Sav Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 (edited) The photograph below is from my great aunt's post card album. I believe that it may be a relative from Lancashire who served in the army in India around 1914 -1927. There is no inscription on the back other than a stamp saying The Excelsior Photographic Co., Artists and Photographers, 1, Main Street, Poona. His badges look like Light Infantry. Any help in identification of the regiment would ben most appreciated as it then my help me identify the soldier. Regards Sav Edited 12 April , 2020 by Sav incorrect date Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 Duke Cornwall light infantry maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 To my eye I’m convinced there’s a knot at the top rather than a crown so I’m thinking it’s the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 (edited) I’m confident Steve is correct, there is a KSLI badge on the field service cap that’s carefully positioned on the table. The uniform and hairstyle dates the photo closer to 1927. Edited 12 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 For what it's worth, I'd agree with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry were based in Poona in 1920. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 12 April , 2020 Share Posted 12 April , 2020 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Stebie9173 said: 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry were based in Poona in 1920. Steve. The uniform and appearance of the studio background supports that and I think you’ve nailed the location, Steve. Interestingly the field service cap was retained in India after its discontinuance on the home establishment. Edited 12 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sav Posted 13 April , 2020 Author Share Posted 13 April , 2020 1st Batt. KSLI, Poona 1920. Thanks very for that information. Does anyone know when the 1st Battalion returned from India? Did this battalion qualify for any medals or clasps during their period of service. Sav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, Sav said: 1st Batt. KSLI, Poona 1920. Thanks very for that information. Does anyone know when the 1st Battalion returned from India? Did this battalion qualify for any medals or clasps during their period of service. Sav The battalion was in India from 1920 until 1938, when it returned home to Aldershot. It missed the 3rd Afghan War and the Waziristan campaign and there were no formal Battle Honours during that time. Edited 13 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Garrett Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 1 KSLI moved to Bombay at the end of 1920, helping the civil power to deal with the non-cooperation movement inspired by Gandhi. After periods of training at Poona and Dinapore, in 1928 it moved by route march to Razmak for a tour of duty on the NW frontier. There was little actual fighting but all ranks received the NW Frontier Medal 1930-31. It then did a period of ceremonial duties in Delhi, ending its tour of duty in India at Kamptee and Karachi. It left India on 1 December 1938, moving to Bordon. It's next tour of operational duty was with 3 Bde and 1 Div IN the BEF. It held the salient at Dunkirk in the last days of the evacuation and was the last battalion to be embarked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 (edited) Here is the India General Service Medal (1908-35) with North West Frontier clasp mentioned by Robin, along with a KSLI private in Marching Order at the time. Edited 13 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Garrett Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 Good photo, Frogsmile. Interesting to see his shoulder titles as I wore the same type in Singapore and Malaya in 1966 and 67. I still have the pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Robin Garrett said: Good photo, Frogsmile. Interesting to see his shoulder titles as I wore the same type in Singapore and Malaya in 1966 and 67. I still have the pair. Yes, first adopted in 1921 to replace curved SHROPSHIRE. Made in white metal from the 1950s. The regiment didn’t always wear the separate bugle, especially on KD as in the photo. Interestingly for quite a long time the officers wore their titles in bronze, which was unusual. Edited 13 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Garrett Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 1 hour ago, FROGSMILE said: Interestingly for quite a long time the officers wore their titles in bronze, which was unusual. Our rank badges were bronze but the shoulder titles were as portrayed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 13 April , 2020 Share Posted 13 April , 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Robin Garrett said: Our rank badges were bronze but the shoulder titles were as portrayed. Yes, in the 1960s. I should have been clear that I meant between the the two World Wars. These variants are all recorded in the collectors book on metal shoulder titles. I think that the bronze looks very attractive, especially with rank of the same metal. Edited 13 April , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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