Hi There,

JP if your out there maybe you can help me:)

I' m finally starting my 120mm RCR Boer War and I have conflicting research material. I took out my trusty book "100 Years Royal Canadian Regiment" by C.P. Stacy and the wonderful picture The Dawn Of Mujaba Bay" I was going to use the individual with his Helmet in the air etc etc. I was then going through some pictures I have that I took at the Citadel in Halifax and went mmmmmmm. The question is the webgear in the painting it is white with no bandolier in the museum it is dark brown leather webgear with a bandolier actually it is the same as what the mounted troops wore i.e LDSH. Also the only markings that said Canadian was on the left side of the hat no shoulder flashes.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Ray

Ray,

Boer War was definitely well before my time! :-)

That being said, anything I've seen about the RCR uniforms during the Boer War indicate that the webbing was white(ish) cloth that was further darkened using a variety of methods. The fancy rich cavalry troopers got the expensive leather stuff, while the poor bloody infantry sufficed with cloth.

I don't have a clue about the accoutrements, but I'll try to have a look around.

I'd suggest you use the Dawn of Majuba print as a 'reference' - the Regt reveres that picture.

Cheers,
JP

Hi JP,

Thanks I've since uncovered some pictures that show other "modes" of dress. I'm with you I think I will use the dress from the painting. I guess like any lengthy campaign the Canadians were probably in all kinds of different dress. As a past soldier I wore British and American kit in the field, one of my most treasured items was an Australian combat sweater (had cool pen holders in the sleeve )

Anyways I did uncover a picture of the boys on the march and they had white webgear on and another picture of the boys going up a hill just before the attack on Paadeberg and all they had on was an american bandolier, a water bottle and bayonet. The picture in the Osprey book "Canadians at War" is based on this. You know this one of the things about the hobby that I love, doing the research. I'll be talking to a friend on Tuesday who has quite an extensive library and we are going to take a look.

Like I said earlier my heart is with the painting though.

Cheers

Ray