Boer War uniform?

[indigobloke]

An acquaintance asked about this uniform. Photo thought to date to c. 1900. Distinctive darker cuffs and collar markings but I couldn't match the uniform on the web.

[MaecW]

Seems to be Khaki Drill uniform. I'd agree with your dating. Most likely India - see this illustration of the 33rd Punjabis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:33rd_Punjabis_(15_Punjab)_(PMs)_1910.jpg
which clearly shows their coloured cuffs and collars.
Not an area I know too much about : did British Army regiments serving in India wear the same uniform as Indian Army regiments ?

[ShaunJ]

I don't think this is British (or Indian) army. Looking at the boots and the headgear, my first thought was Eastern Europe. Do you know who the soldier is?

[indigobloke]

Shaun, it’s the maternal great grandfather of an acquaintance, named Ernest Dean. Was a resident of New Zealand but not necessarily born there. Suggested date of photo was c. 1899.

[ShaunJ]

Ernest Dean. Was a resident of New Zealand

So its not Eastern Europe then!

My next guess is a volunteer militia unit, perhaps in New Zealand.

[indigobloke]

Shaun, unfortunately I don’t know the history of this guy. He may only have moved to New Zealand after 1918 and have been born in the UK, for example. However, I do think Eastern Europe unlikely. Thanks for your input. Looks like I should quiz my acquaintance on the finer details of his maternal lineage!

[MaecW]

I should have noted that the Khaki Drill was worn in Tropical climates, not so much India, more Africa.
It seems General Roberts insisted on a new, more suitable, uniform for his Ashanti expedition. Taken with the half-calf boots and the forage cap this would be about the right period - say 1880-90s.
I'd agree NZ Volunteers might be possible but it seems most, if not all, of their units aped the British with colourful and decorative dress.

[T1]

This is a typical uniform of the Volunteer Force in New Zealand.  The NZ volunteers first brought in a khaki uniform with coloured collar and cuffs (facings) in 1891, but replaced it with a blue kit blue in 1895.  However, a lot of units retained the older khaki version due to cost.  After 1897, NZ volunteers could pretty much wear what they liked.  Many new Companies of NZ volunteers were raised from 1898 onwards, and most of the new units used khaki uniforms with coloured facings, very similar to this.

Similar uniforms were worn by volunteers and militia in some of the Australian colonies from 1885 onwards, but the flavour of this pic is very much NZ.  Note the side cap shown dates the photo from the early 1890s onwards, probably after 1895 if it is in NZ.  By this time the leather gaiters shown were really only being worn in the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ, cloth puttees being used everywhere else.

Unlikely you can pin down the precise unit from the picture alone, as the uniform is pretty generic.

For comparison see a similar uniform worn by New Zealanders half way down this page: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/1649-the-volunteers-early-military-history-in-the-hauraki-plains  Note: all units had the side cap, but a lot also had either a hat (as here) or a helmet for formal wear.

T

[indigobloke]

Thanks so much, T1 ... this really seems to tick all the boxes: date, place etc.