Surprise Boer War Find

[Mervyn Mitton]

During our recent flood a number of Boer War Prints had slight damage to the mounts. After drying

they had to be re-set in new cardboard frames.

This original print from the Illustrated London News of 1900 shows a patrol of Brabant's Horse having

a rest. A black and white 1/2 page, we have an artist in the UK who watercolours them to give the

correct impression.

However, the surprise came when it was dismounted and we found that the reverse page had an

article on the famous Creusot heavy artillery that the Boers had imported from France . Even more

surprising were the pictures of the home made guns used against the British in the 1st. Boer War

of 1881.

This is the Brabant's Horse illustration.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-26643600-1342449195.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-39003900-1342449400.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-04831200-1342450210.jpgclick to enlarge

This picture shows the older 'home made' artillery used by the Boers against the British during the

First Boer War of 1881. This is the first time I have found mention of these guns.

This earlier campaign was against the Boers in order to release our troops trapped in Pretoria.

We were badly prepared for it and had insufficient troops available. We fought three battles in

the area outside of Newcastle - about 150 miles from Durban.

We were deafeated in all three - the last being at Majuba Hill where our commanding general - Sir George

Colley was killed .For years after people wore lapel badges saying - 'Remember Majuba'.

The British can be a little strange at times - we do not commemorate defeats. No medals were issued

and the General is buried in a field at the bottom of Majuba Hill. I campaigned for some years to have him

returned to London for burial at Westminster Abbey - no one was at all interested.

[Mervyn Mitton]

The following thee pages are the original write-up that accompanied the photos.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-61681800-1342451662.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-62856300-1342451846.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-95049500-1342451988.jpgclick to enlarge

[Arthur R]

What an interesting find, Mervyn. So. some good came out of the flood.

[Brian Wolfe]

A real treasure to be sure.

Thanks for sharing them with us, very interesting.

Regards

Brian