Shot at dawn

[Chris Boonzaier]

I have just recieved a superb, wonderful, great, etc. etc. photo album with 70-80 Boer war photos.
Some of the photos are well known and have been published in books, some I have never seen.
As was comman in the day, prints could be ordered from the photographer, which means I am happy to have original prints of some of the most famous Boer generals of the war .
When I ordered the album, I did nor expect to get material this good.

First example is a Photo of Chas Lotter before his execution. He was sentenced to death for Murder (shooting spies), trainwrecking, whipping british subjects (unarmed scouts) and treason (He claimed he was no British subject, the Brits claimed he was).
Lotter led a mounted Commando who crossed the border into the british occupied Cape colony and raided behind British lines, tying up large British Cavalry forces who were needed to hunt him and the other Boer Commanders operating in the Cape.
As can be seen in the second photo, many of his troops were teenaged boys who were out looking for adventure. Both photos were taken after capture.

[Chris Boonzaier]

1

[Chris Boonzaier]

A British soldier punishing a looter.
Baden powell, founder of the Boy Scouts had starving Africans shot for stealing a goat during the seige of Mafeking.
Anyway you look at it, the black Africans were unfortunate victims in the Boer war.