INTERESTING PHOTO WW1

[Surpmil]

My grandfather did a stint as a censor whilst recovering from wounds the second time he was wounded. My sister has, and is selfishly hoarding boxes of the photos he set aside for his personal collection. All of them have his initials and censor stamp stating that they may be released for publication. Not one of them has cap badges or formation insignia blacked out or covered.

Looking at the picture in question, one can just see the shape of a metal tab on the epaulets of some of the troops. It appears as a small rectangle. I believe it may be a 'CANADA'. I recently read that some Canadian 'Scottish' battalions wore Khaki Balmoral bonnets. Hazarding a guess based upon that, I wonder if they are Canadians, circa 1916.

That's interesting, but what army did he serve in? If he was able to stamp photos as passed it would make sense to "pass" those he kept for his personal collection, for obvious reasons.

My guess is these fellows are "Imperials" and I suspect one of the battalions of the Black Watch.

...You guys understand the hatbadge is over the left ear on this headress? You can't see them from here anyway, they aren't blacked out or deleted. You can't see them.

If the cap badges are not obscured deliberately, then why can we not see a single glint from any of them, even though the angle of the balmorals on some of the men clearly indicate that we should? Blackened badges? I haven't seen any for WWI Scottish regiments myself.

[browningautorifle]

If the cap badges are not obscured deliberately, then why can we not see a single glint from any of them

Hard to say...for you. Here's the first three that fell into my hands...for Canada.

[Surpmil]

Hard to say...for you. Here's the first three that fell into my hands...for Canada.

Well those are nice badges Jim, but are they blackened badges or just badges that haven't been polished in a century or so?

Regardless, I don't believe those are Canadian soldiers, so anyone got some blackened badges for a British kilted regiment from WWI?

[Paul S.]

My Grandfather, Salisbury Plain 1914: Attachment 80327
He's second from the right.

Adding to the discussion, each of the NCOs in the above picture is wearing a kilt apron. Notice there is a pocket on the apron taking the place of the traditional sporran.

Surpmil, it is possible that the cap badges were removed as they typically were and are today. That would explain why only the cockade is visible.

[browningautorifle]

are they blackened badges

You're kidding...right?

[Surpmil]

A bit of internet digging reveals that according to the fellow who sold the photo on eBay in 2008, the sniper section is from the 9th (Service) Battalion, The Black Watch. The other markings on the photo reportedly said it was taken "on the steps of Arras Cathedral" in 1918. It's not Arras Cathedral as that is a neo-classical building, but no doubt another church in Arras. A soldier might assume a church was a cathedral, but he's not likely to get the town wrong.

There's a thread featuring the photo here, and the reason we can't see their badges is that battalion seems to have worn only the hackle in the front line. Not surprising since their silvered cap badges would make a fine aiming point for a German sniper.

[Paul S.]

This is when I point out that the Black Watch traditionally wore its cab badge only on/with a Glengarry. The Red hackle was/is worn with the Balmoral or TOS without a cap badge or backing.

I'm not sure what they do now that they and the other Scottish infantry regiments have been (shamefully in my opinion) amalgamated by MOD into one 'mega regiment'.

Mind you, the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada (The Black Watch of Canada) is a separate entity. They continue the above traditional wear of hackle or cap badge.