Field Dressing : Shoeing-Smith S M Woods, 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse

Boer War field dressing. The pale khaki cotton packaging, which was originally stitched around three edges with black cotton, has been opened at one end and the contents removed. These consist of a woollen pad and a length of gauze, which have been wrapped in a waterproofed cotton bandage. A roll of cotton bandage is also present. Printed in black on the front of the wrapper are the words 'WAR OFFICE, MEDICAL DIVISION. FIRST FIELD DRESSING. Tear Black Thread in centre of long stitch. Apply first Wool Pad; second Gauze; third, Waterproof. Fasten lightly with Bandage and Pins. If two wounds, put pad on one, gauze on other, and divide waterproof. S. Maw, Son & Thompson, London.'

Field dressing carried by 747 Shoeing Smith Samuel Mullen Woods, who served with A Company, 2 Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, in South Africa on the Natal border and West Transvaal between February and July 1902.