Dying horses, 1900 (c)

Photograph, Boer War (1899-1902), 1900 (c).

The British relied on thousands of horses to draw their artillery and supplies. Many of these animals, sent from Britain and not acclimatised, succumbed to the tough dry conditions on the South African veldt. The average life expectancy of a British horse, from the time of its arrival in Port Elizabeth, was around six weeks.

From an album of 72 images presented to Maj Gen Horace Smith-Dorrien, GOC, 19th Brigade, 1900.