Where is this?

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Just for a change - where is this? And I do know the answer.

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Steve

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

India!

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Close Chard - just 5,000 miles out.

Steve

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Give us a clue?

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi All
20yr old perimeter of Cape Lilacs ( Syringa) trees to cool the building; electricity/ street lighting; wide streets; all suggest Pietermaritzburg; time period estimated +- 20yrs post AZW.

regards,

barry

PS ; Of botanical interest only : the Syringa is an invasive specie. It's springtime blossom is quite poisonous and creates some severe cases of hay fever to those who come into close proximity of it

Subject: Re: Where is this? Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:05 am

Barry,

Judging by the uniforms of the officers on the corner, I would err on it being pre-1879.

Steve,

I would go for Port Elizabeth or King William's Town in the early 1870's.

John Y.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Well done Barry, it is the Officers Mess Pietermaritzberg. I do not have a precise date but the photos in the album range from troops in the Bushman's River Pass to the unveiling of the Zulu War Memorial in P'berg. Here is a close up of the officers that might help.
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Steve

Subject: Re: Where is this? Sun Nov 29, 2015 2:16 pm

Steve,

Judging by the uniforms there I say closer to the first event rather than the latter.

You rarely see Havelock cap covers in the late 1870's, or drill jackets as opposed to patrol jackets. The Ensign, third from the right is wearing a cuff design that was replaced in 1874, as was that rank I believe.

I've got an idea that the officers - or some at least - are from the 75th (Sterlingshire) Regiment, looking the officer in the civilian hat with moustache you might have a 'Lucky' find.

John Y.

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi All,
The dead give away there was the twin tensioned electrical cables crossing the road to the building. Only Maritzburg and Kimberly had electricity in those early times post the AZW. I would date the picture 1888-1890.

regards

barry

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

John

You are a goldmine of information! You think the group might include "Lucky' Edward Essex? I have just read the article on him in AZWHS Journal and he was in Pietermaritzberg with the 75th in 1873/4 and of course later in 1878/79. And the photo shows a pretty good likeness. Many thanks. Now what was the name of the dog?

Barry

I bow to your local knowledge, the only suggestion I would make is 1. The street light looks as though it might be gas, and 2. The cables run past it, could they possibly be telegraph?
Steve