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.

[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.