adrian 1008 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 The medal is the 1911 King George 5th Coronation medal From memory I dont think it would be the Delhi Darbar medal as there would be a bar across the ribbon with "Delhi" engraved. This was the first coronation medal awarded to individuals who did not attend the ceremony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie2 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 10 minutes ago, adrian 1008 said: bar across the ribbon with "Delhi" The bar was awarded to those who qualified for both medals if I recall correctly. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian 1008 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 Good point I had forgotten that... didnt phrase my answer well ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 Is there now a consensus for what medal it is? If it's the Durbar I can't see how he could be a Major in HLI in 1911. Certainly not the ones shown on the DD roll. Different rank is possible but so is different Regiment or both. There are rolls at TNA for the Coronation rolls, not online. Same thing applies I think, was he a Major in HLI at the time. I don't disagree with the idea that it could be EG. early 1912 and he's having a nice portrait taken of him with his only medal so far. I couldn't find other photos of the 6/HLI Majors I posted on previously nor could I be 100% sure they can't be eliminated by having previous campaign medals on view. Looking online the only difference I can see between the medals is the Coronation ribbon seems to have a pinking shears type edge whereas the DD is a clean edge. Is this correct? The photo looks much more professional than the usual studio types we see on forum. Diana14, Was the photo in post#1 taken through glass in a frame? If so can you remove it and check for a studio or anything on the reverse? Is it possible to use a loupe or similar to check the edge of the medal ribbon for either a clean cut or the pinking shears cut? TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 (edited) He’s definitely a Major TEW. He has the field officers pattern basket hilt, and a single badge (thus a crown given his age) is visible on his right shoulder cord. Over to others with regards to the medal differentials. Edited 1 December , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana14 Posted 1 December , 2020 Author Share Posted 1 December , 2020 TEW, I only have a photocopy, I've asked for the original from Australia! It might help. You guys are replying faster than my google search on your input!! It's great though, I'm getting closer to who this relatively is, I think! The Fishers seemed to be an affluent family from Glasgow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie2 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 2 hours ago, TEW said: Coronation ribbon seems to have a pinking shears type edge whereas the DD is a clean edge. Is this correct? The ribbons are identical, the pinking shears effect is probably just a variation in the weave. https://www.spink.com/lot/341001047 https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/1911-coronation-medal-of-king-george-v Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian 1008 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 The medal yearbook would say its the coronation medal as there is no clasp, also according to M Yearbook 2021 only 136 Durbar clasps were awarded But I m very junior so happy to be corrected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon92 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 (edited) On 30/11/2020 at 07:28, gnr.ktrha said: It's an interesting photograph. There are a couple of points about it which leads me to believe that he is a Territorial force Officer. Firstly, his headdress is not of a pattern worn by a regular battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, during this period. They either wore a shako or glengarry bonnet. Secondly, his cap badge has a Long Scroll on it, which is usually a sign of it bearing the South Africa battle honour. There were some O/R cap badges with the Assaye battle honour on a long scroll, but I do not recall ever seeing an Officer's pattern. Thirdly, he does appear to be wearing the rank badge of a Major, however, if he was a Regular Army Officer, his doublet would show additional Gold Braid at the Cuffs and Collar to show it. However, I am sure he is a Major as he is armed with a Scottish Field officers pattern sword, these have a different style of basket to the Highland Pattern Broadsword. As a Field Officer, he would be mounted on a horse and that is one of the reasons for the differences in pattern of sword. I think he might be a Major in the 6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry I 100% agree with this assessment that he is a Major of the 6th Battalion HLI. This was the only HLI battalion to wear the diced Balmoral bonnet. Another clue pointing toward a Territorial officer is the plaid brooch. The circular thistle wreath surrounding the central badge is of noticeably shorter width than the pattern worn by regular officers. The latter had the numerous battle honours of the regiment superimposed on the wreath, and these are not seen here. One bothersome aspect is that the wearer in the original photograph displays a blackcock feather in his bonnet whereas the battalion historically used an eagle's feather. Regular Territorial Edited 1 December , 2020 by gordon92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie2 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 2 hours ago, adrian 1008 said: 136 Durbar clasps were awarded Which leaves about 15700 recipients issued with a medal without a bar and nearly 27000 Durbar medal recipients. