Postcard from Morriso's Studio, Portobello - Soldier and Mascot

QUESTION

Archie Foley, who sent the photos above, asks:

"Can anybody identify the regiments that the soldiers belonged to?"

If you can answer this question, please e-mail me.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs

ANSWER

Thank you to Phil Wilson who wrote:

Cap Badges

"I've been looking at cap badges on this Military Badges web site, and the nearest I can spot so far is the 'King's Own Scottish Borderers' (basically a rounded square with a prominent piece sticking out at the top edge).

Maybe I'm wrong though."

ANSWER

Thank you to Keith Aitchison for replying. Keith, formerly of West Fountain Place, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh and now living in Selby, North Yorkshire wrote:

Regiment

"I believe that I have identified the regiment to which the soldiers belong - the King's Own Scottish Borderers. This regiment has just merged with the Royal Scots (the "traditional" Edinburgh regiment).

My uncle did his national service in the early sixties with them. The regiment recruited along the border and Dumfriesshire, and, contrary to popular myth, did not like being called "kosbies", as this was a swear word in Urdu!.

Cap Badges

The soldier on the right has signaller proficiency badge, I think the one on the left has 'mg', which would mean he was a machine gun operator - possibly this would only first be awarded around late 1915."

Keith Aitchison: Selby, North Yorkshire, England May 25, 2006

ANSWER

Thank you to John Duncan of Newtongrange, Midlothian, for asking for comments from others with an interest in Word War I.

John then replied:

Kings Own Scottish Borderers

"I have had some replies back it would appear that two of the photographs, the group ones, are men from the Kings Own Scottish Borderers with the cross flags of a signaller and the cross rifles of a marksman in evidence."

Army Service Corps

"The man sitting on his own with child is a member of the Army Service Corps."

"They are great photographs and a real source of information to us WW1 buffs."

John Duncan, Newtongrange, Midlothian, Scotland: September 19, 2006

ANSWER

Thank you to Charmaine Brown who replied:

Army Service Corps

"The badge on the soldiers cap looks similar to my granddads. He was in the Army Service Corps during World War 1."

Edinburgh Castle

"If this gentleman or his family want to find out, like I did they should contact or go to Edinburgh castle to hopefully find out more."

Charmaine Brown, January 14, 2007

ANSWER

Thank you to Peter Scally who wrote:

KOSB

"The Regiment your boys are in is the King's Own Scottish Borderers."

Peter Scally: February 20, 2010

I assume that Peter's comment, above, refers to the group photos that John Duncan mentions in his 'Comment 3' above.

Peter Stubbs: March 14, 2010

ANSWER

Thank you to Benny Bough for also confirming that these soldiers were in the King's Own Scottish Borders Regiment.

Benny added:

Crossed Flags

"The soldier on the right wears the crossed flags on his arm showing he is a signaller so possibly the other soldier is also.

The child would be a bugler or drummer."

Benny Bough: November 11, 2012

ANSWER

Thank you to Benny Bough writing again and telling me more about the three soldiers in the King's Own Scottish Borders Regiment.

Benny wrote:

Rank and Glance ...

"'For my Reply 6 above, I found the answer about the signaller in an old book, published around 1916-17. It shows the 'Markings for the Arm' in the British Army. The title of the book is:

'Rank at a Glance in the Army and Navy'

Signaller and Gunner

"The soldier on the right of this photo is the signaller:

On looking closer, it appears the soldier on the left is most likely to be a gunner according to the Rank Scans. He has a wreath with what looks like a letter G above it."

Benny Bough: November 27, 2012 (2 emails)

Rank and Glance ...

To see illustrations from the 'book that Benny Bough refers to above, please click on the link below.

It should take you to a page on the Empire to Commonwealth web site.