draughts

Fascinating image. There's a fair bit of movement from some of the soldiers. Gives it a slightly ghostly feel.

Nick Stewart Some of them were definitely fidgety and must have driven the photographer mad. Do you mean the chap with the newspaper in the row of chairs on the right? He must have been flying through that paper, leaning forward and back...

Great photograph but there are a number of things about it that raise a question mark. Why have they all (bar 1) got their caps on indoors in a recreation room? I've worn uniforms for most of my life and one of the first things one does is take the darned cap off and especially in a room such as this. They are all, more or less, facing the camera which would indicate that it was posed and if so why did the silly beggars insist on moving so much? The likelihood that an Irish ampersand is used in a religious text in a British army rec room is remote to say the least. This was a rec room for other ranks i.e privates as there are no officers present and no signs of ranks on the sleeves of tunics as far as I can see. As regards "Golden SCA text" I expect that it was something like Services Christian Association? Very interesting indeed! Another thought struck me, why all the flowers? There must have been a generals inspection coming off for this level of adornment?

Swordscookie Definitely agree about the posing! Caps were on for the photographer without a doubt. I have another one from the Curragh tomorrow, and again all are wearing their caps... So do you think 16.7.16 is safe enough to assume as the date??

I think it is safe enough. The flowers are "cut-flowers" and are fresh as distinct from pot plants and they are plentiful so that means spring/summer at the least. July is probably right for that shot! The ampersand used up to recently in material relating to the Dept. of Posts and Telegraphs did have the 7 shape but it was distinctively lower that the other numbers.

stilled played in kenya as a part time activity