TOPIC:

A cousin recently sent me this photo. It is believed to be of our great-grandfather, Thomas Warren. This is the only picture I have ever seen of him! A geneaology site has suggested the uniform is Boer War. Could anyone tell - from the photo - what his rank might have been, what the insignia on his sleeve depict, and what unit he may have belonged to please? He was born in London (possibly Shoreditch) 4th January 1852, and had died by 1939. Thank you.

He has a chevron on his left forearm denoting a number of years service and above that are crossed rifles which is a marksman's badge.

The uniform does look unusual, but that might be because it is a black and white photo and not terribly clear. Do you have a clearer image?

I'll keep looking. Anyone else have an idea?

Also, is one chevron three years?

We need a uniform specialist, but I think I've seen these type of epaulettes on a Royal Engineer uniform.

Hello Deebee

If you have any more details regarding your Great Grand Fathers military history it may help to identify the uniform.
I think the sleeve insignia is the Good-Conduct stripe, a British Army award for good conduct during service in the Regular Army by an enlisted man. The insignia was a points-up chevron of NCO's lace worn on the lower sleeve of the uniform jacket. It was given to Privates and Lance Corporals for 2, 6, 12, or 18 years' service without being subject to formal discipline. A further stripe was awarded for every 5 years of good service after the 18th (23-, 28-, 33-, 38-, 43-, or 48 years)

Introduced in 1836, they were originally worn on the lower right sleeve and were worn by Privates, Lance-Corporals and Corporals. On 1 March 1881 a General Order moved them to the lower left sleeve.
The crossed Rifles is for Musketry, possibly 1892 onwards.

Unfortunately this is the only photo, and has only recently come to light. It's not in my possession so I can't attempt a better scan, though I'll ask my cousin if they can.

Within the wider family no-one knows anything about Thomas Warren. Certainly didn't know he had any military history. I did do a quick trawl of Find My Past (it's a free search weekend for military records), and there were two possibilities for a Thomas Warren in the Boer War. One I've dismissed as the year of birth was out by 25yrs! The other may be a possibility. Not much info, but he was a private. No idea what regiment though.