Peter.

The 2 chaps one on the left and the other on the right are Northumberland Fusiliers. Note the collar badges, the one on the left probably a senior bandsman, note his strips and he has two shoulder pieces. Some would have had only one and gained another for XYZ.

The chap at the back in in dress uniform of the Horse Artillery. Don’t know which unit.

He would be on the left horse of a three pairs of horses pulling a gun and its carriage.

The office is in an undress uniform probably Horse Artillery.

The officer and the chap behind him probably the same unit.

I think the photo is from around 1902. As that’s about the time that studio was operating.

I see that it or another copy was for sale or sold on eBay for £29.99.

Why was the photo taken and who are these men.

Just look at the mens faces. They are either brothers or very close cousins.

Why take the photo? Maybe it was a rare chance of Tyneside chaps to get together, A wedding or something.

To get those chaps together would be difficult at anytime but after 1914 ? Impossible? Did they survive WW1.

I watched a film of the Royal Horse Artillery on U tube the other day, very similar uniforms.

In that film the majority of the horse riders were young ladies and that was for all 5 guns. Thought it odd but they are lighter than men so easier for the horses. The men troopers could have been away doing other things ?

I’m recovering from an illness probably brought on by a possible heart attack three weeks before Easter and a cock up with medication, a very stressful period. I think I threw a wobbly but don’t remember.

I did see that John Shearer died, not a lot of the old member’s left.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.

I shall not be on the board very often but working on an item that a lot of Hebburn chaps were part of, military things.

Allan Campbell