WW1 Prisoner of War photo??

[cwig]

Hi,

I am struggling to identify the uniform (and era) on this photo, it had been suggested it was a photo of a WW1 British PoW, but it doesn't look quite right to me.

The photo with some close ups:


My Problems with it are..

• The apparent "23" on the epaulet - I am not aware of any British Military unit that had numbers like this. (excepting cadet forces)

• The shape of the pocket flaps look wrong

• One of the button close ups _possibly_ show a British Army general Issue button, the other doesn't look right

• The chain, but I do keep looking at the ?coin? hanging from it, is it possibly a George V florin or possibly crown, I don't know if I am just seeing things but it possibly shows a left facing head.

The "prisoner" number, does look plausible as PoW. - I do know that postcards where sent back to home countries of PoWs to show that their relative was alive and being well looked after as a piece of propaganda.

Had considered a Police uniform but again the "prisoner" number is a bit odd

The only thing on the reverse is a hand written British Address, no stamps other writing.

Is anyone able to confirm/suggest any alternatives
Chris

[Tab]

He could have been an inmate in a British military Prison looking at the his turn out