Some photographs are too good not to share and this photograph definitely falls into that category. I bought it not so long ago, along with a couple of other photos wich had belonged to 8698 Private Ernest Albert Gander. He had served with No 3 Company, RAMC, 3rd (Highland) Brigade Field Hospital which is why I believe that this photo shows this particular unit.
The photo must date to between 1900 and 1902 and was taken in South Africa during the Boer War; native orderlies can also clearly be seen in this image. I have added this image to Ernest Gander’s profile on British Army Ancestors although I have not currently identified him in this image – but he’s there somewhere.
Ernest Gander was a career soldier who joined the army in February 1890 as a boy soldier and who, having completed 21 years’ service with the RAMC, was discharged in 1911. He re-enlisted during the First World War and served from 1915 to 1919. When he re-enlisted in 1915 he was then 40 years old.
Thankfully Ernest has papers that survive and these, together with the three photos I bought, enable me to paint a full picture of this man’s service. An added bonus is that one of the photos which dates to his FirstWorld War service has the names of all the men printed at the bottom, thus potentially allowing me to identify more men for British Army Ancestors.
I will have more to say about Ernest Gander on my British Army Ancestors Facebook page later this week.
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