Another Uniform Mystery

[Boongie Pam]

I have another mystery from a relative who is going through some photos - these are also unnamed people we are trying to work out who they are and using uniforms/badges to help.

The person in uniform I am stretched to identify if it is the same person in the other photo. The hair and face are so similar! Obviously they are dressed very differently. So my query is...

Does this strike you as a military uniform?

Could it be a female playing dress up - has anyone seen that before?

We do have a female relative who was a missionary in India - would they have worn military style clothing?? A real long shot!

There is nothing written on the back of the photos to even identify the location of the photographer.

[Andy J2022]

The uniform is an other ranks khaki field dress issued to soldiers during the second Boer War. It shows one good conduct stripe and what appears to be a marksman's badge on the left sleeve.  The wearer does not look old enough to have had at least two years adult service (necessary to gain the GC stripe). That, plus the long hair and distinctly unmilitary shoes suggest this dressing up.
 

[Neale1961]

Wearing woman's shoes. Perhaps, dressing up in the uniform of her father or brother.

[jim1]

To answer your question women did dress up in men's uniforms.
Pic. 1 looks late 1890's - early 1900's which would fit with this
Being a Boer War era uniform.
Agree the same woman in both.
Bear in mind that female entertainers wore uniforms particularly
during periods of conflict.

[Boongie Pam]

Brilliant thank you all! Fantastic to know it looks like a real uniform, regardless of who is wearing it! As it gives us clues.

The uniform is an other ranks khaki field dress issued to soldiers during the second Boer War. It shows one good conduct stripe and what appears to be a marksman's badge on the left sleeve.  The wearer does not look old enough to have had at least two years adult service (necessary to gain the GC stripe). That, plus the long hair and distinctly unmilitary shoes suggest this dressing up.
 

Andy, this gives us some really great steers. I am basically unsure if it is connected to the male or female line of a close relative so knowing the Boer War connection may lead to at least ruling out some lines of the family by virtue of the birth dates and whether the generations align. For example nobody was in WW1 in my maternal line as either too old or too young. Where as my partner has the same but with WW2. Fascinating (to me at least)!

[Boongie Pam]

To answer your question women did dress up in men's uniforms.
Pic. 1 looks late 1890's - early 1900's which would fit with this
Being a Boer War era uniform.
Agree the same woman in both.
Bear in mind that female entertainers wore uniforms particularly
during periods of conflict.

Thank you Jim for the dating of the hat/dress!

[Boongie Pam]

I’ve now traced who this lady is likely to be. Found the same photo in a connected tree. It is thought to be her brother’s uniform.