Hi All, I'm hoping someone can tell me a little about the people in the attached photos. I've been told on a different forum that the soldier is probably in the Highland Light Infantry, I was wondering if there is any other clues about him from the battle dress. Someone locally thought he was wearing a WW1 hat rather than WW2. I'm also wondering about the sailor in the group shop. The photo seems to be dated 28 Sep 1945 yet the cap tally is still obscured. Finally the RAF Sgt. I've been told on the other forum they think the half wing is most likely an Air Gunners, but is there any other clues? It was taken at his wedding on the 12th of July 1942 Any help people can give me would be great. Michael
Not much further can be add regarding the RAF Sergeant. He is an Air Gunner and has the minimum rank of Sergeant,from the AM order of June 1940 for those uncommissioned officers who successfully passed their aircrew course. He is shown in his "Best Blue" uniform which would have been mandatory to wear when on leave.
The Sailor's cap tally isn't obscured censor-wise, it's obscured because he's tied the bow to the front so that instead of being of the left ear (as stipulated in the dress regulations), it's above his left eye - a very common practice. He has the usual wartime spec 'HMS' tally and bow is just obscuring the 'S'. The soldier is indeed, Highland Light Infantry, but the cap is more than likely to be a WW2 version of the venerable Tam O'Shanter. The WW1 versions of these were generally a little bigger. He is wearing 'Battledress, Serge' with no badges or identifiers, so from the overall appearance and various clues on his uniform, I would suggest that this photo is early war - say 1939-40.
