Signature

[Sue Mackay]

I'd appreciate help reading this signature. The letters after his name are M.D. and the bit below says Acting Surgeon Major B-Wing C.M.R. (Cape Mounted Rifles)

https://i.postimg.cc/fL5QBYCV/Screen...-25-192534.jpg

[Lesley Robertson]

Is the downward stroke on the left the initial of the forename? If so, the initial of the surname seems to be U.... Mind you, half the other letters also seem to be u.

This is what happens when you try and study a doctor

[arthurk]

The first character (ie the initial) looks the same as the letter before 'Wing', but I wonder if it might be 'R' rather than 'B'. Although it's not identical to the one in C.M.R., it does have a similar pattern of squiggles.

Then I think the surname begins with 'C' and ends with 'ing'. My first thought was Chevening (if that's a name as well as a place), but now I'm wondering about Cumming.

[Sue Mackay]

Yes, I think it is Cumming, and turns out there was a J. Cumming who was a medical officer in the army according to Fold3, though I am not sure J is the initial. Thanks for looking folks.

[Lesley Robertson]

Do you have an idea of the year?

[Pam Downes]

Do you have an idea of the year?

Date stamp on it is 13 Sep 1881.

[helachau]

Civil and Military Gazette, 18 Feb 1882

Cummings, Surgeon Major, K W, M.D, A.M.D, from Medical charge Royal Artillery, Secunderabad attached to C.B Royal Horse Artillery temporarily to d.d. Royal Artillery, Secunderabad.

Could the initial be "K" before "Cumming"?

e

[Sue Mackay]

Civil and Military Gazette, 18 Feb 1882

Cummings, Surgeon Major, K W, M.D, A.M.D, from Medical charge Royal Artillery, Secunderabad attached to C.B Royal Horse Artillery temporarily to d.d. Royal Artillery, Secunderabad.

Could the initial be "K" before "Cumming"?

e

Thanks, that’s worth investigating

[Sue Mackay]

My friend (whose query this really is) has found reference to a Dr. Robert Cumming at the Cape at the right period. We think this is him, and it is R-wing not B-wing CMR

[Lesley Robertson]

Handwritten R and K can look alike.