A convalescent soldier (Lance-Corporal R.C. Thomas) poses in drag, wearing a silk dress and sitting with a mourning veil. Photographic postcard, 1916.

Summerdown Kate

Download the full-sized image of A convalescent soldier (Lance-Corporal R.C. Thomas) poses in drag, wearing a silk dress and sitting with a mourning veil. Photographic postcard, 1916.

"The man known as Summerdown Kate was Lance-Corporal R. C. Thomas who was at the Summerdown Convalescent Camp and a member of the camp's entertainment group (the Knuts Kamp Komedy Kompany). He was well known for his female impersonation act." (information kindly supplied by Lloyd Brunt, Joint Secretary, East Dean & Friston Local History Group). He sits in mourning attire in front of a plain background. The costume is elaborate Edwardian dowager's dress and hat, the high style of 1905. HIs presence at Summerdown Camp Military Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne is confirmed by the message on the verso written in 1916 ("Saw lady? on other side at wounded soldier's camp. He does not seem ill to me…")

Part of James Gardiner Collection: photographs of military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag.

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Item Information:

Identifier: vh53wv994
Collection: James Gardiner 20th Century Drag Postcards
Institution: Wellcome Library
Date Issued: Jan. 1, 1916
Genre: Photographs
Prints
Topic(s): Female impersonators
Resource Type: Still Image
Analog Format: 1 photograph : photoprint ;
Rights: Copyright undetermined
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