Non-Imperial Medical Personnel

Posts : 256 Join date : 2017-07-21 Location : San Diego, CA

What would the duty station for non Imperial medical personnel be during a major engagement? Take for example, Surgeon Frank Buee of the 1/3rd NNC. Would he have been assisting Surgeon Major Peter Shepherd and his staff?

Subject: Re: Non-Imperial Medical Personnel Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:42 am

Mike I would imagine that Buee would have been practicing his trade. Seems logic he would have been close to the hospital tent area.
A question that could help would be was he identified in any way as a medical man? Shepherd would quite possibly have worn the maroon tags but would Buee?
The reason I bring that up is that if he did have visual identification there could be very easily be a case of mistaken identity with he and Shepherd.
This could answer the question of the two sightings attiruted to Shepherd, on the saddle and on the trail with Macleroy. The later being with Buee not Macleroy.
Just another Fart in the wind. Very Happy

as the dearly departed Les would say.

Subject: Re: Non-Imperial Medical Personnel Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:15 am

Frank,

I agree as Doctor his duties would have been to the wounded, either at the hospital tent or treating the wounded in the field.

Like this engraving depicts:
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(John Young Collection.)

Maroon tabs - we talking the Army Medical Department, rather than the Royal Army Medical Corps.

It is possible that Buee wore some form of patrol jacket, or possibly wore an armband with the Geneva Cross.

In Full Dress a regular A.M.D. officer would be easy to spot.

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Surgeon, A.M.D., post-1874 Full Dress.
(John Young Collection.)

The giveaways in Full Dress: The Cocked-Hat had black cock’s tail feathers. The Pouch-Belt was Black Morocco leather, with stripes of gold embroidery.

However, in a Patrol Jacket, a Surgeon is harder to spot.

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Surgeon, A.M.D., in an Infantry Pattern Patrol Jacket.
(John Young Collection.)

There was an A.M.D. Pattern Patrol Jacket that was introduced prior to 1879, like the pattern I donated to the then Natal Museums Service, that is on display at Rorke’s Drift.

As shown here worn by a Surgeon-Major ranked as a Major below, wearing his cross-belt.

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Surgeon-Major, A.M.D. Pattern Patrol Jacket, circa 1879
(John Young Collection.)

JY

Subject: Re: Non-Imperial Medical Personnel Thu Aug 11, 2022 11:00 am

Thanks John, as always most illuminating. It was just a thought while looking at the differing accounts of Shepherds final resting place, Muirheads version or Harford. Harfords mentions Shepherds body position twice in his diary giving details of his injuries etc and seems more compelling.

Frank

» Part One, Finding the Zulu: Responses of British army personnel and War Correspondents in the conflict of 1879.
» Medical Examination 1870s ?
» Medical Report of 5 of the Wounded at Rorke’s Drift
» Reynolds Medical Kit
» Medical services in the AZW