Brevet Major Stuart Smith, N Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery

A new acquisition:

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Brevet Major Stuart Smith, killed at Isandlwana.
John Young Collection.

John Y.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Magnificent!!!
This picture must have been taken several years before 1879...
Cheers
Frédéric

Subject: Bvt Major Stuart Smith N Batt 5th Bgde RA Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:23 am

Well done JY , excellent ' get ' . Was it a bargain scratch

, maybe I don't want to now ? Very Happy

90th

Gary,

It was a bargain.

I will e-mail you on the subject.

John Y.

Frederic,

I don't think the photograph was taken too long before 1879, personally I would hazard a guess at 1877/8 prior to his embarking for the Cape.

This was how he looked circa 1866, we can pin the date down by the pattern of the patrol jacket, which was abolished in that year.

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Lieutenant Stuart Smith, circa 1866.
John Young Collection.

The well-known image in MacKinnon & Shadbolt pre-dates his promotion to Captain in 1877, and I think he looks older in my recent photograph, hence my conclusion as to a possible date.

Regards,

John Y.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Bonsoir Mr Young,
I am both very intrigued and interested by your last comment.
My previous comment (a pure speculation) was based on a photography (undated) of Stuart Smith published in the "Silver book" by IK (p.52).
The "study" of this photograph shows that:
-Stuart SMITH "lost his hairs " (I.E:balding);
-His equipment includes a "pooh" hat. It seems to me that the "pooh hat" was abandonned in the Royal Artillery a few years before 1879.
Unfortunately I was not able to decipher his rank on this photography.

As usual, happy to be corrected.

Cheers

Frédéric

Frederic,

In the photograph from the Royal Archives, Stuart Smith is wearing the insignia of a Lieutenant, whilst serving in A Battery, A Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery.

By "pooh hat" I take you mean his busby? The Royal Horse Artillery first adopted the busby in 1837, and it is still in use to this day by officers of The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

Stuart Smith was a Lieutenant between 1865 and 1877. As to his look at some of the other officers on campaign they have had their heads shaved. Smith had served in India for a long time so the image could been taken whilst serving there on his return from overseas service.

John Y.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Mr Young,
Your answer is very instructive for me.
You solve a mystery for me (the supposed baldness) and correcting a false belief: the busby (I.E; the "pooh hat") was still in use in 1879 in the Royal Horse Artillery.
Thank you very much.

Cheers

Frédéric

Posts : 1184 Join date : 2015-11-24

Agreed he does look older, what a great image, dashing and
handsome..num 31!. i wont bug you JY about the release date..
i get Hellions updates by e mail every other day it seems, so
i guess patience will have its reward!. but i'm more than itching
to get my mitts on it. i'm so pleased its in hardback, its sure to
be a great success.

Les,

The book launches on 19th May 2016 at The North Down Museum, Bangor, Co. Down.

Sadly I can't make the journey on doctor's orders.

John Y.

Posts : 1184 Join date : 2015-11-24

Thanks JY, that's great news,i will be getting into Hellions
ribs to chase my copy along.. surely there an op on the
horizon for you?. take it easy.

Posts : 272 Join date : 2010-08-13

From WITH A SHOW THROUGH SOUTHERN AFRICA AND PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF THE TRANSVAAL WAR 1884 by Charles Du Val
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» Gunner 2325 Harry Smith 11 Battery 7th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery?
» Sergeant Major 311 Thomas Craig M Battery 6th Brigade Royal Artillery
» Brevet Major Walter Reginald Fox Royal Artillery
» Brevet Major William G Knox Royal Artillery
» Lt. C. Parsons 'N' Battery 5th Brigade Royal Artillery.