'Cape Town', 1862 (c)

Watercolour by Lieutenant George E L S Sanford, Royal Engineers, 1862 (c).

The Kingdom of the Netherlands had ceded Cape Town to the British in January 1814. Its strategic position as the halfway point between Europe and Asia meant that prior to the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 almost every ship heading east docked at Cape Town. Sanford painted this view during a break in his voyage to take part in the 2nd China War.

Born in 1840, George Edward Langham Somerset Sanford served as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, and was posted to China in 1858. He participated in operations during the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864) and the 2nd China War (1856-1860). After a period working in the Ordnance Survey Department in England, Sanford served in India, in the Indian Public Works Department. Sanford served with Sir Frederick Roberts in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880) and became Deputy Quartermaster-General. He worked on the preparation for the successful campaign in Egypt in 1882 and was mentioned in despatches during the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887). In 1886, Colonel Sanford was appointed Director-General of Military Works in India, until he was given command of the Meerut District in 1893. Sanford was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1898.

From a box of 81 watercolours by Lieutenant (later General) George E L S Sanford (1840-1901), Royal Engineers, 1859-1862.