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David, that's a very interesting image. Note the men have reversed their helmets so they can see better!
I think the gun is a .303 Colt machine gun, rather than a Maxim, but I could be wrong.
I attach some photos of Colt machine guns in the Natal campaign. I understand these are mounted on Dundonald's patented "galloping carriage".
Rob

The civilian manning the gun in both pictures may be “Mr. Garrett” a representative of the Colt factory. WSC has this to say in L to L. Re: Sunday, February 12, 1900. Reconnaissance in force of Hussar Hill was made by Dundonald. Jack Churchill is wounded.

“The Colt Battery drew the cream of the fire, and Mr. Garrett, one of the experts sent out by the firm, was shot through the ankle, but he continued to work his gun. Captain Hill walked up and down his battery exposing himself with great delight, and showing that he was a very worthy representative of an Irish constituency.”

This picture must have been taken on the same day. Jack was only on the front line for a week before he was wounded. He did return to his unit in Natal while WSC went with Roberts to OFS.


“Winston Churchill and his brother. Winston looks through a telescope, and Jack [standing].”
Navy & Army Vol 10 (April 28th, 1900) p. 129 of PDF See Also: Anglo Boer War - Armored Train Ambush 11-15-99 Chuchill & Haldane - Page 19 - Boer War Forum.

Fascinating photo of the Churchill brothers!
I was told that the man shooting a Colt gun in both photos was Captain Hill, M.P., but often there is mis-identification...
Rob

A side view of the galloping Maxim. This is a different angle to the picture posted by pfireman here.



A galloping maxim
Gun mounted on carriage invented by Lord Dundonald

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/19-ephemera/3...-jack?start=78#96445

The first trials for Dundonald's Galloping Gun Carriage took place in June 1898.


Aberdeen Journal, 22nd June 1898

NEW GALLOPING GUN-CARRIAGE.

On the cavalry drill-ground in Windsor Park a trial has just taken place of the galloping gun-carriage invented by the Earl of Dundonald, commanding the 2nd Life Guards. One of the principal merits of the carriage is its extreme lightness. Built of steel, and of the same width as the service pattern, its weight, inclusive of gun and ammunition, is less than 400lb, whereas that of the ordinary Maxim carriage is upwards of 9cwt. As a result of the lessened weight only one horse is required, instead of two, while a single man can if necessary move the carriage for a considerable distance with very little fatigue. It is obvious that its use is not restricted to cavalry, but that it is just the weapon of the kind required for a landing party. The shafts, made of hickory and steel, are promptly detachable, so that the vibration caused by the parting of the horse is got rid of, and quick unlimbering and steadiness is secured. By clever contrivances, the man can limber at any angle, the harness can be shifted on to any other cavalry horse in case of need, and the tendency to upset if one wheel gets on higher ground than the other is neutralised by breaking the continuity between the horse and carriage. The wheel itself, which is made of hickory and steel, carries a narrow steel tyre. A notable feature of the invention is a rotary ammunition carrier, which has a capacity for 1250 rounds, while all-round fire is possible without changing the position of the carriage. Lord Dundonald contends that the use of the gun-carriage will lead, among other things, to considerable economy in men, since two guns can be worked by three men, one of the latter holding the horses while his comrades fire. It was on this principle, in conjunction with a troop of Life Guards, that the trial was conducted with the two gun-carriages on Saturday, and, in the opinion of military experts, with much success. The cavalry drill-ground was not rough enough to test the gun-carriage very searchingly, bit it was stated that on former occasions they had stood a severe trial, with the most favourable results. In addition to the new galloping gun-carriage, which was regarded on all hands as likely to prove of the highest value, there was also on view a light squadron cart designed by Lord Dundonald as supplementary to his more important venture.



To build the carriages, a new company was formed in November 1899. In an attempt to attract investors, advertisements were inserted in the financial columns of the press.

"As the demand for weapons of destruction is greatly on the increase, and these improved military appliances must of necessity grow in request, the business of the company should be considerable, and the return on capital large".

The company went into liquidation in April 1910 (London Gazette, 26th April 1910).


Sheffield Independent, 18th November 1899

THE COLT GUN AND CARRIAGE Co.

The Colt Gun and Carriage Company, with a capital of £500,000, is announced, and the Lancashire Finance Association, Limited, invite subscriptions for an issue of £250,000 shares - £150,000 remaining for future issue, the vendors receiving the whole of the purchase price – less £50,000 – in shares. £50,000 will be devoted to working capital – a sum which is guaranteed. The object of the company is to acquire certain rights in the inventions of the Colt automatic quick-firing gun, and what is called a galloping gun carriage.

Earl Dundonald’s invention for gun and ammunition carriages show a great advance over the old methods of traction. Lord Dundonald, seeing the necessity for a carriage that should be light, strong, and simple, and readily attached to any cavalry saddle, has introduced a gun vehicle which can be drawn by one galloping horse over ground which cannot be covered by existing gun carriages. By his system a gun carriage can now be utilised for attack or defence by one efficient man. The Dundonald carriage claims to possess every possible advantage, for not does it only possess the quality stated, but it offers a steady platform for firing with an all round fire, while it can store sufficient ammunition for practical purposes when facing the enemy, and can be made available for cavalry or infantry in a manner far superior to any carriage now in use. The patents acquired by the company under all heads number 52, and the board is essentially a representative and influential one. As the demand for weapons of destruction is greatly on the increase, and these improved military appliances must of necessity grow in request, the business of the company should be considerable, and the return on capital large. The enterprise is certainly opportune, and we hear shares are largely in demand.







Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 24th February 1900


..

The post 96432 by Rob D showing Colt guns being used on the Tugela is interesting; especially the splendid, detailed study of the soldiers and civvy behind the gun. I have seen the Colt M95 MG referred to as a "tape gun". Indeed, in the pic of the two Colts in action, in each gun the tape from which the rounds have been extracted and fired can be seen coiling from the guns' breeches. They were in calibre .303".
As an aside, the mechanism of the Colt MG was air cooled and fired from a closed bolt - so it would have been a hot little number after a couple of hundred rounds.. Is it my eyesight, or does the left hand Colt MG in Rob D's post have a lighter (slimmer) barrel than that of the RH gun? A field trial perhaps?
I suggest that as the Colt illustrated in Rob's second pic has a very heavy barrel indeed (much heavier) than those shown in references. It would have needed a thicker/heavier barrel for longer firing - though the air cooling would still have limited its use.
Regards
IL.