A signaler sergeant of possibly an sergeant instructor of signals of the 1st Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment. The exact location of where this photograph was taken is somewhat open to debate. Based upon his 1881 pattern tunic the photo must have been taken after that date. In 1881 the battalion was in Ireland moving to Gibraltar in 1882 then on to India in 1884, remaining there until at least 1903. Of interesting note in this photograph is the sergeant's watch fob visible just below his sash. The compass and square device leave little doubt that he was a member of the Masonic order. Cabinet Photograph Unknown Photographer Gibraltar or possibly India 1880's |