Royal Corps of Signals Despatch Rider
 

I'm calling this cheerful chap a DR because of the boots but similar ones were worn by some non motorcycling Royal Engineers during the First War.

My questions are, are the chequered hose tops or socks a RCOS specific pattern?

And he doesn't appear to be wearing any sort of shoulder titles, could this be early enough to predate them?

As always all comments welcome.

Rob

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ctureid=146611

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ctureid=146610

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ctureid=146609

yes he is wearing DR boots. No idea about the socks though.

The Royal Corps of Signals cap badge as in your photo was approved and authorised in March 1921 and the brass (full title) sealed at the same time in 1921. In June 1929 the brass title R.Signals was introduced and continued to be worn until the outbreak of WW2. The Corps changed its cap badge in 1946.
The approved pattern Hose tops were Khaki and generally worn in shorts overseas, in 1947 the colour was changed to dark blue. Tim.

Perhaps the socks were unofficial, there were various wartime 'knitting for the front' initiatives, see for instance here: http://www.digitalkingston.ca/presen...g-for-soldiers

Rgds, Thomas