To which regiment does this corporal belong?

[Poison Dwarf]

Anyone care to take a shot at identifying this corporal’s regiment? It was suggested he's in a Volunteer unit.

He’s wearing a busby with a white hackle and light-colored bag (light blue?), a haversack on his left hip, and, on his right hip, a two-piece case that appears to have a split half-way between its ends (I think it’s too tall for a water bottle – about a foot or so -- though it is suspended in the same way). It looks as if the two ends of the case would be pulled directly apart from each other to let the soldier get at whatever it contains. He’s wearing leggings on top of boots.

I think that’s a Snider Enfield Mk2 two-band rifle he’s holding. I can only see the edge of the bayonet scabbard, but it looks like it would run about 23’-24” long overall. It is a consistent shape throughout its length.

The photographer is R. S. Brown, whom I’m told operated from his studio at 16 Brougham Street in Edinburgh from 1885, and possibly a few years earlier.

Thanks!

RS Brown image001 sm.jpg (105.86 KiB) Viewed 904 times

[Isandlwana]

Volunteer Artillery unit.

The star above the chervons is the obvious giveaway.

Isandlwana

[Poison Dwarf]

Thanks for that. Not so obvious to me, though.

I guess I need to read up on the meaning of chevrons and rank badges, etc.

[Isandlwana]

Try getting hold of British Army Proficiency Badges, by Denis Edwards & David Langley, published 1984, the 4-pointed star was introduced in the Volunteer Force in 1878 and continued in use until 1974 with the Army Cadet Force.

Isandlwana

[Poison Dwarf]

Thanks for that. I'll track a copy down.

Mark

[Poison Dwarf]

Having found a digitized copy of Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force 1859-1908,
by Major-General J. M. GRIERSON, C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G., I can say with some degree of confidence that this soldier is from the 1st City of Edinburgh Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers. This is because the photo, taken in 1885 or later, shows the man wearing the busby which had been replaced four years earlier in all Scottish artillery volunteer units, except the 1st City of Edinburgh Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers, per the extract below:

"As a head-dress, the busby of the Royal Artillery was universally adopted in the 'early sixties,' and this was replaced in 1880-81 by the helmet, at first worn with a spike and afterwards with a ball. At the 'Coming of Age Review' in 1881, the 1st Edinburgh (City) and the 1st Renfrew and Dumbarton Artillery were the only corps which still wore the busby. The latter gave it up shortly afterwards, and the former was the only corps in Scotland which, till 1908, wore the headdress it assumed on its first formation."

Riddle solved.

[grumpy]

Nobody spotted that a corporal was not entitled to the star, which was for proficient sergeants and above. Had he been demoted? Was he waiting for his extra chevron?

[tabony]

I believe Army Cadets still use the star system (upto 4 star) At least they did when I was an instructor and the Northumberland ACF were useing them at least until two years ago when my son was a cadet.

Martin

[FROGSMILE]

I believe Army Cadets still use the star system (upto 4 star) At least they did when I was an instructor and the Northumberland ACF were useing them at least until two years ago when my son was a cadet.

Martin

Yes they do, but they were revamped after 1974 (as mentioned above) and took on a slightly different appearance to before.