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Unit ID from blurry "on the move" photo


4thGordons

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Would anyone like to suggest a unit based on the cap badges on display here?

Thanks

Chris

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badge2.jpg.cd3eeb26b58c9ac17bb4266f2298ccef.jpg

 

 

 

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Hopefully a bit bigger if you click on it?

 

badge3.thumb.jpg.03ef6e925a834c7fd7b78aa9a02fc600.jpg

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I’m no expert but interesting that they’re all marching ‘rifle butts up’. Bottom of their cap badges seems to have a curve. Light Infantry bugle horn?

 

58 DM.

 

 

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The capbadge looks to have a very long scroll along the bottom and sides that reach nearly to the top, I go for the Loyal North Lancashire Regt.

Charlie

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T.F.,  if they've got the Long rifle. 

They are 'marching at ease', when the rifle 'may be carried in any way convenient'. 

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I agree with Mk VII and had been just about to post the exact same thing that he has, when I spotted his words.  
I believe that they are Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, because I could see in your initial post one of the leading men’s badges appeared to show the Paschal lamb and flag.

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Squinting at it on my phone, and so can't contribute anything to the ID. Wrth bearing in mind that if it's the lamb and flag, they could also be 22nd or 24th Londons who wore that regiment's cap badge.

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1 hour ago, Pat Atkins said:

Squinting at it on my phone, and so can't contribute anything to the ID. Wrth bearing in mind that if it's the lamb and flag, they could also be 22nd or 24th Londons who wore that regiment's cap badge.

Yes indeed Pat, quite so.  It’s on the leading three or four figures that I feel I can just about discern the shape of the badge.  They are unusually consistent youthful faces too and it has made me wonder if they might be an OTC. 

Edited by FROGSMILE
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2 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

They are unusually consistent youthful faces too and it has made me wonder if they might be an OTC. 

Or perhaps a Young Soldiers Bn.

 

 

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7 minutes ago, charlie2 said:

Or perhaps a Young Soldiers Bn.

 

 

Yes, indeed, a distinct possibility charlie2.

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If it's of any help, I too can make out the Paschal lamb.

They are wearing curved titles also 'QUEENS' ones maybe, I can't see anything above the title.

Chris

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Thank you for the suggestions.

I think the picture dates from late 1914/15 so I don't think it is a young soldiers battalion as I think those were created later (after conscription possibly early 1917 IIRC)

They are armed with CLLEs so I think it likely they are a TF battalion

I have to admit, try as I might I do not see the lamb/flag in the blobs but.....

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Chris

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On 12/04/2021 at 08:39, 4thGordons said:

Thank you for the suggestions.

I think the picture dates from late 1914/15 so I don't think it is a young soldiers battalion as I think those were created later (after conscription possibly early 1917 IIRC)

They are armed with CLLEs so I think it likely they are a TF battalion

I have to admit, try as I might I do not see the lamb/flag in the blobs but.....

Many thanks for the suggestions.

Chris

I think they’re too consistently young to be TF, Chris.  They appear to be marching in ‘column of threes’, as per SOP in urban areas, and if you look at the centre rank (sandwiched in) on the left side of the photo you’ll see even more youthful and diminutive boys.  For that reason I’m thinking it’s more likely a Junior OTC (CCF) on route marching practice and probably from one of the following schools:

1. Charterhouse School OTC.

2. Cranleigh School OTC.

3. Reigate School OTC.

4. Guildford School OTC.

all of which wore the lamb and flag cap badge, but with school title on scroll.  They could and did sometimes form an OTC brigade at annual summer camp.  The officers wore OSDB and the boys bimetal or brass (some blackened).

 

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Interesting, didn't know that about OTCs Frogsmile. They do look rather young, and I can see your point about the uniformity of their ages too.

 

I'm squinting at that badge and there just seems to be a lot going on under the lamb, if it is the lamb and flag? Dunno... However, I'm at that stage now where I'm seeing all sorts in the blurry images, so will desist.

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42 minutes ago, Pat Atkins said:

Interesting, didn't know that about OTCs Frogsmile. They do look rather young, and I can see your point about the uniformity of their ages too.

 

I'm squinting at that badge and there just seems to be a lot going on under the lamb, if it is the lamb and flag? Dunno... However, I'm at that stage now where I'm seeing all sorts in the blurry images, so will desist.

The badge isn’t a straightforward call, I agree Pat.  It was only after looking at every single badge in the photo and finally focussing in particular on the first 3 or 4 on the right side of the image that I carefully stuck my oar out.  I fully accept I might be wrong, but I chose carefully is all I can say.  After looking at all the badges as mentioned, I think that on balance ‘the lot going on’ beneath is the effect of reflected light off that scroll part of the badge.  It’s quite common off white metal.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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