Help identifying this photo

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

My next door neighbour believes one of her relatives is in this photo. She has no idea of date, regiment or location. Can anybody help with any information?

[Plynkes]

No idea, but what a wonderful photo!

"Those bloody Afrikanders with their hiding behind rocks and shooting at us with Mausers, damn them! But they won't know what's hit 'em when we deploy our war-bears, lads!"




The 'Austrian' field service caps put the date at 1895ish to 1902. That's about all I've got, I'm afraid.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

The 'Austrian' field service caps put the date at 1895ish to 1902. That's about all I've got, I'm afraid.

Many thanks, Plynkes. That's a good start, at least for the date.

I was wondering if that is a Light Infantry cap badge I can see? Maybe a bugle at the bottom?

[Plynkes]

Could be, but it is just too indistinct for me to be confident about that. Could also be an Irish harp, or Prince of Wales feathers.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Could be, but it is just too indistinct for me to be confident about that. Could also be an Irish harp, or Prince of Wales feathers.

OK thanks anyway, I will pass on the info about the date.

[Ranthony]

I thought it was light infantry immediately, looked up bear mascots for the light infantry and found this pic...


Canadian light infantry visiting two bear mascots in London in the 30's.
Could be a regiment now amalgamated into something else that had a history of bear mascots (canadians furnished our guards with black bear fur for bearskins)

Here's another with a Canadian unit, officer has the same badge.

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

Canadian light infantry visiting two bear mascots in London in the 30's.
Could be a regiment now amalgamated into something else that had a history of bear mascots (canadians furnished our guards with black bear fur for bearskins)

Thanks, Ranthony. I will check with my neighbour and see if she thinks there was a Canadian connection. Thanks again for the info.

[Captain Blood]

Amazing photo. It has a Boer War feel to me. Could be wrong, but something about it reminds me of a couple of Boer War ‘posed’ pics I’ve seen. Yes, Canadian makes sense with the bears - assuming they’re not Swiss

The lad sitting front centre looks all of about 13 years old... When did they phase out drummer boys?

[RichBliss]

The bear on the left of the photo is a sun bear which are native to Southeast Asia. So perhaps a Regiment stationed in Burma or possibly India

[Codsticker]

Possibly Canadians in South Africa but according to the Canadian War Museum most Canadian units wore stetsons.

[sjwalker51]

If on FB, I’d post on the Victorian Military Society Group - they’re great at identifying stuff like this.

[NurgleHH]

The dog on the left site looks like a king charles cavalier spaniel, not typical for canadians. More british. Maybe south african boyscouts???