old picture

[herakles]

1900 - sailors armed with Martini Mk II or III rifles fitted with Mk IV sword bayonet prior to leaving for the Boxer Rebellion in China. Picture: Australian War Memorial

[seaJane]

Sailors or marines? I'm puzzled by the moustaches.

[herakles]

I can't supply any other information. My guess is - sailors.

These men are Australian (of that I'm certain as the picture is held by the Australian War Memorial) and the photo was taken prior to Federation (1901) when the armed forces came under one control. So these men would have belonged to a State force. I'm not aware that there were any marines at the time.

But the moustaches are unusual to say the least!