TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of C and T Auctions

Described as:

British Boer War Full Uniform, Headdress and Equipment Mannequin of a Private in the 2nd Battalion ‘F’ Company Hampshire Regiment Mounted Infantry, fine khaki four pocket tunic with high collar. Brass post 1902 general service buttons. Brass Hampshire regiment (rose) collar badges and brass HANTS shoulder titles. KD other ranks trousers with khaki putties and black leather boots with stirrups. Complete with a rare early Boer War period enlisted ranks felt slouch hat with cloth pagri and brass 2/MI headdress badge. The set is mounted onto a museum display mannequin with a full set of leather equipment, including cavalry ammunition bandolier, early pattern felt covered water bottle with leather harness and strap, pistol holster with leather cross strap having loops for spare ammunition. Brown leather map / document case with shoulder strap. Enamel drinking cup and heliograph mirror in circular tin. The mannequin is mounted onto a moveable museum display stand. We have not removed any items from this display. We are not able to offer in house post and packing on this lot as it stands, specialist shipping or personal collection recommended. Late Rod Flood collection.

Hmmm,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not sure anything on this mannequin is ABW, apart from (perhaps) the officer's pattern water bottle....

Neville,

That is interesting. I find it difficult to know.

This picture of Erskine Childers, CIV, has some similarities but many more differences.



Looking at many uniforms from the Boer War, there is a lot of variation. What features point to this not being Boer War?

With thanks
David

Interested Forum members
For one, the bandolier is a later pattern; it being made to carry chargers of five rounds.
Regards
IL.

Thank you IL,

This type of bandolier was introduced on 20 Oct 1903, and remained in use until at least WWII.

Also, as far as I am aware, khaki drill waist-belts were not worn during the ABW. The one on the mannequin looks suspiciously like a much later R.A.F. officer's belt. I have my father's tropical service jacket from WWII, which incorporates an identical belt & buckle.

The length of the frock skirt and skirt pockets look much too long to me. I have the 1900 sealed pattern officer's khaki frock here. It is considerably shorter. To me, the early stand-up collar does not match the later-looking skirt.

The tin of heliograph mirrors is certainly later.

Neville

Neville and others interested
Thanks for pointing that out; I should have termed it the bandolier equipment, Pattern 1903 bandolier 50 rounds Mark 1.
Any knowledge IL shares here about ABW uniforms is strictly limited. However, there are other aspects of the "complete Boer War uniform" shown that puzzle me. I would illustrate a very nice pic of four members of the Protectorate Regiment in field rig:


These impressive chaps are wearing a different style of tunic (no lower pockets), properly wrapped puttees, and the P.88 waist belt with bayonet on the left. Of course, things may have changed as the conflict dragged on.
Another puzzling thing (for me anyway) are the boots shown on the mannequin. They appear to be nothing like those shown worn by the Protectorate Regiment chaps (of whom, BTW, any Boer probing a perimeter would hate to run into on a dark night). The mannequin's boots appear to have a highly buffed toecap much like the ABs IL wore back in the early 60's.
IL, however, would not mind having the 2MI titles.
There is another aspect of the abovementioned pic I will share on another topic.
Best regards
IL.