What was the name of James’ regiment?

QMy grandfather, Herbert Mason (born 1881), was living in Harrow, Middlesex, at the time of the First World War. Although I have no knowledge of him being called up and leaving the country, I believe that he and his brother, John, both served as volunteers. This group photo shows them in uniform, but I have no idea what the organisation is. I’ve also sent an individual photograph of Herbert. Can you help?

Richard Mason

AThe group photo shows Volunteer noncommissioned officers (NCOs), and was taken in 1905–1908. Although many are Royal Artillery, there are other badges among them so this may be a Territorial Force (TF) divisional exercise that took place c1908.

The Volunteers were created in 1859, when France threatened to invade. Thousands formed independent units of infantry, artillery and engineers, then began training. They were gradually adopted by the War Office and, in 1908, became the TF that eventually became The Territorial Army.

It’s likely that Herbert enlisted c1899, probably in one of the Middlesex Volunteer batteries. He may well have served in the First World War, although there’s no obvious Medal Index Card among the 12 Herbert Masons listed. Even if he didn’t want to go, he could have been conscripted back into the artillery at a lower rank. More likely, as an experienced NCO, he stayed in Britain to train others.

Central records of pre-First World War Volunteers were destroyed in the 1940 fire, but it may be worth trying the local archive. Phil Tomaselli

1 HEADDRESS

In the individual photograph, Herbert is wearing a busby – normally cavalry headdress, but also worn by some Volunteer artillerymen and today still worn by the Royal Horse Artillery.

2 UNIFORM

Although it’s hand-coloured, rather than a colour photograph, the uniform is all blue (including cuffs) and has fusils (old grenades) on the collar, showing he’s artillery.

3 CUFF DECORATION

The white ‘Austrian knot’ above his cuff indicates that he’s a post-1881 Volunteer. He’s a sergeant, and has at least one Three Years Good Conduct Star.

4 CAP

The splendid group photograph looks a bit older. Here the soldiers are wearing the peaked service cap (which was introduced 1902–1905) with a Royal Artillery badge.

5 MEDALS

Some men can be seen wearing one medal, probably the Volunteer Long Service Medal, but this chap has two – both with campaign bars. These have to be medals from the Second Boer War (1899–1902); some Volunteers did go and fight in this war.

6 CAP BADGES

Almost all of the men in the group photo are wearing Royal Artillery cap badges, although some clearly don’t. Probably infantry, this suggests an exercise of one of the TF’s London Divisions.