'Pretoria 1900', Field Marshal Lord Roberts VC, 1900

Patinated bronze statuette by Sidney March (1876-1968), made by Elkington and Company Limited, 1900 (c). On the base the inscription, 'Pretoria 1900'.

One of four statuettes celebrating commanders of British forces during the Boer War (1899-1902). The statuettes were advertised in the 1 December 1900 issue of 'The Daily Graphic', 'Price in solid Bronze £5.0.0.'.

After the early reverses of the Boer War (1899-1902), Roberts took over command of the British forces in South Africa. From December 1899, together with his Chief of Staff Major-General Horatio Herbert, Lord Kitchener, he revitalised the British military effort. Kindly, unassuming and courteous, Roberts was popularly known as 'Bobs'. His small stature and elderly appearance - he was 68 when he left South Africa in 1900 - probably increased the veneration which he received from both the public and soldiers.