The attached photo came out of a box of photos, most dating from 1905-1920. Can anyone help in identifying the uniform, branch of service, etc...I suspect Canadian, the spurs suggest cavarly...any ideas? Thanks, Tom

Special Effects Director at the riding academy, I'd say.

Possibly......Tom

I had the same opinion you did with his holding the riding crop and the maple leaf ensignia on his cap and lapel but I would think there could be some way to search out the info on the net. I would start with Canadian military uniforms. It's a nice photo. Really aged well.
DJ

Tom,

I have what I think is an old sketch (don't really remember - -might be a photo) of a family member (pre-1900), who I believe was in the Canadian cavalry. I'll check to see if there are any similarities, and if so I'll post it along with any info I have if I think it might be of some help to you.

Ed

Thanks Ed. The owner of the photo is quite curious..he has no idea who the person is or how the photo got into his Grandfathers possession, but thinks it might be a relative of his Grandmother...He is checking with other relatives to see what he can find out. Tom

DJ, thanks for the input...I tried looking up uniforms but no real luck so far. The posted photo is the restored version...the original had some fading, scratches, etc..not very bad though. If nothing else I can always drive up the Border and pester the Canadian customs folks and the Mounties until I get an answer or arrested... Tom

You could try writing to the Canadian War Museum.

http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/cwme.asp

There is a link there for contacts with an email address.

Hope you find out - be sure to let us know what you find out.

Margaret

Thanks for the link Margaret, I'm off to give it a going over! Tom

Tom
I found something close in cut to that uniform at this site.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~canmil/ww1/army/equip.htm
DJ

Thanks DJ, I'm off to check out the link...Tom

Tom,

I dug that photo out and did a quick scan, but it doesn't look as though it will do you any good. I noticed that his uniform is buttoned on the wrong side, and I'm wondering if this wasn't a sketch that someone did from an ambrotype, then recopied on film? It sure looks like a sketch. I believe this was my great grandfather. Any ideas?

Ed

Ed, Very interesing! I agree..it looks like a sketch rather than a photo. The Bayonet type , ramrod and what I can see of the forestock and muzzle are very suggestive of mid-19th century muzzle loading military rifles although some of the early Martini rifles, popular with the English military looked similar as well. Same with the cap and uniform cut and the broad sash...almost looks like a member of a Scottish Regiment...perhaps a Cadet?
My "Unknown" soilder still remains unknown...after exploring the links posted above a date of 1914 -1916 seems reasonable, most likely Canadian ( about 100% sure of that from the cap and insignia) but the riding gear ( crop, pants spurs and bandoleer) are still a puzzle as is the meaning of the two hash marks on the Right sleeve just above the cuff area. Perhaps the "get up" is ceramonial rather than functional? Perhaps this fellow was a senoir non-com or a commissioned Officer? Am still digging.... Tom

I'm not being facetious this time - honest!!

Could he be a riding instructor in the cavalry? Or perhaps he was learning to ride himself. The get-up looks to me like workmanlike, informal, riding kit. For formal attire he'd presumably wear long boots.

The hash-marks (chevrons) on his right sleeve might indicate his rank e.g. 1 for sergeant, 2 for lieutenant, 3 for captain etc. or whatever they have in the Canadian army.

Just a suggestion.

Sam, I sorta liked the first line of inquiry....would add a bit of flavor to my clients family tree....dont suppose the local Parson would find it amusing though, or perhaps he would...
Thanks for the info on the hash marks. I was a bit puzzled by lack of a side arm, although if that is informal training type wear, that could explain the absence. Hopefully some input from the clients relatives will be forth coming...one in particular is up in her 90s and reported to be sharp yet, so.... thanks again! Tom

Hi,
I may have an answer to your identity puzzle. The subject interested me because of my husband's genealogy research and military family background. When I showed him the photo he immediately said "Corporal (becouse of the two chevrons on the sleeve) and probably Horse Artillery". After a short 'Google' search we found this site.

< http://www.fortgarryhorse.ca/fgh.html>

The very last photo at the bottom of the screen shows men in uniforms just like this one (right down to the awkward looking tunic -- perhaps all that time on horses?). I'd post it as a jpg, but can't figure out how to. They adopted the maple leaf cap badge in 1915, which fits your time line. Also the border in the prairies at that time was pretty fluid re: Can/US. This is a frame of their site and if you go to <www.fortgarryhorse.ca>, there is a "Roll of Honour" for those years. Your client may recognize a name. As far as firearms go, I think they followed the Brit tradition and only wore them for combat??

This is my first foray into forum posting. I have been watching, reading and learning for awhile. All of you do such great work and the descriptions are such a wonderful teaching tool. Thanks!

Hope this helps,
Irene

Irene, Many thanks to you and your husband! The pieces are beginning to fall into place and the site link you posted was most helpful. The Grandmothers family, according to my client who called me last evening, were from Manitoba. She had a brother but little else is known about him, except that he fought in WW1 and thats about it. The photo plus the timeline info pretty well convinces me that he was Cavalry, definately Canadian and with the info you folks dug out, my client should be able to dig out the rest. I suspect no sidearm was worn unless the soilder was in a combat area, explaining its absence in the photo. I will pass the site info on to the client this morning and extend a big "Thanks" from him as well! Again, thank you . Welcome to this site and keep posting! You folks are a valuable resource! Tom

Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be able to help. I think you are right on with the identity and the family should be able to do the rest. Winnipeg, Manitoba was where the Fort Garry Horse originated and they fought in WW1 with great bravery. This has been a learning experience for me too. I never knew we even had 'Cavalry' in Canada. :D Re: the sidearms, my husband says "only officers got them, enlisted men were only given rifles."
Irene

Interesting about the sidearms. In the US cavalry, Troopers and Officers carried sidearms as well as Carbines. Thanks again...Tom

Glad you finally got some good info Tom. Ask, and you shall receive! :)

Irene,
Welcome to the site. Looking forward to seeing some of your work.

Ed

Tom,
Just got some additional information that may help your client track down grandmother's brother, if they have a surname. This site lists all soldiers from Canada WW1 and they are scanning in their Attestation papers which are available online. It's a work in progress, so all depends on which letter of the alphabet they have reached. < http://www.archives.ca/02/020106_e.html>.
If he died overseas <http://www.cwgc.org/> lists soldiers, regiments and gives information on how they died and where they were buried. I hope they are successful.

Ed,
Thanks for the welcome, too. I hope to send something as soon as the latest phase of our house renovation is finished. Sure wish I could use the magic of Photoshop on it instead of the real tools.:(

Irene

Thanks ! I'll pass the links along to my client. Tom

The photograph appears to be that of a lance corporal in the uniform of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. Judging by the cap badge and collar dogs he had enlisted in 2 Regiment C.M.R. This regiment's recruiting base was in Victoria, B.C. in 1915. The unit was sent overseas. Once in Britain, the unit was dismounted and the name changed to the 2 C.M.R. Battalion of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Division of the C.E.F. It served in France from 1916-early 1919, before being returned to Canada and demobilized. The photograph was probably taken somewhere in Canada prior to embarkation for Europe.

I hope that this information will be of use to you.

Garth Clarke, CA
Staff Archivist
Red Deer and District Archives
P.O. Box 5008
Red Deer AB T4N 3T4
Telephone: 403.309.8403
FAX: 403.342.6644
E-mail: archives@city.red-deer.ab.ca

Thanks, Doug. I'll pass this along to my client. I much appreciate the help! Tom