DJ222 Posted 23 October , 2021 Share Posted 23 October , 2021 Hi everyone, I found this unnamed photograph in an antique store and wondered if anyone could help give me a date range or any information on the soldier’s uniform. The back is marked with Gales Studios and a pencilled caption reads: “Taken in Glasgow (Scots we hae)” Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 23 October , 2021 Share Posted 23 October , 2021 (edited) Royal Scots Fusiliers. The key identifying feature in this case is the universal grenade worn as a collar badge. As for date I think some time between 1916 and 1917 as he’s wearing the so-called Tam-o-Shanter style of drab khaki bonnet and the narrow version of the web waistbelt that were most commonly seen mid-war onward. Edited 23 October , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bif Posted 23 October , 2021 Share Posted 23 October , 2021 8 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Royal Scots Fusiliers. FROGSMILE, In your photo of the three RSF men, please look carefully at the seated, non-pipe smoking gentleman. Is he black or just sunburnt and made dark in the extreme by the film ??? 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 23 October , 2021 Share Posted 23 October , 2021 6 minutes ago, bif said: FROGSMILE, In your photo of the three RSF men, please look carefully at the seated, non-pipe smoking gentleman. Is he black or just sunburnt and made dark in the extreme by the film ??? 🤔 He is a black Scottish soldier Bif whose life story (as far as is known) was recently covered in the forum. He served with both, KOSB and RSF, the latter overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bif Posted 23 October , 2021 Share Posted 23 October , 2021 Are we talking about Arthur Roberts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ222 Posted 24 October , 2021 Author Share Posted 24 October , 2021 11 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: between 1916 and 1917 as he’s wearing the so-called Tam-o-Shanter style of drab khaki bonnet and the narrow version of the web waistbelt that were most commonly seen mid-war onward. Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 24 October , 2021 Share Posted 24 October , 2021 4 hours ago, bif said: Are we talking about Arthur Roberts ? Indeed we are bif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Abbott Posted 24 October , 2021 Share Posted 24 October , 2021 14 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Royal Scots Fusiliers. The key identifying feature in this case is the universal grenade worn as a collar badge. As for date I think some time between 1916 and 1917 as he’s wearing the so-called Tam-o-Shanter style of drab khaki bonnet and the narrow version of the web waistbelt that were most commonly seen mid-war onward. Frogsmile, Mainly out of interest.....do you know when the collar badges started to worn by the non regular battalions of the RSF? I have seen other photos of them being worn mid to late WW1 by RSF soldiers. Was this earlier than other regiments (of the British Army) or pretty much about the same time? Thanks/Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bif Posted 24 October , 2021 Share Posted 24 October , 2021 3 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: Indeed we are bif. SWMBO and young bif both thought I was nuts at first? Then they found several articles about Arthur Roberts BEM MSM and his "newly" found diary. Quite an interesting "side" subject ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 24 October , 2021 Share Posted 24 October , 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Ron Abbott said: Frogsmile, Mainly out of interest.....do you know when the collar badges started to worn by the non regular battalions of the RSF? I have seen other photos of them being worn mid to late WW1 by RSF soldiers. Was this earlier than other regiments (of the British Army) or pretty much about the same time? Thanks/Ron During WW1 it wasn’t regulation to wear collar badges with SD in the Army, but along with cavalry, and frequently ASC units, quite a number of war raised and some TF battalions chose to do so for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, it was inconsistent across the Army as a whole. There is a lengthy thread about this in the forum somewhere and an attempt was made to list the regiments that had at least some units known to have followed that practice. I cannot recall where the RSF fitted in with that list, Ron. The use of the universal grenade was unusual in that it was used for so many other purposes simultaneously, including for Grenadier and Fusilier shoulder titles, RE and RA arm/collar badges and even for Bombing and Trench mortar proficiency (in lieu of cloth badge). It finally ceased use as a badge on the clothing inventory in 2006. As regards the general approval for routine adoption of collar badges, that took place post-war around 1922-24, as the SD ensemble was revised with a new specification cap and recut jacket intended to bring greater smartness to post war uniform. At the same time sergeants began to wear their scarlet dashes with SD. Edited 24 October , 2021 by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 24 October , 2021 Share Posted 24 October , 2021 2 hours ago, bif said: SWMBO and young bif both thought I was nuts at first? Then they found several articles about Arthur Roberts BEM MSM and his "newly" found diary. Quite an interesting "side" subject ! Yes, I agree that it was quite a fascinating story bif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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