TOPIC:

I found a local shop that deals with historical miltary clothing yesterday here in Ceredigion and they presented me with a quandary

This is the one I have at the moment which according to the description was around during the First Boer War
but then they introduced me to this, which was invented in 1900 and therefore would have been used in the Second Boer War

Could I ask therefore which one is more likely to have been worn in the Second Boer War?

The 1st example would be fine.