Any thoughts
 

Any thoughts on who/what these gents are? I've considered National/Veteran Reserve, Ulster Volunteer Force, Special Constabulary (with rifles?) or maybe 'Kitchener's Army'.

Nothing on reverse to indicate location.

Many thanks

S

I would say they are VTC, c. 1914/15, wearing enamel lapel badges, no uniforms yet purchased.

regards

The man in the front row on the left appears to be wearing an armband, possibly with a "V" or an inverted triangle, as Simon said VTC unit.

Rob

Morning Simon and Rob,
Many thanks for your suggestions. I had pretty mich dismissed the VTC due to the absence of the GR brassard but could be.

All best

S

I wondered if the armband was a 'rank' as the section commander? The lapel badges do resemble the VTC ones but they look larger. i wondered if they were pre-war County Scouts? I was thinking of the pre-war National Reserve county scouts recruited to guide the army across their local areas rather than Baden Powell! Their badges were oval and that size.

Corps of Guides
 

I did wonder whether these men could be from the Corps of Guides, I have a Suffolk and a Cambridgeshire Corps of Guides buttonhole badges, but they are both round and the badges in the photo appear to have a crown or other device.

Corps of Guides badges are scarce and I wonder whether any members have specimens in their collections that do not follow the circular type?

An interesting thread.

Rob

That's them - guides not scouts!

This Essex site shows that counties which is the same size as the Reserve so could be either. https://www.essexmilitarybadges.uk/home-defence-units/

I'm discounting my thought that they might be Ulster Volunteer Force as photos don't show their badges as usually having crowns.

I like the suggestion of Guides but apart from the Essex example in the link supplied by Alan I don't recall seeing any others.

I've had another look under a magnifying glass but there are no details on the badges. One chap sports a metal? shield badge in his cap.

S

I realise I am repeating myself, but, the photo is typical of early VTC volunteers. Everything about it says to me VTC.

regards

Could these chaps be Boer War Vets at the time of the start of WW1,Certainly looks as if one is wearing his QSA ? Another thought is could the badges they are all wearing be Special Constables ? Long Shot I know,