TOPIC:

Hi , sorry to bother you guys , looking for help on this one . A family photo from the boer war . We have a surname of Hands and in the pic he wears slouch hat with ss badge (sharpshooters?) ,chain mail epaulettes too. The problem lies with the pic collar badge . Its either 10th hussars or 12th lancers . Both have very similar badges and both have a surname of Hands also.
So there is my dilemma . Is it possible to find a list of sharpshooters?
Having checked all badges related to that surname my great great grandfather is definately one of the two.If i can suss out my camera i'll post a pic of it too.
Many thanks Warren.

Hi Warren, welcome aboard.
probably best to try post the photo. What was his first name/s and where was he from? At least two colonial units had the initials SS. If you're sure that he was in either the 10th Hussars or 12th Lancers, the QSA roll shows the only men with the surname 'Hands' in the 12th Lancers and 10th Hussars have different initials:
2867 Pte. W.W.Hands, 16th Lancers Reservists Attached to 12th Royal Lancers;
3172 Pte. H.Hands, 10th Royal Hussars.
Not sure if this is any help?

Cheers,

Mark

Thanks Mark still trying to traceback to get an initial but heres the pic in question.

I can't copy the photo to turn it and have a closer look so there isn't very much I can make out from the photo. If possible can you zoom in on the badges and post with a higher resolution. I see he is wearing a medal ribbon. Can't quite make out what it is. It might be a QSA or India 1895-1902.

The Sharp Shooters was also the name applied to the 18th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry formed in December 1900. They were the first contingent of Sharp Shooters to embark for South Africa. There were four companies in the the 18th IY.

The 18th Battalion I.Y. had brass letters 'SS' surmounted by a Victorian crown over a red and blue rosette.

Cheers,

Mark