Orkney Image Library

Yes Jim, I'd say that's pretty incontrovertible! Even if there could have been some mistake with the date, the postage-stamp is Edward VII whose reign ended in 1910, well before the outbreak of WW1. Strange how the photo, despite its well worn condition, has such a 'modern' feel to it. I suppose they are in 'whites' because they are catering or cookhouse wallahs. The two not in 'forage caps' seem to be wearing a precursor of the latter-day 'jungle hat'. Very intriguing to this non-military-historian! Thanks for going to the trouble of straightening us out - and for posting the image in the first place.

I wonder if the postcard eventually found its way into your hands Jim because it failed to find its way into Miss Yorston's. Apart from the skimpy address, would one penny, even in those days, have been sufficient for a missive from Orkney to Canada, particularly one marked INLAND POSTAGE ONLY? If not, it probably never left Britain's shores, giving it a rather better chance of being found by you than if it had had to make a return-journey across the Atlantic. (I'm assuming you didn't buy it in Nova Scotia.)

Card possibly posted by Charles Stewart Smith who was born 13.6.1881,Kirkwall,son of Charles Smith,a Draper in Kirkwall,and Tomima Smith, m.s.Hewison,from Westray.
Field Service caps, as worn by the majority in photo 26294, were introduced in 1894 and first worn by British troops in India.

For the record this came from a UK postcard dealer on eBay along with other cards of the German fleet in Scapa Flow, not from Nova Scotia. I think the postage rate is OK though for a postcard, but someone else will know for sure.

I have found Yorston connections with Nova Scotia Jim, for about the time the card was posted, but not got all the facts together to link it positively with Miss A.M.Yorston.Great find though.

A house in Manse Lane, Stromness used to be called Pictou. Don't suppose it has any direct connection to Miss Yorston's Canadian address.