Ill, p.303.non-fictionStory of the siege of Ladysmithboer war 1899-1902, ladysmith - sth africa

Several bridges were built across the Tugela River by the British in their attempts to relieve Ladysmith. In December the British under Methuen were blocked from advancing on Ladysmith by the Boers. The Battle of Tugela Heights consisted of a series of military actions lasting from 14 February through to 27 February 1900 in which General Sir Redvers Buller's British army forced Louis Botha's Boer army to lift the Siege of Ladysmith during the Second Boer War.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cardstugela river, ladysmith, lord methuen, boers, battle of tugela heights, general sir redvers buller, louis botha, siege of ladysmith, second boer war

British forces in the Second Boer war were initially outgunned by the long range Boer artillery. Captain Percy Scott of HMS Terrible first improvised timber static siege mountings for two 4-7 guns from the Cape Town coastal defences, to counter the Boers' "Long Tom" gun during the Siege of Ladysmith in 1899-1900. Captain Scott then improvised a travelling carriage for 4-7 inch guns removed from their static coastal or ship mountings to provide the army with a heavy field gun. These improvised carriages lacked recoil buffers and hence in action drag shoes and attachment of the carriage by cable to a strong point in front ofthe gun were necessary to control the recoil. They're manned by Royal Navy crews and required up to 32 oxen to moveIndividual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.second boer war, boer artillery, 4-7 guns, captain percy scott, hms terrible, cape town, "long tom", siege of ladysmith

White fought at the Battle of Charasiab and at the Battle of Kandahar in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1879. White became commander of the forces in Natal in 1899 at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte. He withdrew to Ladysmith where he took command of the garrison during the Siege of Ladysmith. When his position there became untenable he was instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to destroy the guns and surrender the garrison on the best terms he could. White insisted on staying and held out for another four months before being relieved in February 1900. For this he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. Earlier he had been made Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. In 1903 he was promoted to Field Marshall. White received many awards for his service to his country. They include the Victoria Cross (1879); Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (1893); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1897); Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (1898); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1900); Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1900); Order of Merit (1905). He also received the Indian Mutiny Medal; Afghanistan Medal; Kabul to Kandahar Star; Egypt Medal (1885); India General Service Medal (1885-87); Queen's South Africa Medal - Defence of Ladysmith; Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal; King Edward VII Coronation Medal; King George V Coronation Medal; Khedive's Star. Sir George Stuart White's medal and honours are displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.george stuart white, battle of charasiab, battle of kandahar, second anglo-afghan war, victoria cross, natal, second boer war, battle of elandslaagte, kadysmith, siege of ladysmith, general sir redvers buller, knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order, field marshall, knight grand commander of the order of the indian empire, order of merit, indian mutiny medal, afghanistan medal, kabul to kandahar star, egypt medal, indian general service medal, queen's south africa medal, queen victoria diamond jubilee medal, king edward vii coronation medal, king george v coronation medal, khedive star, gordon highlanders museum

Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 1847 after buying the land from the Zulu King Mpande, a number of Boers settled in the area and called it the Republic of Klip River. The Republic was annexed by the British in the same year and on 20 June 1850 it was proclaimed a township called Windsor. In October 1850 the name changed to Ladysmith after Juana Maria de los Delores de Leon Smith, also known was "Lady Smith", the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony. He was also High Commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852. A for was built in 1860 to protect the villagers from the Zulu. During the Second Boer War British commander Lieutenant General Sir George White made Ladysmith his centre of operations for the protection of Natal against the Boer forces. A number of short lived battles were fought for the control of the town. After suffering many casualties the British retreated to Ladysmith. While the British regrouped in the town, Boer forces surrounded Ladysmith. The siege lasted 118 days during one of the most crucial stage of the war. Three attempts by General Sir Redvers Buller to break the siege resulted in defeat for the British forces at the Battles of Colenso, Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz. The Boer forces attempted to break the siege. This led to the Battle of Platrand, or Wagon Hill, south the town. Buller finally broke the siege in February 1900 after defeating the Boers. Sir Winston Churchill, a young war correspondent was present at the Relief of Ladysmith after having been taken prisoner - between Ladysmith and Colenso - and escaping earlier during the war.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.ladysmith, south africa, zulu, boers, republic of klip river, windsor, lady smith, sir harry smith, governor, cape colony, high commissioner, sir george white, natal, siege of ladysmith, sir redvers buller, battle of colenso, battle of platrand, sir winston churchill, wagon hill

The book describes the siege and battles of “Ladysmith” during the South African campaign, with a full appreciation of the patriotism and pride of race which has made Australia a fighting unit in the British Empire.Hard cover, buckram, mid blue colour, gold print on front and spine, illustrated with red, white, blue flag on front and two flags on spine, end papers and fly leaf black coloured paper, 303 pages plain white , illustrated B &W illustrations and diagrams.Handwritten on front fly leaf in black ink, “ To Bev, wishing Reece a merry Christmas, happy new year,..............” words illegible.books, military, boer war, ladysmith

French was born in Kent in 1852. He had a brief service in the Royal Navy before becoming a cavalry officer. He distinguished himself on the Gordon Relief Expedition and was rapidly promoted. French became a national hero during the Second Boer War. He won the Battle of Elandslaagte near Ladysmith, escaping on the last train as the siege began. He commanded the Cavalry Division, winning the Battle of Klip Drift during the march to relieve Kimberley. In Cape Colony he conducted Counter-insurgency operations. Attained the rank of Field Marshall. Awards he received: Knight of the Order of St Patrick, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. French died in Kent in !925, aged 72. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.1st earl of ypres, john french, second boer war, gordon relief expedition, cavalry, battle of klip drift, battle of elandslaagte, cape colony, counter insurgency operations, field marshall, knight of the order of st patrick, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, order of merit, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order, knight commander of the order of st michael and st george