Watering Artillery horses, Welgelegen, South Africa, 1899 (b/w photo)

‘Taking Artillery Horses to water - great March to Pretoria - Welgelegen, S.A’. Stereoscopic photograph, Boer War, 1900 circa. The British relied on thousands of horses to draw their artillery and supplies. Many of these animals, sent from Britain and not acclimatised, succumbed to the tough dry conditions on the veldt. The average life expectancy of a British horse, from the time of its arrival in Port Elizabeth, was around six weeks. 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.