Did Frederick Bradshaw play in an army band?

QIn this photograph my husband’s great grandfather, Frederick Bradshaw (born 1868 in She eld), is on the front row, fourth from the left. Can you help narrow down the year that the photograph was taken and spot any clues regarding the band that he was playing in?

A newspaper article suggests that Frederick was an army musician, but we can find no evidence of this.

ADespite the soldierly appearance, I doubt that this is a military band. The whole effect of the uniform appears military – similar uniforms were worn by commissionaires, Post Office staff and bellboys in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – but with sufficient small differences to make them distinct. The range of instruments suggests a dance band, or a small dance orchestra. I’d suggest that the photo was taken in the late 1890s.

I, too, can find no record of military service for Frederick. Service records between 1890 and 1913 should be available on Findmypast ( findmypast.co.uk). However, many men re-enlisted in the First World War, and their records were amalgamated and destroyed in a fire at a War Office repository in London in 1940. There are regimental musters up to 1898 at The National Archives in Kew, but they haven’t been digitised. He may also have served in the local Volunteers; central musters were burned in 1940 too, although copies may exist locally. Sheffield had volunteer infantry, engineer and artillery units.

A search through the local titles at the British Newspaper Archive ( britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) shows a considerable number of bands in Sheffield at the time, including works and organisation bands such as the City Police. Further research in online newspapers may produce results.

1 CAP

The headwear resembles a military cap from the late 1890s, although it’s not tall enough and the braid on the peak wouldn’t be worn by private soldiers.

2 INSIGNIA

In a military group of this size, I’d expect to see rank (for example, corporals’ stripes) or appointment (such as trumpeter) badges on some sleeves, as well as some service and good-conduct chevrons. However, all of them are bare.

3 TUNICS

The Austrian knots above the cuff look military, but the wearing of waistcoats and the lack of tunic buttons show that they’re not.

4 MEDALS

Given the ages, I’d expect some of the musicians to wear medals on the left breast if they were in the military, if only longservice or campaign awards.

5 CAP BADGE

The cap badge resembles a belt buckle that has been turned on its side. I can find no regimental equivalent.

6 BANDMASTER

The bandmaster is pretending to be an officer, ffi wearing a uniform that includes large chevrons on his cuffs and twisted braid on his shoulders. However, there is not enough lace on his tunic.