New Zealand officer's tunic : Veterinary Lieutenant H C Wilkie, 3rd New Zealand Contingent

Khaki drab woollen service dress tunic with a stand-up collar and shoulder straps with rank insignia for lieutenant. The tunic has two upper and lower pleated patch pockets with triple pointed flaps. The breast pockets are secured with brass buttons which show four stars encircled by the words 'NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS. The front of the tunic is fastened by five brass buttons down the front. There are two brass belt hooks sewn into the back of the tunic and the sleeves have pointed cuffs. Inside the lower skirt is a white label which preceded the introduction of identity discs. This label is marked: NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT, NO. 3 (ROUGH-RIDERS) FOR SOUTH AFRICA 1900/ Regimental No. Vet. Lieutenant/Name (in full) Henry C. Wilkie/ Next-of-kin (In full) E. J. Wilkie 4 Pemberton Terrace Upper Holloway London/ Address: Depart. Agriculture Wellington New Zealand/500/2/1900-1005'.

This tunic is one of a special pattern introduced for service in South Africa. This example was worn by Veterinary Surgeon Lieutenant Henry C Wilkie from Wellington, New Zealand. From the identity tag sewn inside the tunic it would seem Wilkie was British-born and was working for the New Zealand Department of Agriculture when he enlisted. Wilkie served with the third New Zealand Contingent to South Africa, which along with the Fourth were called the 'Rough Riders'. Largely raised and funded by the people of Canterbury the contingent sailed from Lyttelton on board the Knight Templar on 17 February 1900. The Rough Riders joined the Colonial Division and served around Wepener. On 11 May the contingent left for Kroonstadt and were amalgamated with the First and Second contingents. They took part in the advance on Johannesburg and the capture of Pretoria. They embarked early in 1901 and were disbanded in New Zealand on 9 May 1901.