rusticalex

Now in Comino...any info welcome about Comino at the time, why these soldiers were there, and why they had to disinfect please!

David (my grandfather) is actually on the right, not the left.

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My grandfather's tent...although it really is not the main feature of this photo!!

Bashi-Bazouks!

Touristy snapshots!

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I'm not quite sure when these photos were taken as they are not dated, but they are taken by my great uncle, so must have been whilst he (and my grandfather) were taking part in the 'Crete disturbances in Malta' before the Boer War. They are a mixed bunch, but some of them are hopefully of interest. The album is just under 6" wide, and the photos are 3" wide. Please ask if you would like close ups of any of the photos, and please feel very free to offer any insights into this particular episode, as I know nothing about it, and please make any comments about the photos as you please!

Thanks

Alex

Inside cover...

Alex - I don't really feel that that your album posts are the right place to discuss the 'politics' and tactics of the Boer War. Unless it is by common consent and everyone treads very carefully. Rather like the past in Ireland and Ulster, people here in Sth. Africa still have very strong feelings on the subject. To really take an in-depth look at the subject, extensive research is required - there are no quick explanations that could satisfy everyone and it would detract from the more superficial aspect of the excellent and informative photographs.

I quite agree Mervyn. I will continue to let the photographs tell their story. Should I move the link in my previous post?

Alex

'Commandeered' means that British troops had taken it from a Boer Farm. Because this was a battle area and the Commandos would have been returning to the farms at night, this became an area where the women and children were sent to 'concentration camps' and the farms burned. This was Kitchener's policy and it was a terrible act, which 'blackened' the British name.

I shall look forward to seeing more of these albums - I do hope you do have more ?

I found this website the other day My link, and the 'gallery of shame' made me realise just what an appalling war this was, or at least the behaviour of the decision makers, and the manipulation of certain characters (sorry admin if I am not supposed to put links to other websites). I wonder about my grandfather's and uncle's part in it, but guess, just like all wars, they were just pawns in it all doing their bit for crown and country. I am very naive about the politics so intend to further educate myself. I am learning all the time via this fabulous forum.

I have 2 more Boer albums (I will save the best until last, 'cos that's the kind of guy I am!), and one from Comino. I also have lots of loose photos, which I'll post at some stage.

Alex

Hope you enjoy these.

Alex

For some reason, these photos have gone orange at some stage!

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My grandfather with Syria...

Inside cover...

What is a Portmanteau?

Thanks for all the instructive and interesting comments from the first Boer War album I posted - My link - please educate me with your comments about this next one, which comes, mostly, from 1901, and which belonged to my grandfather. The album is just over 5" wide, and the photos 3" wide.

Cheers

Alex

Can anyone date this photograph that I have? I can do close ups if that helps!

Thanks

Alex

Absolutely brilliant and a rare piece of history. What regiment did he serve in?.

My grandfather:

I will do a profile on him at some stage, and his brother, but I've no idea where to start on either of them, as we have so many photos, letters, etc, etc! I'll stick with simpler things for the moment!!

Alex

Thanks Paul. Interestingly enough, I was looking at the signature on the illustration...

...and I don't know if it is the same chap, but Disderi was a daguerreotypist - My link - it says that he studied art early on. I'm not sure what the rest of the writing indicates, but maybe I shouldn't get too obsessed about all of this! The main thing for me was to find out more about why my cousin had this illustration and the eagle that is on the haussecol around his neck, in her possession, but instead I've found out plenty of other intriguing things!

Thanks again.

Alex

Something must have been happening out of shot to the left!!

I'll volunteer to look after all your collection if you want Alex

Very kind of you, but can you provide references??!! Mind you, if you're ever down this way, I'd always be glad for you to have a look.

:beer:

Is this sort of thing of interest? I don't know why we have it, and I will keep an eye out for a charge sheet, if there is one. Any comments welcome.

Thanks

Alex

Alex - the Boer War was really the first major conflict that photographs were freely taken - Kodak having invented that small camera that could close-up. This means that war scenes are not that rare from the period - never-the-less, I would value these , in an album of the period, at about £300 -£400.($450 - $525). They mostly seem to show areas from the old Northern Province (now Limpopo Province) which was heavily fought over in the last part of the War. What is interesting is the mixture of general type pictures and the scenes of prisoners and of damage to property. The photo of Viljoen - just after capture is probably a valuable one in it's own right.

They seem to have survived well - however, don't expose them to light - rather have them copied to show people.

The block houses were built across the Country to stop the Boer Commando's getting to their farms for supplies. There are now - I think - only three original ones left.

The ant heap - is of course, a termite mound.

Field guns on the march - three outriders controlling six horses. They used to sit on the right horses, but some years earlier they were changed to the left - allowed the rider to control the other horse easier with his right hand.

The Field Hospital is very interesting - I will post a model of a waggon to show the detail. Imagine being operated on in the middle of 'nowhere'.

'M.I.' ponies - this stood for Mounted Infantry. A new technique had to be invented for local infantry to keep up with the quick moving Boers. Many local regiments were converted into Mounted Infantry - they used the horses to move quickly, but dismounted to fight as infantry - with horeseholders looking after the horses.

A 'drift' is a local word for a crossing point in a river - a Ford.

Wow...that is all extremely interesting...and I am most amazed at your valuation Mervyn, but judging by your knowledge of the photos, I bow to your knowledge about the album's worth! I'll be intrigued to hear your comments about the other albums/photos I'm going to put on here. I think what I need to do is read a book or two about the war - is Thomas Pakenham's book a good start? Thanks for the tips on how to protect the photos. I must admit, we (my family) have so many bits and pieces that have just sat in a dry, dark room for years, that I wonder how I can protect it all for the future. I guess I'll learn as I go!

Cheers

Alex