NSW Reservist Uniforms circa 1910

This photograph of my great-grandfather Richard Score Powe (1867-1920) and his son Norman (1898-1957) would have been taken about 1910. Richard's standard-pattern uniform features different collar badges from those in the 1890s; this may reflect a change of unit following the family's move from Waverley to Penshurst (near Hurstville in Sydney), NSW, or be due to post-Federation regulations. Norman's band uniform may be 'British Rifle Green'.

Unfortunately, the family does not have a record of the unit(s) they were involved with, and any assistance in identifying them would be appreciated.

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This is a very good photograph, showing the 1903 Commonwealth pattern uniform. If a closer picture of the collar is available it may help with identification. I would put the period before 1910 but not by much. Badges did change between the colonial forces and the Commonwealth, essentially due to a change in the crown. Was the dark green band uniform from his military service? If so I would suggest the NSW Irish Rifle Regiment (8th NSW Infantry [Irish Rifles] of colonial days). They were the only NSW 'foot' regiment in dark green.

Thanks, Sean.

The photo that I scanned looks better than the posted image; it's a 1980s copy of the original photo, and printed on textured paper that diminishes the detail of the collar badge. However, the badges look like a stag (with antlers) to me; does that sound like the Irish Regiment to you? The Powe family had lived in Devon(shire) for 400 years, so there's no Irish connection - although I do have a photo of Richard in blazer with a harp badge.

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I will refer this to a man who knows considerably more than I do on the subject and see what he thinks.

After spending some time on line today, visiting the National Library of Australia's Trove website and elsewhere, it seems Richard was a member of the East Sydney Regiment (consistent with his Waverley abode). This unit was also known as the 1st N.S.W. Infantry Regiment, and is claimed as a progenitor of both 1RAR and 1/19 RNSWR.

In either case, the regimental colours are 'black over green' - a distinction that can just be made out on the collar tabs of Richard's jacket. The collar badge itself is apparently a stag on a (heraldic) 'cap of maintenance', the like of which can be seen in the unit's badge of 1900-1912 (from the 1/19 RNSWR website).

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Hi Sean,

I managed to get the photo downloaded and am pleased to inform that your man is from the 1st. Australian Infantry Battalion (NSW) from the period 1903-1912..
The collar badges are opposing deer, en garde passant, standing on a stylised cap..
I will send a photocopy of the badges from one of my books that you can pass onto the enquirer..
I cannot id the young fella but suggest he is a cadet bugler, probably in a dark blue uniform.
Hope this helps..
Regards
Jeff

Thanks Jeff
Thanks for the question Brad, good that it got some discussion going