TOPIC:

The Heron, a shallow draught gun boat being prepared for service in South Africa. Heron class of twin screw shallow draught gun board built by Messrs Yarrow and Co. The ship is divided into a number of floatable sections which can be easily transported and united.

Source: ILN 16 December 1899

re" "The Heron, a shallow draught gun boat ..." Yikes. This gunboat might have been useful on the Nile or Yangtze; but none of South Africa's rivers are navigable and the surf on either coast would sink this craft in no time at all...

Rob,

I've certainly never seen any pictures of such craft in South Africa so perhaps the idea was soon abandoned?

Ice carnival at Niagara in aid of soldiers’ wives and children


No enemy after all. Ostriches near the Orange River

Source ILN 16 December 1899

The war in the cottage


The war in the hall

Source: ILN 23 December 1899