Mystery uniform

Hi all,
I am looking for assistance in identifying the uniform worn by the soldier in the attached photograph.

This is my Uncle, Robert Alfred Brigham who joined up in 1933 and who served in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, reaching the rank of Sergeant and being captured at Tobruk. He subsequently spent time in POW camps in Italy and later in Germany (Stalag IVB).

This photo turned up on a recent visit to his daughter and is a bit of a mystery as it does not seem to fit in with what we know of his service and we have been unable to recognise the uniform. Any help would be much appreciated,

many thanks

 

Going firstly by the collar badge, the glengarry having a (chequered) dicing band, the sporran, the style of tartan (white Mackenzie stripes visible) and the diced hose (socks) ..... a Seaforth Highlander looks very possible.

Afternote:
A family history guide is at:
http://scottishmilitaryresearch.wee...ilitary_research_using_family_photographs.pdf

 

Many thanks for your reply. Looking at what you have put and the guide, I think that the Seaforth,s is a very good shout.
It is a mystery as to how a lad from a small Yorkshire village came to be pictured in this uniform.
We do know that he deployed to Palestine with the 3rd Batttalion Coldstream Guards in 1936 on a short tour to police the Arab uprising. His daughter has a fantastic photo album covering that as well as a 2nd album dated 1938/39 from a deployment to Egypt. We have no record nor knowledge whatsoever of him ever serving with a Scottish Regiment.
I have an outstanding request from 2020 for his service record so I may have to chase that up to resolve the mystery.
Thanks again.

 

2656029 by the look of it

 

That style of studio photograph is older than the 1930s. Pre-Great War or possibly just to the early 1920s, I suspect. Could it be somebody else ? An older brother perhaps ?

 

No it is definitely him. He was born in 1914, the 2nd of three children but the oldest boy. He worked as a butcher in the village after he left school but there was little work so in 1933 he and two friends left the village and enlisted in the Army. The original photo is in the possession of his eldest daughter (my cousin). His Coldstream Guards dress uniform was donated to and is on public display at then Eden Camp museum at Malton in Yorkshire where he lived.

 

Yes that is his service number.

 

There was a Clarence Brigham in the Seaforths:

 

2656029 Sgt. R.A. BRIGHAM 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards
Captured 20.6.1942
P.o.w. No. 260994 Stalag IVB

 

An interesting puzzle, which may only be fully explained by his service record. The building in the left background of the photo has a look for me of a pre-war German barracks, but that would only add to the mystery. Does anyone in the family have his medals; which, in what sequence and any edging inscriptions? Anything preceding a pre-War Palestine GSM - purple/green/purple ribbon? The ribbons will be on his uniform gifted to Eden Camp too. I think 1st Bn SEAFORTHS were in Palestine mid 30s and 3rd Bn COLDMS didn’t deploy till ‘38, so possibly stayed on in Theatre as an attached specialist augmentee, who subsequently transferred across? Not without precedent.

 

Definitely Seaforth Highlanders (those collar badges are distinctive) and I think in the 1930's going by the blue patrol jacket. See here-

Scottish tunic

The building in the background is painted onto the backdrop sheet.

Is there a studio mark on the original photograph? I can see some feint writing in the lower right corner.

Scott

 

Hi Scott, Yes I think I agree, definately Seaforth,s. I can not make out the mark in the bottom right but it does look like a studio mark. There is a handwritten caption on the back which reads 'Dad 26-10-34'.

 

Thanks for your reply. I have some photos from his display at the museum and they have his medals. The group is 39-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 39-45 and GSM with a Palestine clasp. They also have the GSM award certificate which is dated 20 Jul 1940 to CPL R.A. Brigham.
The museum also appears to have his Certificate of Service book and I am now wondering if that would have any mention of the Seaforth connection. and any possible transfer dates.
David.

 

His Certificate of Service book would (well should) show the units he was in, when and where he served with them

 

I don't think its a blue patrol jacket, looks to me like a khaki Service Dress jacket with the cut offs at the bottom for Scottish (maybe only kilted) Regiments there were amendments to the pockets and collar (and other details) over the service life that help work out a date but I don't know enough about them

 

Hi,

3rd CG were in Palestine Sept/Dec 1936 (deployed from UK) and then Oct 38/April 39 (deployed from Garrison Duty in Alexandria, Egypt).

Sgt Brigham has a CG army service number suggesting he was an initial CG recruit - CG records on FMP will confirm. I doubt he was initially a Seaforth and transferred over as he would have retained a Seaforth army service number.

His papers on FMP ought to confirm whether he ever served in Seaforth’s and any movement from CG to any other regiment will be shown.

Steve

 

He enlisted with the Coldstream Guards 1 June 33 and was released to Class Z reserve 17 Mar 46

 

Thanks for that information.
It seems that I am back to where I started lol, that is knowing all along that he served with the Coldstream Guards right through his service and left wondering why he is pictured wearing the uniform of the Seaforth Highlanders in Oct 1934. I'm beginning to think that maybe it was really just a one off studio posed picture, choose your fancy dress and look the part.