TOPIC:

My Great Grandfather on my mother's side of the family, Richard Chisnall, was the proprietor of the Crown Hotel in Ladysmith during the siege. His only son, William Chisnall) - he also had five daughters - was killed in World War I, but may have served in the Boer War also. We have an unlabelled Carte de Visite type of photo (attached) of a young man in uniform with a rifle. I am hoping somebody might be able to identify the uniform and perhaps bring us closer to finding out if this is indeed our ancestral relative William Chisnall.

South Africa War Graves Project
Name: CHISNALL
Given Name: WILLIAM
Initials: W
Service No: 13892
Rank: Private
Regiment: South African Infantry
Unit: 1st Regt.
Date of Death: 1917-10-13
Cause of Death: Killed in action, during first battle of Passchendaele
Additional Information: Son of Richard and Mary Chisnall, of Bank Lodge, Wellesley Rd., Chiswick, London, England; husband of Sarah Martha Chisnall, of 210 Victoria Road, Maritzburg, Natal
Commemoration Cemetery: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Welcome

That's a fascinating family connection with Ladysmith.

As for the photo, I can't see the plate on the shako or the shoulder belt sufficiently well to suggest a regiment, although I would guess it's a Rifle Volunteer unit. Without checking reference books, I would say that the uniform and headgear suggest a date around the 1870's-1880's . If I'm right , and I'm very happy to be corrected, this soldier would probably have been too old to have served in WW1. Do you have a date of birth for William? Could this actually be Richard in his younger days? In Britain before going out to South Africa?

Somebody who knows about firearms can maybe put a rough date on the weapon.

Patrick

I agree with Patrick and would think that this is actually the father and not the son!

pjac49 wrote: Welcome

That's a fascinating family connection with Ladysmith.

As for the photo, I can't see the plate on the shako or the shoulder belt sufficiently well to suggest a regiment, although I would guess it's a Rifle Volunteer unit. Without checking reference books, I would say that the uniform and headgear suggest a date around the 1870's-1880's . If I'm right , and I'm very happy to be corrected, this soldier would probably have been too old to have served in WW1. Do you have a date of birth for William? Could this actually be Richard in his younger days? In Britain before going out to South Africa?

Somebody who knows about firearms can maybe put a rough date on the weapon.

Patrick

Thank you Frank and Patrick

Very interesting!

Please find attached two higher resolution details of the photo of the mystery soldier. Perhaps these will permit you to identify the regiment and date...

William Chisnall was born in 1880 or perhaps 1881 and killed in 1917 at the age of 37. His father, Richard Chisnall was born in 1845 and died in 1921 aged 76. We have no record of him being involved with any military unit.

PeterR

Peter,

I have inserted the pictures into the text and hope that's OK/

There are quite a few regiments that have that style of badge (I believe). It would be necessary to see the detail on the front to identify the regiment in question.



Perhaps someone can comment in the rifle to help date the picture.

Best wishes
David

His shoulder belt reminded me of the ones worn by the KRRC: