Dr. Beatson's Medical officer's uniform, black serge, consisting of jacket, overcoat and helmet, British, 1870-1930

On most of the buttons of this uniform are the words “Royal Army Medical Corps” with the symbol of snake coiled around a rod. The Corps was part of the British Army and was founded in 1898, although there had been a long history of medical units providing care and treatment for soldiers. The rod and snake symbol is associated with Asklepios, the Greek and Roman god of healing and medicine and has long associations with the medical profession.

This dress uniform would probably have been worn during parades and formal events. The uniform includes a shirt, trousers, a dress coat, an overcoat made from black serge and a helmet with the words “Honi soit qui mal y pense, Dieu et mon droit”. French for “Evil be to him who evil thinks, God and my right”.