'The United States, Russian, German, French, Austrian and Italian Attaches, Cape Town, studying the military situation', 1899

Stereoscopic photograph, Boer War, 1899.

When the Boer War broke out in October 1899 the Foreign Office granted permission for one officer from each 'friendly power' to act as an observer in South Africa. On 8 November the six attachés pictured here embarked on the SS 'Bavarian' at Liverpool. For security reasons they were instructed to wear British khaki uniforms bearing their national insignia and rank badges. Each attaché was accompanied by a groom, provided by the British Army, and a privately-hired servant. Immediately upon arrival at Cape Town on 28 November, the attachés requested permission to join General Sir Redvers Buller in Natal. Buller procrastinated until mid-December, finally allowing them only as far as Estcourt. In Natal they were joined by the Spanish, Japanese and Turkish representatives.

On 20 January 1900 the group returned to Cape Town, where the new Commander of the Forces, Lord Roberts, allowed them to accompany his headquarters to the front. This they did between 15 February and 5 June when, together with Roberts' Staff, they entered Pretoria at the head of the British troops. With the War considered nearly at an end, the attachés left South Africa and were deprived of first-hand insights into the guerrilla phase of the War. Together with their grooms and servants, the attachés were later awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal.

From a box of 89 stereoscopic cards entitled, 'South African War through the Stereoscope Pt 2 Vol 1', published by Underwood and Underwood, and produced by Works and Sun Sculpture Studios, 1900 (c).