Uknown (to me) cap badge

[High Wood]

From Wiki: Hong Kong Regiment Badge

The regiment's badge at disbandedment consisted of:
St. Edward's Crown
Two Chinese dragons as supporters, but without a crest
Motto: Nulli Secundus in Oriente

Earlier badges had a Tudor crown and the Volunteer Corps had no Oriental features:
Tudor Crown
Ribbon with the regimental name
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom within the ribbon
Motto: Nulli Secundus in Oriente

[High Wood]

As Zob said 9 years ago, the badge appears to be that if the Hong Kong Volunteers.

[Pembird]

This is obviously a joke photo, looks like they were having a game of golf when they decided to dress up!

[seanhath]

The badge is similar to the Green Howards Collar badge, sans scroll.

[High Wood]

It is cetainly a photograph taken to amuse someone but that seems to have been quite a common thing amongst territorial soldiers on their annual camp around the time of the Great War.

I have several group photographs where lads are improperly dressed or holding utensils and other objects for comic effect.

In this case, they appear to be middle aged men, well over 30 anyway, who, if they are in the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, are probably guarding an installation somewhere.

My guess is that the uniforms and rifles are real and that these men are probably Volunteers just larking about for the camera before they go on duty having played a game of golf.

I don't know if the Hong Kong Volunteers only had access to weapons and uniforms in the drill hall, or kept them at home or at work when off duty, but it could be that they have finished a shift of guard duty and are larking about before taking the rest of the day off.

Either way, they do not look like battle hardened regular troops, but I would imagine that recruiting standards for Volunteer units were probably lowered during war time in the colonies, particularly if they wanted the ranks filled with European men, for guarding installations.

[grey_green_acorn]

Here is the location of the photograph in the opening post. Described as the headquarters building for the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. It was built on the patch of ground above St John's Cathedral, where the east wing of the Central Government Offices building stands today.

Tim

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Here is the location of the photograph in the opening post. Described as the headquarters building for the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. It was built on the patch of ground above St John's Cathedral, where the east wing of the Central Government Offices building stands today.

Tim

Tim,

I think that definitely clinches the location of the photograph. I now need to find documentary evidence that the three stooges served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force.

Many thanks for taking time to find and upload the photograph.

Simon.

[High Wood]

The badge that I posted a picture of (Post 18), just sold for £337.96 on ebay. I am sure that the seller must be very happy.

[davidcushworth]

Looks suspiciously like the Pioneer Corps, which would explain a lot about the standard of turnout.

[Sock Monkey VC]

The one on the right is Oliver Hardy, about 150 lbs before he made all those movies with Stan Laurel.

[Tinto]

Thanks to Zob, and others.
Mystery in this thread now solved:

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...into+Hong+Kong

Cheers, John