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Bob, have a look at this site: www.lennonwylie.co.uk/RoyalIrishRifles2nd.htm
I believe there are 2 photos showing your GGF, Sgt Atkins, and one showing your grandfather (Alf) and great aunt (Amy) at school - is that correct?

Rob
Thanks for this posting of an incredibly comprehensive record and photographs.
So much detail is available.
History at school never seemed this interesting
Clive

Hello Rob,
I am speechless! This is really amazing!
My grandfather was also called George and he was born in 1896. I suspect that Alf and Amy are older siblings of my grandfather; I shall have to dig deeper to find out about what you (and now myself) believe to be distant relatives. What I also know is that at some stage my grandfather and at least one sibling moved from India, where my grandfather was born, to Malta, where they settled. I'll have to get back to you on this because I need to ask around. But thank you very much for your wealth of information.
Bob

Hello Clive
Couldn't agree more. These clever people have given my question life. Awesome!
Bob

Good News Rob,
Thanks to you, I've just been in touch, for the first time, with a second cousin whom I thought would be the most likely part of this puzzle (we share the same family name on this tiny island of Malta!). He told me via messenger that his grandfather was Alfred and his great grandfather was George. He was even kind enough to send me a picture of the two of them, attached. Bingo! Your predictions were correct. My grandfather had probably not yet been born at the time the pictures were taken, or was very small.
We still have to find out about Amy but I have found my great grandfather. Thank you.
Bob

In the latest photo your GGF, George, wears two medals; the medal specialists will probably know which one the round medal is; the other is the Khedive's Star, a campaign medal for service in Egypt/Sudan between 1882 and 1891. The crossed rifles on his forearm is a Skill-at-Arms badge. Being in a Rifles regiment, he would have had both a dark Rifle Green uniform as well as a khaki one, the latter for hot climates. Both had black buttons, and he'd have had black badges and worn black leather straps, not buff or blancoed white as in the regular iarmy. Even though he's abroad (turbanned head in front of him) he's wearing Rifle Green, as is his son.