Devon Regiment photos

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Graham Stewart

Lovely photo's and thanks for sharing. With refernce to the Cyclst Section in the first photo, the Clr/Sgt may actually be a 'regular' Clr on secondment. In photos were the Clr Sgt's are in evidence, those that are on secondment seem to wear their 'regular' isignia, whereas those who are Volunteer/TF Clr's tend to wear the insignia of their battalion.

Those regular Clr Sgt's on secondment kept their regular regimental numbers too and in reality the posting of a Clr to either a Militia/Special Reserve or Volunteer/TF battalion was their swansong before retirement. Those that did return to their regular units often returned to take up the appointment of Sgt Major.

I think he probably is a Regular - I can see no 'V' under his cloth title.

[Rob Miller]

This arrived today in the post, I was hoping I could pick out a bit more detail, but its still a lovely picture.

The angle is wrong for much info on the cap badges, but they don't look very big so perhaps they are collar badges?

There appears to be some sort of cloth? badges on the upper sleeves of several men, perhaps "Devon" over "3"?

Rob

[DougSA]

[QUOTE=Rob Miller;113133]Two more Devon photos from a bootsale today.



Hi Rob

My great-grandfather served with the 13th Devons (later 3rd Labour Bn), so I am very interested to see it.

Thank you for sharing!

[Rob Miller]

Hi Doug

I have emailed you some scans. Here they are again at 2400dpi.

Rob

[Alan O]

[QUOTE=Rob Miller;336640]This arrived today in the post, I was hoping I could pick out a bit more detail, but its still a lovely picture.

The angle is wrong for much info on the cap badges, but they don't look very big so perhaps they are collar badges?

There appears to be some sort of cloth? badges on the upper sleeves of several men, perhaps "Devon" over "3"?

Rob

Rob

It was normal for collars to be worn on FSC. The regulars generally wore collars before introducing large cap badges in 1896-8. However the VB continued with collars for some years until peaked caps c.1905. All VBs did their own thing so dating it is impossible for all units.

[Graham Stewart]

[QUOTE=Rob Miller;336640]This arrived today in the post, I was hoping I could pick out a bit more detail, but its still a lovely picture.

The angle is wrong for much info on the cap badges, but they don't look very big so perhaps they are collar badges?

There appears to be some sort of cloth? badges on the upper sleeves of several men, perhaps "Devon" over "3"?

Rob





Your postcard is marked 30th September 1904 and it's around this time that a number of military photo's in "Series" form became available to the general public. Gale & Polden did quite a few of them, infact they did a series of the 2nd Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers and in some cases dated when the photo was taken. Remembering that Service Dress didn't become universal among the Regulars until 1902 and was eventually phased into the V.B.'s

The title will, as others have stated be "DEVON" over "3", in white worsted cotton on a scarlet cloth background. The Cullompton Volunteer Company, became 'A' Company of the 3rd Volunteer Bn, Devonshire Regiment on it's formation in 1885 under General Order 114 of November 1885. The surprise here is that there appears to be no "V" in the title, as this was used to distinguish the Volunteers from the Militia Battalions, who in most cases also used the cloth numeral "3".

The 3rd V.B., Devons amalgamated with the 1st V.B. in 1908 to form the 4th Bn, Devons(T.F.)

[High Wood]

The public house in post 14 is the Drewe Arms in Drewsteington.

[Rob Miller]

Another new card, KC cap badges so post 1902, I suspect this is part of a Regular Battalion? Interesting working uniforms.

Rob

[Rob Miller]

Another new local to me find, I suspect this Officer is the same chap as shown in the middle of the group picture in post 17.

Nice "V" under one or both collar badges?

What looks like white metal or silver plated Devonshire Buttons.

I didn't know Volunteers Officers wore cuff rank?,

And the collar badges appear to be quite big, are they cap badge size, and could they be bi-metal?

Rob

[Rob Miller]

A nice selection of headgear in this photo, what colour was the backing on the Devonshire Brodrick? The photo was pretty faded so I have tweaked it a bit in paint shop pro.

Rob

[Alan O]

What is the post mark date on the postcard 1905 or 03?

[Rob Miller]

In post 24 I think its 05.

Rob

[grenadierguardsman]

Outstanding thread, cracking photos and information.
Thanks Andy

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

A nice selection of headgear in this photo, what colour was the backing on the Devonshire Brodrick? The photo was pretty faded so I have tweaked it a bit in paint shop pro.

Rob

The backing on the Brodrick was ‘Lincoln green’. Great images, I’m especially interested to see the Armourer Sergeant in his AOC uniform seated in the front row far left, before 1896 he would have worn Devonshire regimental uniform with just a hammer and pincers arm badge to indicate his function. The mix of headdress is typical for the period 1905-06. The officers all wear the frock coat that replaced the scarlet patrol frock in 1902 (leaving just the blue one) and the new coloured ‘staff cap’ that was introduced in the same year. Interestingly the ORs pattern of the same cap has been prioritised (unsurprisingly) for issue to the battalion warrant officers and the Sergeant Major and Bandmaster can be clearly identified. The other sergeants of the battalion HQ staff (hence ‘staff sergeants’) are still wearing the previous pattern of staff cap to mark their status.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

Another new local to me find, I suspect this Officer is the same chap as shown in the middle of the group picture in post 17.

Nice "V" under one or both collar badges?

What looks like white metal or silver plated Devonshire Buttons.

I didn't know Volunteers Officers wore cuff rank?,

And the collar badges appear to be quite big, are they cap badge size, and could they be bi-metal?

Rob

The buttons were officially silver until 1908. The V Was decreed to be worn on both arms under the titles. The collar badges were indeed cap badge size from 1902 and coloured bronze for the officers pattern service dress introduced in that year.