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1st August 07, 03:17 AM
#11
He looks very proud in his uniform. Did he make it through the war? Where did he come from as the regiments usually recruited locally in those days?
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1st August 07, 03:43 AM
#12
He's a Seaforth -- look at the sporran badge:

It's a very nice picture, one to be treasured. If you know his name, it might be fun to do some research and get service records, etc.
Regards,
Todd
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1st August 07, 05:47 AM
#13
That is an awesome photo, be sure and preserve this photo for posterity. If the photo doesn't have any information on the back of it, it is a good idea to write the idenity of the person and whatever information you have on the back of it with a soft lead pencil.
I have been on a one man campaign in both my family and my wife's family to get copies of all of the old photos I can find copied on CD's and the information preserved. I have given copies of the CD to all of my stepchildren and several of their children. I have succeeded in getting my 26 year old grandson interested in preserving this history, I am hoping he will become the next generation family historian.
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1st August 07, 10:57 AM
#14
Thanks for all the comments, guys. I haven't seen the actual picture/postcard yet, but I will when I visit my cousin in Vancouver. My cousin is just starting to scan, store and identify a huge pile of old family pictures, and this is one of the few he sent me yesterday.
Our family knows next to nothing about my grandad's family as he never kept contact with them. His family was from just outside of Nairn; Grandad always said he was born "in the shadow of Cawdor Castle". I'm leaning towards my great-uncle being a Seaforth too, Todd, because of the cap badge and the tartan. I don't know if he survived the war. It's something I'll have to do some research on. Thanks for the Cameron link, Archangel; the letters are fascinating.
It's a weird feeling to look at this picture of a soldier in a kilt and realize that we share the same bloodline. It's awakened an old urge to find out more about my family. I'm really curious to find out who he was and what happened to him.
"Touch not the cat bot a glove."
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1st August 07, 10:57 AM
#15
 Originally Posted by cajunscot
He's a Seaforth -- look at the sporran badge:
It's a very nice picture, one to be treasured. If you know his name, it might be fun to do some research and get service records, etc.
Regards,
Todd
So it will be a MacKenzie Seaforth tartan then. Impossible to tell in black & white. I kope he made it, so many Scots, Welsh & Irish boys didn't not to mention Canadians, Australians & New Zealanders, Indians & Africans too, just cannon fodder all of them. Ever heard that poem "Age shall not wither them nor the years etc...." look it up, it only refers to to Englishmen as if no-one else mattered in that conflict. My wife's grandfather was in the KOSB in the trenches. He didn't talk about it much but said the kilts were terrible. They got soaking wet and never dried out, worst thing they could have worn he said. He was there and I believed him.
For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
Last edited by Phil; 1st August 07 at 11:26 AM.
Reason: forgot the Welsh boys -sorry & added poem.
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1st August 07, 01:39 PM
#16
That is one nice heirloom, fantastic!
Glen McGuire
A Life Lived in Fear, Is a Life Half Lived.
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1st August 07, 07:50 PM
#17
I was blowing up the cap and couldn't decide whether I was seeing the antlers or the Saltire. However, I did a slight increase and I would say that the sporran badge is definitely the antlers.
Looks similar to pic of 51st (Highland) Division, 1/6th Seaforth. They recruited from Morayshire. (From Osprey Book, page 8).
Bonnet is throwing me off but there was a lot of variance in that and I have found the ruling yet.
I'm thinking not Canadian, can't really remember why but I think it has to do with the markings are early war and they were higher up the sleeve by the time the Canadians were more involved.
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2nd August 07, 04:32 PM
#18
I just received another picture of the same person, but earlier in the war. This is on a postcard, and you can clearly see he is a Cuidich'n from his cap badge.

This is the back of the postcard. It is from Aldershot, and he laments not being allowed to wear his sporran in the picture. He says "It would have been better if we were allowed to wear a sporran but we are not allowed - we are still confined to barracks - waiting the word any minute - write soon".
"Touch not the cat bot a glove."
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2nd August 07, 04:48 PM
#19
Another wonderful treasure, I really appreciate your posting these. I would say this one is even better than the first as you have the back of the post card as well
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2nd August 07, 08:41 PM
#20
Now, we're starting to build a history of this man. He trained at Aldershot and saw action surviving until at least 1917. That's when the jacket style was changed to the Scottish kilt cut. He got a wound and, I believe, the ribbon in the pocket indicates a medal.
Mustache gone so the gas mask fits, scary thought.
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