grenadier

“X” – The Life and Death of a Courageous Digger 1 JULY, 2016 BY QUEENSLAND STATE ARCHIVES Private William (Billy) Elsdale. Believed to be the first Aboriginal digger to die during action in France, Billy’s sacrifice is acknowledged in this letter from W P Vance to Anthony Ogden: “I read in the papers some queer British names amongst those volunteering from Australia, Ah Chay and Ah Foo. Britishers these, yes, more British in spirit than many who bear old English names and Billy Elsdale, aboriginal half-caste, killed in France, and hundreds of our men with German names, more British than many of our own race.” It is estimated that over 1000 Aboriginal Australians enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, although many were rejected on the grounds of race. Billy Elsdale found himself accepted and he enlisted on 10 September 1915, at the age of 28. A recipient of exemption from the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 since 1910, Billy gained employment in 1913 as a police tracker. Working under the command of Sub Inspector Graham of Charleville, Billy was described by Graham as “25 years old … 10 stone 9 lbs … and a good horsemen and bushman”. However, Billy wanted to enlist, and his AIF enlistment papers offers some insight into the man. The Army Medical Officer wrote the term “Half cast” for Billy’s “complexion” on his certificate of medical examination. At just over 6 feet, Billy was taller than average. He had black hair and brown eyes, and his religious denomination was Roman Catholic. For his next of kin, Billy nominated his friend, Jack Cockrane of Charleville, instead of his parents. Billy pledged with an “X” to truly serve his Sovereign Lord the King, in the Australian Imperial Force, for the duration of the war. Source: blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/2016/07/01/x-the-life-and-death...

I believe that there is a typographical error in the title. Isn't it Grenadier, instead of Grenaudier?

only1tanuki: We fixed the spelling of "Grenadier" in the title, to match the caption scratched into the negative. The question remains of whether the uniform and insignia belong to a Grenadier.

Drum Majors of the Grenadier Guards, both then and now, wore white leggings. The ensignia on his cross belt is also not that of the Grenadiers. It is a drum majors uniform of one of the Guards regiments but I am not sure it is the Grenadiers.

who says Pimpin aint easy? awesome!

The Drum Major is wearing State Dress minus the white spatterdash gaiters that should in principle go with it. He is in fact from the Scots Guards, as the print is just clear enough to make out the thistle in the centre of the star on the baldric or cross belt. Although the relevant part of the monogram is obscured, I'd say that the photograph was taken either before or shortly after the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, as the baldric bears the "Queen's crown". The architecture in the background suggests the Tower of London as a possible location.