TOPIC:

There was a Christopher Bailey who served with the Imperial Yeomanry with no. 31664. Could this possibly be him?

If some kind soul with access to FMP could pull his papers and check where he came from, next of kin etc. we might be able to either rule him out or confirm him.

Regards

Rory

Janette,

Do you also know his regimental number by any chance?

There were a few men of this name in the Boer War:

C Bailey 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
C Bailey 3rd Battery Northamptonshire
C Bailey 3rd Battalion East Yorkshire
C Bailey 38th Battery Royal Field Artillery
C Bailey South African Constabulary
C Bailey 4th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (18th M I)
C Bailey 21st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
C Bailey 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade
C Bailey Coldstream Guards
C Bailey 2nd Battalion Hampshire
C Bailey 19th Prince of Wales's Own Hussars
C Bailey Barberton Town Guard
C Bailey 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers
C Bailey 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle
C Bailey 16th Bengal Lancers Attached To Kitchener's Horse In South Africa
C Bailey 3rd Northhamptonshire
C Bailey 3rd Battalion Kings Royal Rifles
C Bailey 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards
C Bailey Kitchener's Horse
C Bailey 3rd Battalion Leicestershire
C Bailey Kimberley Light Horse
C Bailey 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
C Bailey 2nd Imperial Light Horse
C Bailey 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire
C Bailey South African Constabulary E Division
C Bailey 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment

The cap badge is difficult to identify. I thought it may be a grenade on the right collar:



But the left badge looks different again. Something like the Hampshire Regiment?



No doubt it will become obvious when we identify the correct badge.

Hello Janette,
Old portraits are great fun, but, they can be a real pain in the backside, do you have any reason to believe he served in the Anglo Boer War?
With your image, we need to bare in mind the emulsion used does not pick up the difference between certain colours which often make matters quite difficult.
Notwithstanding, a brief glance at your photograph suggests a member of the rank and file serving in a county infantry regiment of the British Army after the Anglo Boer War.
The magnificent scarlet tunic was worn in full dress, at church parade, whilst walking out etc and I suppose it really was our "little red army" back in those days, very much, the golden age too, it was sadly withdrawn in 1914 because of the Great War.
The slouch hat was so popular that it was retained throughout many regiments after the Anglo Boer War, for several years, in differing versions and was worn with home service dress and drill order whilst on duty in Great Britain, they were normally just very plain, the example here is rather unusual.
Going back to that emulsion and colours again, both the facings, the shape and basic outline of the collar badges appear to be those of the Border Regiment which existed from 1881 until 1959.
I very much regret that I cannot offer you anything else from just looking at the photograph.
Kind regards Frank Kelley

Hello Frank,
Thank you for your interesting reply.
I have nothing to make me think he served in the Boer War.
That suggestion was made after showing the photo at the Imperial War Museum. The photographer who took the photo in Loughborough died in 1902, whether that is pertinent I don't know.
My great grandfather moved to Leigh, Lancs between 1902 and 1904 but still had family in Loughborough so could have a picture taken on a visit back there.
Many thanks again
Janette Gould