Mystery uniform
 

Does anyone recognise this unit as South African, probably dates from c1906/12, has grenade collar badges and a grenade above the trumpeters trade badge which is of a type peculiar to engineer and artillery units but I don’t recognise the cap badge in as far as one can make it out from its shape, there are no photographer’s details and he wears a 3 bar medal perhaps for Boer War
With thanks in anticipation

Hi,
I for one have never seen a uniform like that worn by any South African unit, even in the post Boer war to pre UDF period (1903 - 1912)

I don't recognize the cap badge as South African either, though the collar grenades and embroidered arm grenade do appear to be Engineers.

The uniform appears to be gray with silver lace trim and very light facing colour (pale blue or green). The jacket appears unusual with tunic pockets and a stiff stand collar. Lacing and shoulder boards typical for a junior officer but this chap has sergeant stripes.

I want to say that it appears to all be put together like a staged photograph, but the chap does come across very official like he belongs in that uniform.

Mystery unit
 

I am sure he is pukker, , people dressed up i.e. mocked up always look odd in some give away manner. The uniform could be grey but I think it is drab like many of the British Yeomanry regiments wore post Boer War, with light coloured facings as you say, a similar colour scheme to the Northamptonshire Yeomanry for example who wore drab with pale blue facings, it’s just not the sort of uniform one expects from an engineer unit. I am fairly certain he isn’t British but if he is from the Dominions then he doesn’t immediately appear to my eye to be Canadian, Australian or New Zealand. Thanks for your interest