Photo Inspector

Ray Westlake looks at the uniforms and insignia of five officers of the Special Reserve

Ray Westlake looks at the uniforms and insignia of five officers of the Special Reserve which was made up of civilians who had undertaken to attend regular military training camps.

Part of Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane’s army reforms of 1 April 1908 (he had at the same time introduced the Territorial Force) included the establishment of a force that, in time of war, could supply trained replacement drafts for troops in the line. This was the Special Reserve which was made up of civilians who had undertaken to attend regular training camps throughout a six-year period of service. Our Photo Inspector this month features five officers at camp in 1910, all of whom are wearing 3.25in-wide black crepe mourning bands on their left upper arms in memory of King Edward VII who had died on 6 May 1910. ■

A Second Lieutenant of the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, his rank identified by the single line and star (pip) on the sleeve. This officer has been identified as the Captain AJ Evans-Smith whose name can be seen on the board. His Captain’s commission was dated 28 April 1908, his rank identified by the two lines and three stars (pips) seen on the cuff. With a single line and two stars, a Lieutenant who wears a bronze version of the Northumberland Fusiliers cap badge. His sleeve rank insignia not visible in the photograph, this officer wears the stringed bugle horn with initials ‘DLI’ cap badge of the Durham Light Infantry. The same badge, but smaller, appears on the collar. This officer, a Lieutenant, is from the Rifle Brigade and wears a dark green forage cap with black band of mohair braid. The cap badge is in white metal, the buttons black with a bugle horn device.