Help identifying cap badges and hat

[Ian M]

Can anyone help identify these cap badges, and the hat of the guy standing.

My Great Uncle 'Alexander Mason' (sitting left) I'm almost certain is RA. I think the other guy sitting is Royal Scots Fusiliers, but absolutely no idea about the guy standing.

The photo was taken in Glasgow 1914. They're all wearing the same overalls, but can anyone also explain why 3 friends would join different regiments at the same time? Is it possible they joined the same regiment but were given any old army kit that was available?

[IanA]

Hi Ian,

My thinking is that they are wearing 'hospital blues'. This was a uniform issued to soldiers who were injured or otherwise ill and had been admitted to a military hospital. They kept their own caps so these chaps probably palled up together in hospital. The one on the right might be Grenadier Guards and the one standing looks to be Australian in his slouch hat.

Ian

[Black Watch]

Definitely RA, Royal Scots Fusiliers for other guy sitting?.

I have no idea if I'm right, but would these be "Kitchener Blues" or even "Hospital Blues"

Neil

[truthergw]

These look like hospital 'blues'. Australian standing , Artillery and a Fusilier of some kind.

[jay dubaya]

Hi Ian

definately RA (field or garrison) and I'd go for RF or GG looking at the plume of flames, and an Aussie I reckon.

Neil, hospital blues are pale, Kitchener blues are dark and postmanesque,

cheers, Jon

[Graham Stewart]

The other lad sitting is Royal Fusiliers - their flame pattern is unique among Fusilier regiments, being a triangular shape. The slouch hat looks as though it's the old Volunteer pattern, which was carried over into use by some Territorials and not Australian, which would indicate that the lad standing is possibly in a Territorial unit. If you look on the up turned side you can just make out what appears to be a stepped plume, which was usually associated with units with a 'Rifles' connection.

Graham.

[Ian M]

Many thanks for your replies. Very interesting.

Ian

[Tom A McCluskey]

Ian,

Sorry I never saw this sooner. Basically thefront row are as stated (Royal Artillery and Royal Fusiliers [& associated Bns in London Regt]).

The guy at the rear looks like he is wearing the brown felt hat worn by a couple of the Volunteer Battalions of the Scottish Rifles.

2nd Battalion:- Douglas Tartan and SR Badge

3rd Battalion:- Not sure about the embellishment

4th Battalion:- SR badge and black plume.

Out of interest, My own great grandfather served in the 5th VB Scottish Rifles before joining the Scots Guards in 1896. The 5th were disbanded in 1897.

Hope this is of use

Aye

Tom McC

[Ian M]

Ian,

Sorry I never saw this sooner. Basically thefront row are as stated (Royal Artillery and Royal Fusiliers [& associated Bns in London Regt]).

The guy at the rear looks like he is wearing the brown felt hat worn by a couple of the Volunteer Battalions of the Scottish Rifles.

2nd Battalion:- Douglas Tartan and SR Badge
3rd Battalion:- Not sure about the embellishment
4th Battalion:- SR badge and black plume.

Out of interest, My own great grandfather served in the 5th VB Scottish Rifles before joining the Scots Guards in 1896. The 5th were disbanded in 1897.

Hope this is of use

Aye

Tom McC

Thanks Tom,
Pleased to hear the guy standing was possibly Scottish Rifles.
My grandfather was the youngest of three brothers. The oldest was the Artilleryman sitting in the photo, who survived the war. The middle brother (James Mason) lied about his age and joined the 8th Battalion Scottish Rifles. At the age of 17, he was killed at Gully Ravine on the 28th June. (Originally posted as missing in action)
My great grandfather on my mother's side had served as a regular in the Royal Horse Art', but re-enlisted at the outbreak of the war and he too survived. My grandfather was 2nd Batt' Grenadier Guards, but fortunately for him was too late to see any action.
Thanks again,
Ian M