Realise it is WW1 but thought I would try here first Trying to find out any information about this Soldier James Todd. My neighbours Grand Father (her father was WW2 German POW) The mystery is she knows he was at the Somme but does not know on what side or Regiment despite his name The Photo seems a bit strange The L/Cpl Stripe, Crossed Rifles?, and wound stripe almost appear to be stuck on .And Uniform seems to be too long in the Arm also thought the picture might be a mirror image as I thought the crossed Rifles would be on the Right Arm. Is that a Pickelhaube Helmet or British Cavalry ? .
He’s as British as brexit ! Lance Corporal , 2 long service chevrons , skill at arms badge cant make out the cap badge
It looks to me as if the Pickelhaube indicates that the photograph is that of a Imperial German soldier in dress uniform. That Pickelhaube badge will probably indicate which of the German Lander (individual German state) the regiment is associated with. Having said that, the left arm insignia looks British but under what circumstances would a British soldier have his headdress as a Pickelhaube. As said the British aspect of the uniform look to be stuck on. Stefan and Itdan are likely to solve the query.
Its a British helmet, seem to be known as "home service" usually in blue from what I can see - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/british-white-home-service-helmet-1821899024 for example of a similar white one
Looks like it may actually be the foreign or colonial service type if in white The British Colonial Pattern Helmet | Military Sun Helmets and the spike could be removed like all these things there seem lots of variants to allow Regiments to be different
The British Army certainly used spikes and pointed finials. Straight to the Point: The History of the Spiked Helmet | Military Sun Helmets
Just a wild idea, if a Soldiers uniform was in poor state owing to condition in trenches (If pic was 1914/18) and he wanted to send a picture home ,may be studios had a selection of uniforms with stick on badges? the crossed rifles and War wound/long service stripe look about to fall off and the L/Cpl stripe has a shadow beneath showing it not fully attached.
Was the insignia removable for laundering at that time ? This is my great grandfather, prior to 1910, I believe. R.G.A apparently had a rounded finial.
Looks like Rifle Brigade cap badge. Chevrons are dark which tallies with RB ( & the KRRC.) Pre-WW1 I'd say.
Not EVERY helmet with tip is German ;-) And actually I have no idea about uniforms - but this happens to be the right era and the right continent For example: „Waterproof Tropical Helmet Made in England“ Link chain made of brass Manufacturer (among others) Abercrombie and Fitch ca 1860 to 1890
A variant as seen in museum at Enniskillen Castle Pith helmet | WW2Talk Tropical Pith Helmet, belonged to Major General Robert Knox Hezlet CB CBE DSO DL (1879-1963) Another I also snapped at Royal Fusiliers Museum, London
Badges of rank, skills, etc. were typically attached like that in India and tropical stations, I believe.
Only other similar Cap badges I can find are London Regiment but they would be unlikely to have what appears to be tropical dress so Rifle Brigade seems best bet though the open areas under the cross arms seen a bit bigger ,could be an illusion with the brightness of the white helmet background. .
Badge & tunic buttons seem to be darker than brass or silver, so could be black in colour as worn by many rifle regiments of the British Army.
I will have to do some research but crossing my mind is...is there something Germanic connecting the two military organisations? After all we were "friends" until Kaiser Will had aspirations above his station and then the three cousins fell out leading to the Great War.
I see from Wikipedia that the 1st and 2nd Bns RB deployed to S Africa in 1899 for participation in what became the Second Boer War. This would match the tropical white uniform and wound stripes, and those look suspiciously like ostrich feathers bottom left.
Where are you seeing wound stripes? in cloth insignia all I can see are Lance Corporal, Marksman and 2 (I think) Good Conducts Chevrons (5 years)
AB 64 you are right about the Good Conduct Chevrons I most likely prompted that in a former incorrect post