Watson’s uniform: red or blue?

[mightymads]

In TAB John’s uniform is red:



In New Russian Holmes it’s dark blue:



So which is it?

I’m no history expert, and I just tried googling. This is Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Field Officer’s Tunic, Edward David Sterne, Captain, 1888 (source):



Red, makes sense. But here’s the uniform of a member of a Royal Army Medical Corps, although of a later period (source):



Here’s Army Hospital Corps Sergeant, c. 1878:



And here’s a print of a postcard “Royal Army Medical Corps” by Richard Caton Woodville:



This is a photo of Surgeon-Major Alexander Francis Preston, who might have been one of Watson’s prototypes. It’s impossible to tell the colour of his tunic, though:



Anyone with more knowledge in history, help?

Comments

[smallhobbit]

The standard colour of the British army uniform changed with the Boer War (1900) to khaki, because wearing red coats made easy targets. Before that, only the Royal Artillery and certain troops who had taken inspiration from the Central European hussars wore blue.

Captain Sterne's uniform would be the one I'd expect, the later blue uniforms in the pictures are post 1900. The Sergeant from the Army Hospital Corps reminds me of the 'day uniform' of the Chelsea Pensioners (for more information, https://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/)

The Russian Holmes uniform looks to me more continental Europe.

[mightymads]

Thank you so much! This question has been nagging me for a long time :)

[smallhobbit]

I'm trying to look at new Russian Holmes Watson's medals, but can't see them clearly enough.

[mightymads]

I'll try to make a screencap from a HD version tomorrow

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

[mightymads]

Even in HD that's the best I could get. Being a layman and having no knowledge, I tried searching anyway.

The first one seems to be The Afghanistan medal which makes perfect sense as it was awarded to those who served in Afghanistan in 1878–1880 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_Medal_(United_Kingdom)

UPD Correction for the second and third ones. Those were Kandahar Bronze Star and The Distinguished Conduct Medal, although the latter’s ribbon was red-blue-red, not white-red-white.

http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/waroffice/medals.php

[colebaltblue]

was the Royal Army Medical corp a different "group" than the Berkshires? In other words, would Watson have worn the Corps uniform as a member of the Berkshires or would he have worn the Berkshires uniform even if he was their surgeon?

[smallhobbit]

It's difficult to find much information, but so far as I can, my understanding is the corp was composed of regular men, like the sergeant, whereas Watson was an officer, which makes me think he would be more likely to wear the uniform of the Berkshires. But I can't prove this.

[tripleransom]

For what it's worth, in the RDJ films, Watson's uniform is black. I don't imagine they were really striving for historical accuracy though.

[mightymads]

I forgot to include Ritchie. Ritchie is a kind of a steampunk film, isn’t it? Not very accurate historically. But perhaps BBC did strive for accuracy.