Contemporary images of military life abound, but the advent of photography has provided a really accurate record. Regardless the photographer's tendency to sometimes stage scenes for dramatic effect, the uniforms and equipment were real thing.
The intention of this page is to periodically present images containing details of British & Commonwealth bayonets in use or as worn.
The images on view here can be enlarged by a simple click of your mouse. Please download them for your own reference. If you have similar images that you'd care to share, can I encourage you to send me high resolution scans? Minimum resolution of 300dpi please. I'll be happy to post them along with a source credit and any comments you'd like to provide.
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A post card photograph of a very young Sargent of the Royal Fusiliers. General Service buff leather frog and P1888 bayonet. Detail enlargement of bayonet and frog.
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Full plate photograph taken in the Klondike 26 July 1900. The Yukon Field Force (1898-1900), composed of 203 officers and men drawn from all 3 branches (cavalry, artillery and infantry) of the Permanent Force of the Canadian Militia. It was sent to the Yukon, to be based at Ft Selkirk with a detachment at Dawson, as a symbol of Canadian sovereignty and as a support for the civil power in maintaining law and order in the territory during the Klondike gold rush. Half the force was withdrawn in Sept 1899 and the remainder, restyled the Yukon Garrison, left a year later. The image here shows the final guard mounting at Dawson.
Armed with Lee Metford rifles, the troops were equiped with P1888 Mk1 (second pattern) bayonets, and Oliver pattern webbing, as evidenced by the frog shown in the detail enlargement.
An example of this scarce frog is currently available for purchase in the Militaria section of the Sales Table
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A post card photograph of a Lance Corporal with the 19th (Central Ontario) Canadian Battalion, CEF. Judging from the snow on the ground, probably taken in Canada before embarkation to Europe. He is armed with a Mark II Ross rifle, mounting a first pattern Ross bayonet.
Thanks to fellow collector David Petch for sharing this image.
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This image was published in the Daily Mail British newspaper on 3rd March 2003, the early days of the second Gulf War. It presents a British infantryman in full kit, armed with his SA80 rifle. What puzzles me is why he carries a long obsolete L1 series bayonet. Not only wont it fit the rifle, but it is not the handiest combat knife either. Any thoughts on this would be welcomed.
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Studio portrait captured at Bodmin, Cornwall in the early 1880s of an infantry private, sporting his Martini Henry rifle, complete with P1876 socket bayonet. I suspect a studio prop, as he does not appear to be wearing the frog with scabbard.
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Am image culled from a car rental advertisement in 1986, showing members of LES ROYAL 22E REGIMENT (the vandoos) on parade on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The bayonet is a Canadian C1, chrome plated overall and carried in a rather tacky white PVC belt frog. The waist belt was also white PVC at that time.
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A formal photograph taken during the inter-war years, probably the 1920s, of the colour party of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in BattleDress
and Number One Dress. Armed with SMLE rifles and No1 Mk1 sword bayonets, the colours are protected from bayonet points by the addition of
protector sleeves with ball tips. The location is interesting in
that it appears to be some type of large venue. Note the signage between and behind the two servicemen on the right 'No Re Admission'
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Another formal photograph taken during the inter-war years, this one of a colour party of the Royal Scots. Armed with SMLE rifles and
No1 Mk1 sword bayonets, the colours are again protected from bayonet points sheathed in
protector sleeves with ball tips, and a Sergeant sporting a most impressively
intimidating moustache.
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A third photo image taken during the inter-war years, the colour party of the Welsh Regiment. Armed with SMLE rifles and No1 Mk1 sword
bayonets, these gallant men might possibly be considered disadvantaged cousins to their Scottish brethren, as their bayonet points are
protected by corks. Contributed by the Officers Mess?
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The real Dad's Army. A great photograph of a WWII British Home Guard unit at practice with their Ross rifles and sharpened MkII bayonets.
Thanks to fellow collector Michael Curren for sharing this image.
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A WWI photograph of a French Canadian soldier from the 64th (Chateauguay & Beauharnois) Infantry Regiment, armed with Ross rifle and bayonet. The 64th. was raised in 1901 and eventually disbanded in 1921. While it is difficult to see much detail of the bayonet, the leather scabbard with integral frog are clearly visible attached to the Oliver Pattern belt with its distinctive snake buckle. Oliver Pattern webbing was first approved for Canadian use in 1898 and remained in use during WWI until replaced with British-issue webbing.
Thanks to fellow collector David Petch for sharing this image.
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