Help ID'ing Photo

[RexLafferty]

I know there isn't much to go on here, but any information anyone can contribute toward ID'ing branch of service, kind of service, date, etc. will be very much appreciated.

 

I just found this photo of my 1st cousin twice removed and I'm assuming it's World War I era.

 

Thank you!

 

[atb]

He is wearing pattern 1907 leggings, if that helps. These could have been used through WW1.

[cwnorma]

There is not an awful lot of context here. Beyond the early leggings, I do note:

 

- The shoes seem too big for his frame (wearing an older brother's uniform?)

- That is an awfully small mule/horse (I don't know if that is meaningful--farm image?)

- The hat seems too small for his head (could just be the way it is raked but the crown does not seem to align to the size of his head)

- The bridle doesn't seem military (hard to tell though)

- The only "insignia" I can spot is the hat cord.

 

Could it be early Boy Scout, CMTC, or just a teen wearing a surplus uniform down on the farm?

[Cavdoc83]

I was poking around on the forum and spotted this thread that I had missed. Your cousin is wearing an all pre-War uniform: 1910 shirt, 1908 breeches, and 1907 leggings. The breeches look like cotton, which would place him somewhere warm. Many National Guard units were equipped with some of this antiquated gear right up to activation; so, this photo could date from 1911 to 1917. (I suspect that it is early, though.) The horse does appear to be Army issue. He appears to have a hoof brand, and the halter does appear to be a military pattern. His hat cord is probably white or light blue for Infantry. (Cavalry yellow usually shows up dark - almost black - in these early photos.) That could mean that he was a mounted orderly, was caring for an officer's mount, or was just holding a horse for the photo.

 

It's a great photo, and I hope that you have luck researching him. You should check the National Guard rolls for his local unit, if you have no evidence of him being a Regular.