Town Guards

I was interested to see the photo of the officers of 1 Essex Regt (c. 1899). Where was the photo taken? Was it in South Africa or at Warley in the UK? If it was in South Africa then it must have been taken in December 1899 since the first contingent of 1 Essex Regt did not arrive at the cape until 2 December 1899 (having sailed from Southampton on the SS Greek on 14 November 1899). If the photo was taken at Warley, UK, then I believe that the officer with his arms crossed (standing third from left in the second row) is my Great Grandfather, Lt. Clarence John Hobkirk, who served with 1 Essex in South Africa from April 1900 to August 1902. He later became Brig-Gen C.J. Hobkirk, CMG, DSO and commanded 14th Australian Inf Bde. on the Western Front during WW1. I would love to learn more about this photo. With best regards, - Jeremy Stone

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