Pre-war
photographs
Here is a selection of photographs
from before the Great War, with the first one being a lovely shot
of the Regimental silverware, circa late 1800's.
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The
Regimental silverware
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The first four are from the later
1800's and are here courtesy of Sherry Jennings. Unfortunately
cannot definitely be linked to her relatives. On the reverse they
bear the incription "Grandad's Regiment", although her Grandad
was not known to have served in the army, so he may have picked
them up during his job as a removals man. Nevertheless, they are
fantastic, with each telling its own story.
From 1890 to 1902, the 1st battalion
were in India, therefore, given the silverware photograph os of
the 1st battalion's, it is reasonable to assume this is from that
period. There is also a grave photo of a Major Frere who died
in Bengal in 1890, which confirms these thoughts. These two are
of the lads relaxing, cleaning up and generally doing what they
did in camp. Evidence from the equipment confirms the Indian connection
and era too, with the liklihood being these were taken between
1895 and 1897.
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This one of mounted infantry could
easily be from the South African wars (1899-1902), given that
the Regiment deployed as such during the period. The 2nd battalion
and elements of the Bedfordshire Militia and Volunteers were
deployed but the 1st battalion were stationed in India until
1902, at which time they went to the Far East. Given the layout
of the camp behind them, it also seems to support India rather
than South Africa, although I am open to any sugegstions that
could prove or disprove these theories!
The nearest grave in the photograph
below is of a son of Major Frere, Royal Scot Fusiliers, who
died in 1890. According to the 1890 Army List Frere was with
the 2nd Bn in Rowshera, Bengal, which tells us that most of
not all of the first four were taken in India.
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Roger Welling was kind enough
to not only get in touch but also to share this great photograph
with me and allow it's inclusion on the site. These 'hard'
looking bunch are the 1st Battalion in 1893 when they were
stationed in Kuldana which was one of the hill stations that
guarded the Indian Northwest Frontier at the time. His Grandfather
was William Welling, who is the third man down from the tent
peg in the middle of the photo and can be seen in 1916 here.
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