Highland infantry cabinet photo for identification

[Donald James]

highland inf. khaki.jpg (61.85 KiB) Viewed 599 times

The photographer of this cabinet photo is Pearlmann, St. George's Cross, Glasgow. The unit and uniform identification details and description are appreciated.

[gordon92]

highland inf. khaki.jpg

The photographer of this cabinet photo is Pearlmann, St. George's Cross, Glasgow. The unit and uniform identification details and description are appreciated.

This is a soldier of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in tropical foreign service dress. The dating window would be approx pre-1905 given that the Elwood pattern foreign service helmet is on display. Perplexing is the indication of a Glasgow photographer. Possibly taken at home prior to embarkation to S. Africa? If so, then the subject belongs to the 1st Bn (the 91st) as my references indicate that the 2nd Bn (the 93rd) remained in India throughout the Boer War. The 91st was in Glasgow 1896-1899.

[Albert J]

Donald James,

Your subject is a private of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders circa 1896-1900. He wears the 1896 khaki frock as authorized for highland ranks, cutaway skirt and gauntlet cuffs. He also appears to have regimental collar badges. The helmet is the wicker framed foreign service type with separate khaki cover. This is the typical appearance of the A&SH as they would have appeared on the Northwest Frontier, and 2nd Anglo Boer War. Pictured below is an A&SH collar badge(this one worn on the left side of the collar), as well as a pic of the regiment on the Northwest Frontier.

James

P.S. There appears to be a campaign ribbon above his left breast pocket... can you confirm? If so, I suspect it is for the Northwest Frontier.

[Albert J]

...The dating window would be approx pre-1905 given that the Elwood pattern foreign service helmet is on display...

gordon92,

Please forgive my ignorance, however I'm not familiar with the term "Elwood" pattern foreign service helmet and would like some direction on recommended reading material regarding this information if you please.

Thanks in advance,

James

[FROGSMILE]

It was a rubber free helmet and patented by the Elwood company. Here is an advert from around 1877, the same year that the helmet was approved for all ranks (i.e. at public expense) as opposed to just officers. Member Stuart Bates will be able to tell you more.

[jf42]

Elwood was new to me, too. (Not that that is saying much). The last two decades of the C19thare just full of surprises.

James- the helmets those Argylls are wearing are remarkably amorphous in form, in comparison to what I am going to call the 'classic' F.S.helmet made of cork (although I am beginning to realise there was possibly no such thing). The helmet of the man standing in the centre behind soldier sitting, drinking and enjoying the breeze- fantastic pose- looks almost like a planter's topee. Is that a particular characteristic of the wicker helmet,which we would only see on troops in or deployed from India?

Consider, by contrast, helmet of the officer sitting just to camera left- presumably privately made, of cork. The helmet of the soldier photographed in Glasgow is also much smarter, yet it is also made from wicker. Have I got that right?

Finally, what was the specific problem with rubber, apart from the fact that it perishes ?

[Albert J]

James- the helmets those Argylls are wearing are remarkably amorphous in form, in comparison to what I am going to call the 'classic' F.S.helmet made of cork (although I am beginning to realize there was possibly no such thing). The helmet of the man standing in the center behind soldier sitting, drinking and enjoying the breeze- fantastic pose- looks almost like a planter's topee. Is that a particular characteristic of the wicker helmet,which we would only see on troops in or deployed from India?

Consider, by contrast, helmet of the officer sitting just to camera left- presumably privately made, of cork. The helmet of the soldier photographed in Glasgow is also much smarter, yet it is also made from wicker.

Hi Jf42,

The pic of the Argyll's: The other ranks are wearing the wicker frame helmet with pappier mache puggaree, khaki helmet cover and one piece khaki neck apron. The neck apron is the identical type worn by the 21st Lancers in the Sudan 1898.The 21st were stationed in India prior to deployment in the Sudan. The helmet of the soldier in the OP also appears to be the wicker framed version. The khaki helmet cover for these typically had a 2-3" wide band of khaki material around the crown, roughly the width of the pappier mache puggaree around the helmet proper, underneath the cover. There were officer's versions of this also, I posted a pic of one a few weeks back, the thread was viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7122. (Last helmet pictured, Royal Fusiliers) Though the helmet I posted was wicker with khaki cloth over it and a wrapped puggaree, as opposed to a separate khaki cover. I suspect rubber was too heavy and expensive, cork and wicker are cheaper more practical, breathable alternatives.

FROGSMILE: Thanks for sharing the add, I am familiar with this, just never heard the helmet refereed to as the "Ellwood" pattern, it through me for a moment.

James

[gordon92]

Another curious feature of the original photograph is that the man is wearing white spats whereas khaki would have been expected. White spats were worn with the khaki frock for parades at overseas stations. Nonetheless, I think it more likely that our subject changed into khaki from walking out dress (white drill-jacket) before standing for the photographer apparently in Glasgow. Again, a South Africa pre-embarkation photo in late-1899 seems probable.

[Donald James]

The campaign ribbon above the pocket flap on the portrait photograph is difficult to see even on the original cabinet photo. Exposure to sunlight while displayed over the years probably faded the details. Transfers of men between regiments particularly when on orders for overseas in the case of the pictured Argyll & Sutherland private may be a possibility. In the example of my personal forum picture I was commissioned in Armor, but in combat served first with an infantry regiment then was transfered to an armored cavalry regiment within the same division.