Help identifying a Regiment please

[OC Richard]

Here's the photo cropped in order to make it larger, and the values enhanced a bit.

It's very interesting, the round badges (like clan crest badges, note the thing sticking out on the bottom) on sporran and Glengarries.

Note that the trim and the buttons on the doublets are dark, and the waistbelt buckles are subdued. My guess would be that these doublets are made in the style of Rifles regiments, in Rifles green. Or perhaps the doublets are drab like those of The Liverpool Scottish. Also note that there is no dicing on the Glengarries, another Rifles style thing.



I found this photo online of a "Scottish Rifles" doublet. To me it appears to be similar to the ones above, though this is an officer's doublet with more trim:



This picture is inscribed "H Coy 7th G. H. leaving for war 6/8/14". Note that the uniform appears to be like The Gordon Highlanders in most/all visible respects: standard Gordon sporrans, Gordon diced Glengarries, Gordon (or Gordon-like) cap badges

[MacRob]

The badges on the sporrans are much clearer with the enhancements to the photo and I can see the device now, that of the Gordon Highlanders. Excellent work to get the question answered.

[48HofC]

The badges on the sporrans are much clearer with the enhancements to the photo and I can see the device now, that of the Gordon Highlanders. Excellent work to get the question answered.

I agree with you they are Gordon's. I actually have both versions of that badge, one is a relief cut out stags head, and the other is solid. It is pre ww1 when there was more independence for volunteer battalions from the parent regiments. The rifle regiments similarities could come from the fact they were raised as a independent rifle company before falling under the Gordon's.

[OC Richard]

I actually have both versions of that badge, one is a relief cut out stags head, and the other is solid. It is pre ww1 when there was more independence for volunteer battalions from the parent regiments. The rifle regiments similarities could come from the fact they were raised as a independent rifle company before falling under the Gordon's.

Cool that you have both badges.

I found the solid one just now on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scottish-6th...8AAOxyRNJSfXVE

It's listed as the badge of the 6th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders 1887-1891. Evidently the cap badge was changed to the ordinary Gordon Highlanders badge in 1891.

Here's a great site which lists the large number of "Rifle Volunteers" units raised in the second half of the 19th century

http://www.scottishmilitaryresearch....fle-volunteers

Here's the page on the 6th and 7th Volunteer Battalions Gordon Highlanders

http://www.scottishmilitaryarticles....tish_RV_9e.htm

They don't show Highland Dress but obviously they had at least one Company so dressed.

Note that the jackets are grey. I found a document about the Rifle Volunteers which says that the 6th VB Gordon Highlanders wore grey jackets with black facings until 1891 when they changed to scarlet with yellow facings (as per the ordinary Gordon Highlanders uniform).

If those dates are correct it would allow us to bracket when the OP's photo was taken.

I found this photo of a piper of the 6th Vol Batt Gordon Highlanders. Unfortunately the photo has been crudely coloured; however it's clearly the same unit, with the same sporran and Glengarry. You can also see that he's wearing the ordinary Gordon Highlanders collar badges, and the usual Gordon Highlanders pipers' crossbelt badge.

I would bet that the piping and buttons on the doublet are subdued, not white and silver as it's been over-painted.

[IainB]

Guys - this is just fantastic - sorry that I've not been able to respond while the discussion was ongoing. My great grandfather is first left - Andrew Valentine Pearson b 10th Nov 1872 d 21st Nov 1937. Second from the right is his first cousin Jim Murray. My gran (his daughter) had the photo but I never thought to ask her about it and my mum didn't either. The information you've been able to give will allow me to do some more digging around when and where he served. The WW1 commemorations have spurred me on to look into family members who served in the 14th Highland Light Infantry (a Bantams Battalion), the Black Watch, the Royal Artillery and Royal Highland Fusiliers - it's amazing what you can find.
Many thanks everyone,

Iain

[IainB]

Just a final update everyone. After the pointers received on the forum, I had a look around the internet and found an online copy of David Sinclair's "History of the Aberdeen Volunteers" This contains an Appendix that lists members of the various units who attended the Royal Review Edinburgh Monday 18th September 1905.
B Company of the 5th Volunteer Battalion Gordon Highlanders have Sergeant J Murray and Private A Pearson listed as attending. B Company were based in Laurencekirk. Also, if you look at the photo I posted, you can just see the NCO chevrons on Jim Murray's right arm so I think this one is nailed down tight.

Thanks again to all,

Iain