This peculiarly, Victorian source of entertainment allows the viewer to gaze in wonderment as the characters from the Scriptures, fairy tales or even the news of the day miraculously come to live before their very eyes. Viewing two identical images that are placed side by side through a lens ‘tricks’ the eye into seeing the images in three dimensions.
Although my viewer came with a variety of slides it was the volume imaginatively entitled ‘The South African War Through the Stereoscope' that piqued my curiosity. Here were thirty-six slides depicting events in the Boer War and published by Underwood & Underwood. It is clear that there is an element of sensationalism to the images, many of which will have been reconstructed for the benefit of the camera, but they do provide an invaluable resource from the point of view of uniforms, equipment and even tactics of the British Army at the turn of the twentieth century.
Once an animated slide is ‘clicked’ on the page it can be viewed as a still image in the normal way. It is also probably worth mentioning, purely as a disclaimer, that every effort has been taken to faithfully reproduce the text accompanying each slide at that any inaccuracies were as they would have been presented to the general public at the time.
1. The Yorkshire Battalion disembarking at Cape Town, South Africa
2. South African Light Horse, coming down Adderly St. to entrain for the front Cape Town
3. Royal Munster Fusiliers receiving the word that they are going to the front, South Africa
4. The dying Bugler's last call - a batter field incident, Gras Pan, South Africa
5. The Sad Roll Call after some of the British were cut off at Dordrecht (Dec. 30th) S.A.
6. Col. Porter's Men ready to meet Boer Cavalry Charge on Naauwpoort (Dec. 13), South Africa
7. The Yorkshires breakfasting in camp at Naauwpoort, S. Africa - their gallantry on Jan. 28th lauded by French
8. Gen. French and Staff examining Boer Laager at Rensburg, S.A., just after Boers' retreat, Dec. 30th
9. New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Jan. 15th) after repulsing Boer attack at bayonets' point, Rensburg, S. Africa
10. Looking over the 12th Brigade Camp and Signal Hill, Slingersfontein, British Campaign, S.A.
11. "When the Cannon's roar is still" - sleeping by their arms before Colesburg, South Africa.
13. British Scouts firing on a Boer Patrol (Jan. 10th), near Colesburg, South Africa
14. The Military Camp at De Aar as it appeared before Roberts' advance to Kimberley - South Africa.
15. A few day's Fodder for British War-horses arrives at De Aar, South Africa.
16. Telephonists and Telegraphers getting and sending News from the British Siege Train a Orange River, S. A.
17. Great Orange River Bridge (450 yds.) which the Boers failed to destroy, Hope Town, S. Africa.
18. City of London Imperial Volunteers just arrived at the Orange River, South Africa.
19. In the Orange River Trenches holding back the Boers - South Africa.
20. Tenderly they lifted him - Orange River Hospital, South Africa.
21. Some of Methuen's Infantry firing on retreating Boers from the Boer Stronghold at Belmont, South Africa.
22. Gallant storming of a Boer Kopje by the Suffolks, at Colesberg, S. A., Dec. 31st - praised by Gen. French.
23. The Last Drop - a scene on the Battlefield at Dordrecht, South Africa, Dec. 30th.
24. Royal Munster Fusiliers lining the Trenches on a Boer Alarm, Honey Nest Kloof, S. A.
25. Royal Munster Fusiliers firing from behind Redoubt at Honey Nest Kloof (Feb 16) S. Africa.
26. British Field Telegrapher sending news of victory at Klip Drift (Feb. 12th) - South Africa.
27. Fording the Modder with British Army Supplies after passage was forced by French, Feb. 13th, S. Africa.
28. Hurriedly repairing Modder River Bridge to pass a train with supplies into Kimberly (Feb. 21), S. Africa.
29. Cape Garrison Artillery making it hot for the Boers across Modder River, S. Africa.
30. The Burial Place, at Modder River, of the Highlanders who fell at Maagersfontein, S. Africa.
31. The Boer Prisoners (Cronje's Men) resting on the road from Paardeberg to Modder River, S. Africa.
32. Arrival of Gen. Cronje at Modder River, a prisoner of war, escorted by C. I. V. Mounted Infantry, South Africa.
33. One of Lord Roberts' Ammunition Columns en route to relieve Kimberley, S. Africa.
34. Colonial Troops fresh from active service in South Africa, Kensington Gardens, London, Eng.
35. Loyal Canadians being reviewed by Her Majesty the Queen, Horse Guards Parade, July 1st 1902, London, England.
36. General Christian De Wet - the Boer Leader - and his Secretary,