TOPIC:

Neville
What are your thoughts on the hat and the snake belt?
Could the photograph be staged with possible props of the time, ie the crop / swagger stick and the lever action rifle?

The slouch hat might not be out of place for land service. It would be worth checking to see whether these were worn by members of the Natal Naval Volunteers during the ABW. The snake buckle could suggest naval cadets? The swagger stick certainty seems “wrong” for a boy.

I wonder if it isn't a cadet uniform. The stand-up collar and shoulder straps look far too military to be naval or even merchant naval.

There were quite a few cadet detachments in and around Cape Town in those days, and it's possible that the CTH themselves might have had a cadet company. Looking at post-war dress regulations for the CTH, one of the items is a blue undress tunic with shoulder straps, five buttons down the front, and gauntlet cuffs, which bears some resemblance to the uniform in the photo.

Can anyone identify the carbine? It doesn't conform to one I recognise...

Rob D wrote: Can anyone identify the carbine? It doesn't conform to one I recognise...[/quote

Funny you should mention that Rob, I have been wondering if the carbine is some sort of prop used in the photographic studio.

I have had a good trawl of the Internet and the only answer I have is it maybe a sporting piece of some discription with a possible Farquharson type lever / trigger arrangement.