Morrison's Studio, Edinburgh - and the photographer, George Morrison

Questions

David Abrahams

Middle Ridge, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to David Abrahams for sending me the two photos below, The photographer for Photo 1 is not known, but Photo 2 comes from Morrison's Studio, 137 Leith Street, Edinburgh & 21 Promenade, Portobello.

David wrote

"Can you help in this identification process?

My cousin and I believe that the young man in Photo 1 below and on the left side facing the camera in Photo 2 below is our Great Aunt's fiancé as told by our parents (now deceased) who was killed in action during WW1 or possibly died from injuries sustained during WW1. Unfortunately we don't know any personal details about him or his companion."

David added

Questions

"What we are trying to establish is:

Q.1. When were these photos taken?

(From studying these two photos, it seems possible that Photo might have been taken some time after Photo 1 as he seems to have aged. This would not be surprising considering the horrendous conditions that these men served under.)

Q.2. What Regiment did these young men serve in?

(We think it may be the Royal Artillery)

Q.3. What was the name of the young man and when did the young man in Photo 1 die?

(It would be an incredible bonus to find these answers, but after 90-odd years I realise that it is very unlikely.)"

David Abrahams: December 12, 2013

Reply

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

Reply

I have only a couple of brief comments in response to the questions that David asks.

(a) There were Morrison's studios at:

- Portobello from around 1912 to 1928.

- 137 Leith Walk from around 1915 to 1936

Both these addresses appear on the back of Photo 2, so it seems likely that Photo 2 would have been taken some time between about 1915 and 1928, possibly towards the end of that period because of the relatively high negative number on the back of this photo.

However, that raises another question. If the photo is of a soldier who was killed during WW1, then it must have been taken towards the start of that period.

(b) The soldiers in Photos 1 and 2 appear to be wearing spurs on their boots, so were they in one of the Cavalry Regiments?

I am not familiar with Regimental Uniforms and Cap Badges, but hope that somebody else who knows more about the subject might send in a reply.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 4, 2013

Further Replies?

If you'd like to comment on these photos, please email me, then I'll pass on your comments to David.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 4, 2013

Reply

George Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote:

Regiments

The Soldier on the Left

"The soldier on left is undoubtedly Royal Artillery. In WW1:

- The Royal Artillery (which embraced Royal Garrison Artillery)

- The Royal Field Artillery

- The Royal Horse Artillery

regiments were all horse drawn.

The RHA gunners were mounted for swift deployment.

The Other Soldier

"The soldier on the right appears to be a Royal Engineer, as the outline of the cap badge hints. I can not think of another regimental badge of similar outline.

He appears to be wearing spurs though and I do not know to what extent the the Royal Engineers, at that time, used horses."

George Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: January 6, 2013

Reply

Archie Gilbert

Kinross, Kinross & Perthshire, Scotland

Thank you to Archie Gilbert who wrote:

Regiment

"The soldier in this photo is definitely Royal HORSE Artillery. They wore the ammunition in a bandolier, as the normal belt chafed the back of the horse.

I have photos of my Brother-in-law's Father who served for the whole duration of WW1 and he is wearing the same type of bandolier. The cap badge is definitely Royal Artillery."

Archie Gilbert, Kinross, Kinross & Perthshire, Scotland: January 10, 2013

Reply

George Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith for following up the comments in his 'Reply 2' with the extra information below.

George wrote:

Regiment

"In my search for confirmation that the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) cap badge in WW1 was the artillery 'Ubique' cannon I came across this Flickr link. This seems to confirm the recent comment regarding the uniform.

4th RHA Regiment

"I was myself a member of 4th RHA Regiment, but our regimental badge was and still is the Order of the Garter with Royal Cipher inserted within the loop.

I appreciated the comment about the bandolier being used to reduce chafing to the horse - no problem in my day as we rode around in tanks and Sexton self-propelled guns."

George Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: January 14, 2013