The Colors Of H.M. 24th South W. Borderers Watercolour & Photograph
The Colors Of H.M. 24th South W. Borderers Watercolour & Photograph
82370
A water colour of the colours of the South Wales Borderers with photograph of Lance Corporal Charles Berry to the centre.
Berry was a Corporal for only 4 1/2 months between the 31st of August 1888 and the 15th of January 1889, when he requested to revert back to Private. Perhaps he didn't enjoy the extra responsibilities or missed the camaraderie of the men he now held rank over. The battle honours shown on the flag to the right confirm the date parameters for the picture. The final honour of Burma dates the picture to after 1887 with the regiment's next honour for the Boer War in 1900-02.
Berry was born in Winchester but the census of April 1871 shows him living with his parents in Vaynor, Cardiganshire. The SWB had their depot at Brecon which is just 20 miles north. Berry was in the 1st Battalion who were in Dublin at the time the photograph was taken prior to leaving for Egypt for 18 months. He was discharged on the 14th of September 1894 as unfit for service, suffering from the bronchial condition Haemoptyisis, which he may have picked up in the Middle East. He spent a few months at the British Army's Netley Hospital and was then paid a pension until at least 1946.
The artist Sgt. C. Stanley, a fellow soldier in the regiment is noted to the bottom left. Its likely that Stanley painted a number of similar pictures, simply changing the portrait photograph to fit the recipient. For Berry, it was probably commissioned as a celebration of his promotion. Such pictures were popular keepsakes for soldiers in the late 19th century. The 24th Regiment is famous for its involvement in Rorke's Drift with the honour for South Africa shown to the top of the flag. The picture is in a period maple frame. Circa 1889.
Framed size is given.
Dimensions:
Victorian
Circa 1889
Watercolour & Photograph
Wales
Sgt. C. Stanley
Military Colours Watercolour
We are grateful to Steven Hopkins for his research
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