Can you tell me anything about this soldier?

Q I have several photographs of soldiers collected from family members who have passed away. Can you tell me anything about this one? I think he’s from my paternal side (Torrie/Cox surnames). Kerry Walton

A This is a beautifully clear studio photo of a private in the Lancashire Hussars (Yeomanry) – probably taken after he’d completed his training in 1915.

The Lancashire Hussars (LH) go back to 1798, but became part of the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908, joining the cavalry arm of the TF home-defence army. Their headquarters were in Liverpool (Prince Alfred Road) with squadrons in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Newtonle-Willows and Rainhill. When the war broke out, many men went to their local unit and enlisted, so if any of your ancestors lived at or near these places then it might supply a clue.

These volunteers, who needed training, went into newly created units – in the TF usually designated as the 2nd (so 2nd LH) – while the original unit went overseas or to another part of Britain for defence duties. When it became obvious that it wasn’t a cavalry war, many Yeomanry regiments were split up, became cyclist battalions, or merged with existing infantry battalions – 1st LH was absorbed by the 18th Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment in September 1917, and 2nd LH became a cyclist unit and served at home throughout the war.

Identifying the soldier is difficult, especially if he only served in Britain since he wouldn’t have had any medals. Try searching national archives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/ research-guides/british-army-medal-indexcards-1914-1920 using an ancestor’s surname and ‘Lancashire Hussars’. Also the Ogilby Trust’s website includes details of local army museums ( armymuseums.org.uk). Phil Tomaselli

1 CAP

The cap is probably newly issued – experienced soldiers often removed the wire stiffener around the crown to fit it in a pocket more easily. The badge has the Rose of Lancashire and a scroll below saying “Lancashire Hussars”.

2 SHOULDER TITLE

The small metal shoulder title could be an “H” for Hussars or “II” for 2nd Lancashire Yeomanry. I’m inclined to think that it’s the latter.

3 RIDING CROP

He’s carrying a regimental riding crop, usually about a yard long, and the visible metal top would have had the regimental badge on it. Clearly he rides a horse.

4 BREECHES

He’s wearing cavalry breeches (trousers looser at the top for ease of movement in the saddle), with tightly wound puttees to protect his lower legs.

5 BOOTS

Attachments across the top of his boots allowed spurs to be added when riding, and removed when fighting on the ground.