coldstream

Graham, When you say Senior rank do you mean Senior Officer or Senior Warrant Officer? I was initially thinking Warrant Officer due to the lack of rank on the shoulders but then his sash is on the wrong shoulder for that? He also looks a bit youthful for a Warrant Officer!!! Perhaps just a trick of the light in the photo obscuring the badges! In the second photo the mans glengarry style cap is laying next to him on the fake rock and so we need a close up of the badge on this in order to identify him. Simon

Noor Are there any rank badges on the shoulder straps? They should be very obvious on a Guards tunic. Also, in the photos it looks like the grenades are a different colour to the collar? Would you say the collar and grenades are the same colour/material? Simon

Odulf Your photograph in post 99 of the Middlesex Regiment Drummer is excellent but I'm a little confused by the drum he has, It's too small to be the standard rope tensioned side drum of the British Army. I wonder if any members can identify it? I know the Middlesex celebrate Minden Day and so perhaps captured French drums were used or perhaps it was just a drum available in a photographers studio Any thoughts Gentlemen, Simon

Hucks Thanks for the reply, I'd never seen a full length photo until you posted this. I guess it's just another Third Reich way of confusing collectors as to whats good or bad!!! Simon

Robin Congratulations on an excellent and rare find. I have never seen anything like this before and having read the internet sources you provided can see no real links to the badge of the 17th Lancers. (unless I missed something) Intriguing!!! Simon

Gordon Excellent photos indeed but can you help me with a question? Were there any official guidelines as to the style and composition of the photographs used? It is almost as if the photographs were chosen to suit the individuals taste. I remember that when we had our British army and indeed British Police photo's done they were all photographed in exactly the same way and were taken to show the front of the face for identification purposes. Any thoughts please? Regards Simon

Cathey Many thanks for the reply and further images. Simon

Odulf Well done for the identification and congratulations on finding what must be a rare photograph. Never seen this before and thanks for the link, a nice site. Simon

Thanks for that Jonas, I'm afraid the eyes aren't what they used to be !!! (no sordid comments re eye sight loss please Gentlemen!) Simon

Some form of man portable rocket firing apparatus? It appears that whatever this is it is fired remotely using the cable which appears to run from the bottom of the device. (if my eyes see it correctly!) What era do you think the photo is from? It looks like WW2 but is he wearing any isignia other then his shoulder boards, I can't see a breast eagle, so perhaps a postwar piece of equipment? Simon

Another wonderful example from your collection, many thanks. I have often wondered the significance of the heart shape used on Scottish sword hilts. Is there a connection with this shape and Scottish history or is it a Scottish Regimental tradition? Regards Simon

Superb items, superbly photographed and presented. Hope there are more items to come? Many thanks Simon

Mervyn Saw that myself this morning and it was the Garrison Sergeant Major for London District, ( Welsh Guards at present} who was wearing the new version of the old Victorian style arm badge. The Regimental Sergeant Major Scots Guards was wearing the Royal Coat of Arms badge as before and so I believe that only The Garrison Sergeant Major is entitled to wear it. If anyone has a copy of the publication, The diary of Sergeant Mcmillan they will see the Victorian badge in wear in one of the photos. (can't find my copy at the moment!) Regards Simon

Mervyn I believe it was a case of Mauser granting a license for the overseas manufacture of their designs to so many different countries which led to so many different examples being available to the collector. A very nice collecting theme, especially the South American bayonets. Simon

Ian I believe that your knife is of the type packed into RAF dinghy's for use in survival situations. I have seen them with a hole in the blade end and of a similar shape to the one shown, Regards Simon

Michael Thanks for another very interesting image showing these rare wings being worn. I have been searching the web myself regarding the subject of these wings and the lack of information available is surprising. I have not had any luck with written references either. Keep up the searching and perhaps we may find some valuble information from our members for the collector world as a whole. Best regards Simon

As already said, not Guards but a Fusilier Regiment. Very nice photo by the way! Simon

Just an observation on my part as I am no expert but if this was a group awarded to a female recipient would the MBE ribbon be as shown? I was under the impression female holders of this had their own style of ribbon. Also these medals are 'court mounted' on what appears to be a black backing material. Would this indicate branch of service in any way, (if mounted when still in service) I know that Household Division court mounted medals tend to have a red backing. Simon

Timo Need to know the size to give an exact answer but looks like a commercially produced blazer badge to worn in civilian clothing for this Regiment. Regards Simon :cheers:

Clive A very well presented site, thanks for the link. In the past I have had a number of Torrin caps but have had trouble identifying the Regiment concerned, particularly unbadged examples. Have you ever come across a published reference for these caps? Or is it a case of trying to identify them using Regimental colours? Simon

Thanks Gordon. sounds an excellent set, any chance of seeing more images? Simon

An image of an Officer of a Yeomanry Regiment wearing a dark red coloured Torrin cap with contrasting piping. As can be seen there are no buttons and the cap sides could be pulled down although I doubt if they would offer much protection. Somewhere I have a photograph of Coldstream Guards Officers in the Crimea wearing there Torrin caps across there heads with one of the side flaps pulled down to form a sort of peak but I can't find it at the moment. Simon

Robin Many thanks for that, like most fakes when pictured side by side the differences in quality are obvious, but I've never seen one of these myself, so needed to ask. I would imagine this is an expensive item? Simon

Gordon Thanks for posting these excellent photos. Is this the same uniform worn by the Doctor in the photograph I wonder? Simon

Stuart Just noticed your question re the torrin cap and the FS cap. The torrin cap has no buttons and has two side flaps which are stitched around the base of the cap and were just pulled down over the ears. The FS cap has the two button front which when unbuttoned would unfold and drop down around the wearers head. Both these caps in my opinion are impractical but that never stopped the Army from issuing such items! The torrin caps were brightly coloured particularly amongst Calvary Regiments and Foot Guards Officers were dark blue or black as I recall. I'll find some images to illustrate the difference as soon as I can. Simon