German prisoners, Lüderitz, 1914

Photograph by Sapper Thomas Shepard, South African Engineer Corps, World War One, South West Africa (1914-1918), 1914.

The campaign in South-West Africa was undertaken by South African colonial troops and was aimed at preventing the German navy from using the colony's ports. There were also several powerful radio transmitters in South-West Africa that could direct naval raids against British shipping. South African soldiers were therefore mobilised along the border in August 1914 and the port of Lüderitz was quickly occupied by 1,800 troops on 18 September.

From an album of 76 photographs.