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 1911 DD roll is on Ancestry. I don't see an HLI Major that fits the bill. Therefore Coronation Medal? TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon92 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 1 hour ago, TEW said: 1911 DD roll is on Ancestry. I don't see an HLI Major that fits the bill. Therefore Coronation Medal? TEW I think it is extremely likely to be the Coronation Medal. A Territorial officer would not have been in India for the DD unless he had left the 1st Battalion HLI very shortly before the photograph was taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOVE23 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 I think a higher resolution scan of the group photo might help but I'm no expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian 1008 Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 3 hours ago, charlie2 said: Which leaves about 15700 recipients issued with a medal without a bar and nearly 27000 Durbar medal recipients. Charlie What is your source ? the durbar medal has a greater value, as only 136 according to medal yearbook were awarded to British recipients I m interested in learning more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 1 December , 2020 Share Posted 1 December , 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, gordon92 said: I 100% agree with this assessment that he is a Major of the 6th Battalion HLI. This was the only HLI battalion to wear the diced Balmoral bonnet. Another clue pointing toward a Territorial officer is the plaid brooch. The circular thistle wreath surrounding the central badge is of noticeably shorter width than the pattern worn by regular officers. The latter had the numerous battle honours of the regiment superimposed on the wreath, and these are not seen here. One bothersome aspect is that the wearer in the original photograph displays a blackcock feather in his bonnet whereas the battalion historically used an eagle's feather. Regular Territorial As 6th HLI was a kilted battalion I was completely thrown awry and distracted by his wearing trews. I’m still puzzled by it now. If connected with his medal presentation (such as it was) I would have expected a kilt. Edited 2 December , 2020 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
askar-perisikan Posted 2 December , 2020 Share Posted 2 December , 2020 Just a small addition, he is wearing a wrist watch, which I'm led to believe was unusual pre 1914, and may be another indicator of wealth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon92 Posted 2 December , 2020 Share Posted 2 December , 2020 14 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: As 6th HLI was a kilted battalion I was completely thrown awry and distracted by his wearing trews. I’m still puzzled by it now. If connected with his medal presentation (such as it was) I would have expected a kilt. Interesting question......In the regular battalions of the kilted regiments there were several orders of full dress, variable depending on regiment, but always including Review Order and Levee. In the latter, field officers would have worn the kilt and dirk belt. I doubt that these orders existed in the Territorial battalions; it is my surmise that field officers preferred to remain in either trews or tartan trousers as a distinction of rank. This is evident in the photo below circa 1910 of the 6th (Perthshire) battalion Black Watch at a Drumhead service. 12 hours ago, askar-perisikan said: Just a small addition, he is wearing a wrist watch, which I'm led to believe was unusual pre 1914, and may be another indicator of wealth? And a fine looking one at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 2 December , 2020 Share Posted 2 December , 2020 2 minutes ago, gordon92 said: Interesting question......In the regular battalions of the kilted regiments there were several orders of full dress, variable depending on regiment, but always including Review Order and Levee. In the latter, field officers would have worn the kilt and dirk belt. I doubt that these orders existed in the Territorial battalions; it is my surmise that field officers preferred to remain in either trews or tartan trousers as a distinction of rank. This is evident in the photo below circa 1910 of the 6th (Perthshire) battalion Black Watch at a Drumhead service. I was aware of the different orders of dress in the regular battalions, but officers were invariably kilted when the men were. What you say about the TF battalions makes sense and the photo portrays it very well, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana14 Posted 5 January , 2022 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2022 Hi all, I am still researching my photo and I think I have found someone that fits but would like your opinion on it. Major R. F. Brebner, he was estate Factor to a Lord Rosebery. He also has a military background , Ive attached what I have found so far. Does this seem to fit his medals and uniform? aHe died in 1952, married to Isabella Fisher. Any help much appreciated, just means I can put a name to the photo and stop researching ***. Many thanks. Diana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lang Posted 5 January , 2022 Share Posted 5 January , 2022 (edited) 57 minutes ago, Diana14 said: Hi all, I am still researching my photo and I think I have found someone that fits but would like your opinion on it. Major R. F. Brebner, he was estate Factor to a Lord Rosebery. He also has a military background , Ive attached what I have found so far. Does this seem to fit his medals and uniform? aHe died in 1952, married to Isabella Fisher. Any help much appreciated, just means I can put a name to the photo and stop researching ***. Many thanks. Diana. The Highland Light Infantry and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) are 2 different Regiments. Tom. Edited 5 January , 2022 by Tom Lang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6RRF Posted 5 January , 2022 Share Posted 5 January , 2022 As Tom Lang says; two very different regiments, and two very different uniforms - the Cameronians were in rifle green [almost black] and had a very distinctive badge featuring a five-pointed star with a wreath - totally unlike the officer in the OP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now