Old Army Uniform 19C

[smurfchops]

I have a photo circa 1880 of a young family member wearing an army uniform. He was living in Russia/Poland at that time. Is there a website that can help me identify the uniform, and therefore help with my Family Tree?

[123everton]

It could be tricky as Poland was partitioned at the time and the uniform could relate to Austria or Russia.
Take it to the local museum someone there may be able to help you.

[paddywak]

Try scanning and posting the photo on here, it never fails to amaze the collective amount of knowledge the members of this site display. I'm sure if some one can actually see the uniform they will be able to at least point you in the right direction

[smurfchops]

Well this is the photo, sorry its a bit blurry, taken in Lodz Poland around 1880s.

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/2d0x9gj.jpg[/IMG]

Any help regarding the war he would have served in would be of great help to me, many thanks.

[123everton]

There's nothing on that uniform to suggest a rank or a regiment never mind a nationality (I see your difficulty) if you find out which side of the partition Lodz was on you may get an idea of which regiments recruited there under which Prince etc.
I'd make a (poorly) educated guess that Lodz was under Austrian rule at the time, I say this because I was watching a programme on Poland during WW2 and it talked about ethnic Germans living by the Lodz Jewish ghetto. I'd guess ethnic Germans would be disinclined and less likely to live in the old Russian sector even during their short spell as colonists.

[dot.hawkes]

I don't think that is an army uniform, what other evidence do you have that he served in any army, the girl seated has a bobbed haircut circa 1918-1920 0dd. he also has the slicked look of the early 20th century, what is the rest of the photo like? he has a collar and tie on under that jacket and the jacket buttond up too high for it to be an officers uniform but enlisted men would not wear a collar and tie.

[123everton]

http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/infunif .htm

[dot.hawkes]

is the photo backed with a post card lay out? that only started in the early 1900s, or is there a studio name and address on the back?

[123everton]

Put your picture on here, it may help.
http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?top ic=101.0

[dot.hawkes]

Interesting forum everton.
i amn wondering if this is actually a choir uniform or a guild uniform, there is no insignia whatsoever, and no belt or sash of any type. Plus he is not wearing a cap, which would make him improperly dressed in military terms. All the photos I have seen of service personal they are either holding or wearing their cap.

[smurfchops]

The photo was taken in Lodz Poland in 1880 before the family came to England. Maybe it isn't an army uniform, it does seem strange that he was wearing it. Thanks for the help anyway! Dot remember Aaron, you were helping me with in the East End. This is his elder brother !