Is this a photograph of my grandfather in the RAMC?
QMy grandfather, Thomas Henry Butler, enlisted in the Army in February 1899 at 19 and joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He went to South Africa in January 1900. I inherited a box of mementoes from this time that included a picture of a young soldier. When he enlisted, my grandfather was serving in the 3rd Middlesex Regiment of the Militia. Can you tell me if it’s him in the photo? Marilyn Healy harder. Part of the problem comes from the huge distances fought over. Replacement kit was hard to find, and kit was often replaced by whatever was handy. It’s a studio shot that may well have been taken in South Africa. He isn’t wearing either of the Boer War medals, which may not have been issued until he returned. My first thought was that he might be Australian, since more than 16,000 men served during the war and introduced the slouch hat to British troops, but he doesn’t look to be a fighting soldier. Although there’s nothing to positively identify him as an RAMC soldier, the articles (straps or protection) round the hands may be a clue.
Phil Tomaselli
AThis isn’t an easy photo to be definite about. The quality isn’t good, and there are few positive points for identification. It’s almost certainly from the period of the Boer War of 1899–1902, but after that it gets
1HAT STYLE
The slouch hat (one side of the brim turned up) became fashionable in the Boer War, when first worn by Australian units but copied by others.
2 BRIM
The brim is turned up on the wrong side for a fighting soldier. Brim down on the left side would obstruct a rifle when sloped over the left shoulder.
3
JACKET
4
RED CROSS
He’s wearing a late Victorian lightweight serge frock jacket with five buttons issued in warmer climates.
The RAMC were soldiers, but were not expected to fight and indicated their status by prominently displaying a red cross on a white background, usually on each arm. These could be removable armlets, but I’d still expect a smaller Red Cross badge sewn on the upper sleeve and none is visible.
5 HAND PROTECTION
He seems to have something around his hands below the cuff. These would interfere with using a rifle, but might be protection for carrying wooden-handled stretchers.