Horse-drawn ambulance, 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 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 Major-General Horace Smith-Dorrien, GOC, 19th Brigade and showing its operations in South Africa, 1900.