Occupation of Brandfort, South Africa, 1899 (b/w photo)

‘Occupation of Brandfort after evacuation forced by splendid detour of Canadian, Australian and New Zealand mounted infantry’, 1900 circa. Stereoscopic photograph, Boer War, 1900 circa. Initially, the British expressed a preference for infantry volunteers from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, so the first colonial contingents included a number of infantry companies, but these were converted to mounted infantry almost as soon as they reached the theatre of operations, where the need for mobility had been well recognised. Many of the colonial soldiers were experienced horsemen, used to an outdoor life in their homelands, and made expert mounted infantrymen, able to meet the Boers on their own terms. From a box of 89 stereoscopic cards entitled, ‘South African War through the Stereoscope Pt 2 Vol 1'. Published by Underwood and Underwood and produced by Works and Sun Sculpture Studios, 1900 circa.