neilbee Posted 10 November , 2018 Share Posted 10 November , 2018 (edited) Hello to the Forum. I have two photos of my great uncle, Lance Corporal Richard Byers, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He served with both 1st and 6th Battalions and was KIA in June 1917. Very different uniforms and I wonder if anyone can confirm that indeed they are both KOSB. From reading online, they did not fight in kilts, but I wonder? Can anyone help? Thank you, Neil Edited 10 November , 2018 by neilbee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heid the Ba Posted 10 November , 2018 Share Posted 10 November , 2018 (edited) The badge on the glengarry looks like the KOSB, could he have been a piper? Edited 10 November , 2018 by Heid the Ba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilbee Posted 10 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2018 Not according to my dad’s cousin, who has told me that the KOSB fought in kilts. From the sites I looked at, it was only the pipers and drummers who wore kilts in the KOSB, so I don’t really know. Would this perhaps just have been a “dress” or formal uniform? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 10 November , 2018 Share Posted 10 November , 2018 It's possible the kilt was borrowed at the photographer's studio or from one of his mates. We need a kilt expert to look to see if the sett can be identified from a b/w picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 10 November , 2018 Share Posted 10 November , 2018 I'd go along with Steve - my wife's grandfather was a regular soldier in the Cameronians. They were never kilted apart from the pipers, but we have a photo of the Halifax chiel strutting his stuff in a kilt. Your chap failed to blag a sporran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 11 November , 2018 Share Posted 11 November , 2018 (edited) Ordinary KOSB soldiers generally wore a diced glengarry (although a plain version was issued during shortages) and either trews, or SD trousers. KOSB pipers wore plain blue glengarries and kilts. This latter seems to be the case with your man. However, the KOSB pipers wore the Royal Stewart sett and that does not seem to be the case here. Edited 11 November , 2018 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 12 November , 2018 Share Posted 12 November , 2018 The glengarry badge is not KOSB, it is QOCH. Maybe he began his service with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 12 November , 2018 Share Posted 12 November , 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, CorporalPunishment said: The glengarry badge is not KOSB, it is QOCH. Maybe he began his service with them. Brilliant spot, I’m kicking myself now after expanding the image. The badge certainly is Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and that fits with both the kilt and glengarry too. The simplified jacket that he wears from 1914-15, suggests that he was perhaps with a Kitchener-raised QOCH unit initially, as you say. Edited 12 November , 2018 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilbee Posted 26 November , 2018 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2018 Just got back to this. I will check with my dad's cousin but all that you say makes perfect sense. He was definitely with the KOSB when he was killed in action. Have never found his enlistment papers but this is a good lead to follow up. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moulders1968 Posted 26 March Share Posted 26 March On 10/11/2018 at 16:06, neilbee said: Hello to the Forum. I have two photos of my great uncle, Lance Corporal Richard Byers, of the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He served with both 1st and 6th Battalions and was KIA in June 1917. Very different uniforms and I wonder if anyone can confirm that indeed they are both KOSB. From reading online, they did not fight in kilts, but I wonder? Can anyone help? Thank you, Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 March Share Posted 26 March (edited) 2 hours ago, moulders1968 said: The upper photo is KOSB from the short straight shoulder title and the lower photo in kilt is Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Many men, especially those in the infantry, moved between different regiments and battalions during the course of the war. The second photo appears to be the earliest of the two, as the jacket was an emergency pattern early on and the spats he wears were replaced by puttees in France. In the KOSB photo he’d filled out a bit after good rations and physical training. Edited 26 March by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 27 March Share Posted 27 March I was going to suggest the QOCH man was perhaps a brother or other (very) near relative of Richard Byers; I do think there's scope in terms of facial features, etc. However, I see that his younger brother served in KOSB also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 27 March Share Posted 27 March (edited) 4 hours ago, Pat Atkins said: I was going to suggest the QOCH man was perhaps a brother or other (very) near relative of Richard Byers; I do think there's scope in terms of facial features, etc. However, I see that his younger brother served in KOSB also. I’ve only just spotted that @moulders1968 reposted the same photos without comment Pat and I mistakenly responded again thinking it was new. I’m not sure what the poster’s intent was. Edited 27 March by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 27 March Share Posted 27 March Aha, yes - I hadn't noticed at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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