INTERESTING PHOTO WW1

[Gil Boyd]

Photo sent to me by Nigel Eyre of 2 Scots Guards, who doesn't know who they are.
This looks to me like a sniper course from circa WW1 with the Sergeant in the centre. Sadly no badges or collar dogs to try and identify the unit.
Could be Edinburgh Castle looking at the background..............variation of belts worn in the shot could signify the Regiments, haversack/scopes slung over their shoulders!!.........anybody any thoughts. Two Leather scope containers on the deck.
Could be wrong but didn't the Black Watch have an S style belt catch?

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[browningautorifle]

Could be wrong but didn't the Black Watch have an S style belt catch?

Nice rifles... I thought that was just the Oliver pattern equipment?

[Gil Boyd]

Jim,
You could be right, but I believe we had an expert on the site who knew all about the belts and kit they wore in 1914-18. Hopefully he might pick up on this for the answers.
The lad seated on the left appears to have a tartan kilt on the others one plain colour

[gsimmons]

Pattern 1914 equipment used the S shaped buckle. See karkeeweb.com.

[Gil Boyd]

Thanks for that and very interesting under that link to Pattern 1914 equipment, where an image shows the S belt buckle being worn, says it was make primarily for "Pipers and Range Takers". Range Takers I know were trained units attached to the Royal Artillery and Machine Gun Corps, and I suppose it makes some form of Military sense that men with that capability of assessing ranges would train as snipers if they were good shots. Anyone with Military knowledge over that period that might shed some light on that, esp[ecially with the Scottish Regimental connection? There was of course an over kilt used in WW1 made of cloth/canvas to keep the mud off so that may explain the plain kilts in the photograph!!!

[Gil Boyd]

Interesting reference here to Range Takers in the Canadian Orbats including the Royal Highlanders Regiment:

The formation of Brigade Machine Gun Companies
was authorized by Special Army Order on October 22nd 1915.
Authority was given for the formation of the 7th Brigade Machine Gun Coy by the Canadian Corps on March 3rd 1916.
The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division comprised.
The Royal Canadian Regiment.
Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.
42nd Canadian Battalion.
Royal Highlanders of Canada.
49th Canadian Battalion. Edmonton Regiment.
The Brigade was commanded by Brigadier General F.O.W. Loomis D.S.O.

The scheme of organization was that Lewis Guns would replace the Machine Guns in the Battalions and that the Battalion Machine Gun Section personnel, transport, and
everything would be withdrawn from their Battalions and form the Brigade Machine Gun Company.

This however was modified and drafts from England were sent with a nucleus of the Battalion Machine Gunners to the Brigade Machine Gun Company the exact proportion
being left to the discretion of the Brigadiers.
The Brigade Machine Gun officer automatically commanded the Machine Gun Company.
The Company was divided into Headquarters and four sections, with the following establishment.

Major or Captain

8 Subalterns.

1 Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

1 Transport Sergeant.

8 Sergeants.

8 Corporals.

1 Artificer.

1 Shoeing Smith.

4 Signallers.

8 Scouts.

8 Range Takers.

1 Storeman.

2 Cooks.

9 Batmen.

22 Drivers.

64 Gunners.

2 R.A.M.C. attached.

1 A.S.C. attached.

9 Riding horses.

43 Light draugh horses.

2 Heavy draugh horses.

4 Bicycles.

12 G.S. Limbered Wagons.

1 Cooks Cart.

1 G.S. Wagon.

A Captain or Lieutenant 2nd in Command with

batman and horse was added.

And a saddler was added on April 15th 1916.

[browningautorifle]

the plain kilts in the photograph

I was in a Highland Regt for my last few years, the canvas cover was tan color and this kilt of apparently plain wool...I'd bet has a pattern but we can't see it.

[Paul S.]

My grandfather was in a highland regiment before and during WWI. Kilt aprons were worn over the kilts in the trenches, during training and working parties, but those lads aren't wearing them. I suspect the tartan is a dark on dark one, i.e. Black Watch or similar. None of them is wearing a hackle either. The Lovat Scouts wore checkered band Balmorals so it is unlikely they are Lovats.

[Surpmil]

From the chips and scars in the masonry it's probably taken in France or Belgium. The censor looks to have painted out their cap badges.

[Gil Boyd]

Its a very formal and carefully positioned shot though IMHO. Taken with what appears to be time on their hands, so I naturally went for Edinburgh Castle as they were all Scots and looked fairly relaxed.
Perhaps someone who was stationed there might recognise the doorway?? or could they be Black and Tans with no identification marks on their kit? The truth is out there, just finding the right person to see the photo.