't look too happy does he - perhaps he was stung. Dee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 20 November , 2004 Share Posted 20 November , 2004 Apologies, Anthony! They are clearly KO capbadges (Couldn`t quite make them out in the original). I should have realized that they are the old 4th of foot! I was a bit carried away by what looked like cavalry sabres. Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 20 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2004 Anyone able to suggest a date? The uniform still confuses me-pre 1914? Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 20 November , 2004 Share Posted 20 November , 2004 What about the rifles? I can't tell Lee Enfields from their predecessor, but would they give a clue to the date? Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 20 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2004 Good point Ken. I'm no expert either but surely the rifles held by the young lad at the front hold a clue? What about the training rifles on the ground-if indeed this is what they are? Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 One man wears a wound stripe on his left sleeve, so the photo must have been taken after 1916. Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 The centre helmet looks like a fencing helmet but the other 2 are too wide in the mesh and are presumably for bayonet practice (with the sticks with boxing gloves on the end). I assume the 2 stick things are training substitutes for bayonets. The presence of what looks like a PTI indicates a unit fencing/bayonet fighting team. ??? Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 21 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 21 November , 2004 Phil- PTI? Can we assume they are a unit waiting to be sent overseas in the latter stages of the war, with one of them a soldier returning to the front after recieving a wound? (thanks for the date Gavin) Cheers, Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 22 November , 2004 Share Posted 22 November , 2004 PTI = Physical Training Instructor (The guy in the white top) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 22 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 22 November , 2004 Cheers phil, I had just presumed that they were imitation rifles but all the equipment now seems to make sense. Is there anyway we can put a date to the rifles or uniforms now? Thanks, anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 23 November , 2004 Share Posted 23 November , 2004 Can`t really add to Gavin`s post, Anthony! Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavinH Posted 23 November , 2004 Share Posted 23 November , 2004 One man wears a wound stripe on his left sleeve, so the photo must have been taken after 1916. Anthony, To be more specific, Wound Stripes were authorised in August 1916. I would have thought it was a couple of months before they began to appear on uniforms. I can't see anything else that would help to date the photo closer than late 1916-1919. Regards Gavin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony Posted 25 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 25 November , 2004 Thanks Gavin and phil-appreciate your help! anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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