This picture has caused some confusion on the Victorian Wars Forum


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After much speculation as to which regiment of the British army these men might have been serving, it seems that they are in fact probably in the Australian miliitia; the photo apparently dating from 1906.

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/A03855/

It would appear that, following the Federation of the original Australian colonies in 1901, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Adelaide Rifles, a Militia regiment in South Australia, was re-organised to form, respectively:
-10th Australian Infantry Regiment, (Adelaide Rifles)
-South Australia Infantry Regiment.

G Company of the 2nd Bn Adelaide Rifles became:
-South Australia Scottish Infantry (Mount Gambier)

H Company (Scottish) of the 2nd Bn Adelaide Rifles became G Company (Scottish) South Australia Infantry Regiment.

As far as I can work out, it was the South Australian Infantry Regiment (former 2nd Bn Adelaide Rifles) which then in 1915 formed the basis of the 27th Infantry Battalion (The South Australia Scottish Regiment) as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) sent overseas in WW1.

It was the 27th who were affiliated with the Seaforths in 1938. Much later it became 27 Bn, The South Australia Regiment, then 10/27 Royal South Australia Regiment.

All the above, except in the AIF periods, were militia or reserve units.

Therefore, on the evidence of the Australian War Memorial website these gentlemen in Highland Full Dress would seem to be be part of South Australia Scottish Infantry (formerly G Coy 2nd Bn Adelaide Rifles) or G Coy. (Scottish) South Australia Infantry Regiment (Formerly H Coy. (Scottish) of 2nd Bn Adelaide Rifles.

The Australian War Memorial website, which does not seem to be very reliable in this regard, says on one page that these three men are (Identified from left to right): "Lieutenant A D Sutherland; Captain I H Smeaton and probably Lieutenant Stewart"

and on another that:

"In the centre is Lieutenant James Stevenson-Black. The uniform he is wearing is held by the Memorial.
AMW."

I have found no details as to what the regimental affiliations of these two units might have been before or after 1901. The tartan appears to be Government Tartan. The facings on the doublets might be green or perhaps deep yellow. The man in the centre may even have different coloured facings to the men on either side, but perhaps that is not very likely. If he was Captain Smeaton and not Lieutenant Stevenson-Black, his cuffs may just have faded from longer exposure to sunlight.

There are apparent anomalies to do with the wearing of sword belts, the swords themselves and wearing of the red sash.

Any thoughts?