Our cousin Richard Mathieson enlisted in the Royal Scots in 1890 at the age of 16 by lying about his age. He was posted to the East Indies where he served in Burma with the Mounted Infantry of Mandalay (Royal Scots). It is highly likely that Richard is in this photograph from The British Empire as it is the correct time frame.
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| Lieut Davie leads the detachment at Fort Dufferin, Mandalay. The ponies had strong backs and were prepared to eat anything. The men are in khaki service dress with blue puttees and glengarries |
Richard was released from the colours at the end of his engagement but was recalled to service for the Boer War until his final discharge in 1902.
At the outbreak of WW1, aged 40, Richard enlists in the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion Royal Highlands and is sent to Gallipoli where he rapidly rises through the ranks from private to sergeant in the space of 5 months. This probably reflects the high casualty rates of the Gallipoli Campaign.
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