TOPIC:

Maurice, Vol II, Map 31







..

Image pertaining to be of Theron's Scouts, part of the Boer Force besieging Ladysmith.

  At the outbreak of war, as a captain, Danie Theron was responsible for establishing the Boer intelligence scouts, and they first saw ‘action’ around Ladysmith.

Dave,

This shot is from a series of heavily staged photographs. Although the caption often describes the men as Danie Théron's Scouts, close inspection shows that all is not quite as it seems.

The print below is from the album of Majoor von Wichmann, Transvaal Staatsartillerie. Interestingly he has crossed out the caption "Verkenners van Danie Théron. 1: In actie (sniping)", and replaced it with the German “Scharfschützen im Gefecht” or “Snipers in Battle”. It seems his interest in this image lay in the fact that it shows three Staatsartillerists, readily identifiable by their distinctive field dress (pale sand-grey tunics with blue shoulder straps). The badge on the slouch hat of the furthest of these three men is just discernible as a Staatsartillerie “SA”. The central figure with the dark jacket also appears to be wearing Staatsartillerie breeches.

The photograph is packed with interesting detail. For instance, I would love to know what the item with "Z.A.R." stencilled on it is (last close-up below).











..

Neville, I think they are all artillerists, as 5 carry Boer Mauser carbines. Only 7,000 of these handy little carbines were made, of which 1000 were issued to the Staatsartillerie, and the remainder mainly issued to foreign vounteers.

Neville, on first glance and in the context of the items on the makeshift table close by, the box looks like a grinder of sorts. (perhaps for coffee bean surrogates?) Alternatively, perhaps a fire maker?

Neville, perhaps the ZAR contraption is some kind of rudimentary guitar instrument? Perhaps a bit of a random theory?lol!