A six-inch naval gun mounted on a railway truck, Modder River, 1899

Photograph by Lieutenant Hon Edward Douglas Loch, Boer War (1899-1902), 1899.

Railways played an important part in the South African war. As well as being used for mobile artillery, they moved troops and supplies across the vast distances of South Africa. They were frequently attacked by the Boers. To counter this threat, armoured trains regularly patrolled the main routes. Searchlights, powered by mobile generators, were also used to light up the railway and facilitate track repairs at night.

From an album of 142 photographs taken by Lieutenant Hon Edward Douglas Loch, 1899. Loch was Divisional signalling officer, 1st Division, South African Field Force.