TOPIC:

John Ernest Middlebrook was probably the most prolific of the English war photographers that covered the Natal Campaign. Below are the titles of roughly 200 of the 760 views that could be purchased at his Durban studio during and after the ABW. Although most of these were Middlebrook’s own work, about 10 percent were reprints of images captured by Boer photographers such as van Hoepen and van Nes (c. Q.560 - Q.660).

If anyone has details of photographs I have not listed, let me know and I will add them to the database.

Middlebrook gave each of his images a unique number, those relating to the war having the prefix "Q".
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Q.9	The IX Lancers in Durban Harbour who lost 70 horses in a storm.
Q.14	Landing the Manchesters at Durban - Boer War 1899.
Q.19	Stack of arms - fatigue party Gordon Highlanders at Durban - Boer War 1899.
Q.28	Natal and Border Mounted Rifles returning from outpost duty, Ladysmith.
Q.29	Horse lines of the Mounted Rifles' camp, Ladysmith.
Q.32	Ladysmith military camp - Boer War 1899.
Q.33	Panorama of military camp Ladysmith - Boer war 1899.
Q.39	Artillery proceeding to the scene of action - Boer War 1899 [Ladysmith].
Q.41	The Liverpool Regiment at Durban, about entraining for the front - Boer War 1899.
Q.42	The Imperial Light Horse Camp at Ladysmith - Boer War 1899.
Q.44	The Gordon Highlanders Camp at Ladysmith - Boer War 1899.
Q.46	Natal Carbineers Camp and lines at Ladysmith - Boer War 1899.
Q.47	"Manchesters" landing at Durban (left half) - Boer War 1899.
Q.65	An interesting document - receipt given to Station Master Atkinson at the only station taken by the Boers whilst in working order - Elandslaagte.
Q.77	The S.S. Yorkshire which brought the Queen's Royal West Surrey [Regiment] - in Durban Harbour - Boer War 1899.
Q.80	Naval Detachment 125 strong drawing the 4.7 45 Pounder landed from H.M.S. Terrible through West Street, Durban - Boer War 1899.
Q.83	"The first of the Army Corps to reach Durban" - The 2nd Batt., 14th (Prince of Wales Own) West Yorkshire Regiment - Boer War 1899.
Q.91	Officers' horses landed in Durban for the Boer War 1899.
Q.93	The Royal Irish Fusiliers disembarking from the R.M.S. Harwarden Castle in Durban - Boer War 1899.
Q.95	The Royal Irish Fusiliers give three hearty cheers to the Durban public for their liberality in "kind" as they steam off to the front - Boer War 1899.
Q.107	"A night owl" - Search light signaller (closed) used by our forces to talk to each other at night now at the front - Boer War 1899.
Q.108	The Nubia, which brought the Rifle Brigade for the Boer War 1899.
Q.109...	Landing of the Royal and Scotch Fusiliers and tug and lighters from the Pavonia, the only Transport unable to enter Durban Harbour.
Q.110	The Mohawk with "General Buller" on board entering Durban Harbour - Boer War 1899.
Q.124	Removing a severely wounded "case" from the Red Cross Train to the Hospital Ship - Boer War, 1899.
Q.130	Landing and entraining of the South African Light Horse from Cape Town at Durban - Boer War 1899.
Q.133	Battle of Colenso, “No. 1” 4.7 Firing Lyddite at the Enemy's Trenches - Boer War 1899.
Q.134	Battle of Colenso - General Buller viewing the effect of Lyddite shells - Boer War 1899.
Q.135	The Battle of Colenso - Fought Dec 15th 1899 - Right half of panorama - Boer War 1899.
Q.136	The Battle of Colenso - Fought Dec 15th 1899 - Left half of panorama - Boer War 1899.
Q.137	Bird's eye view of Frere Camp - the largest British force assembled under canvas for a campaign - upwards of 25,000 Navals, Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry.
Q.139	The Battle of Colenso, “No. 2” 4.7 Firing Shells at Enemy - Boer War 1899.
Q.140	Boer Prisoners - Boer War 1899.
Q.141	Bird's eye view of Frere Camp (Headquarters and Cavalry section) - Boer War 1899.
Q.143	The wrecked trucks in the armoured train incident showing the hole where shell entered - Boer War 1899.
Q.145	The Frere Bridge, Natal Gov't Ry's, wrecked by the Boers - Boer War 1899.
Q.148	Boer spies arrested in and near Chieveley Camp - Boer War 1899.
Q.169	Thorneycroft's Infantry (dismounted parade), Chieveley Camp - Boer War 1899.
Q.170	Leviathan Twins – two 4.7 Naval Guns on Field Service at Camp Frere – Boer War 1899.
Q.178	The British and Boer positions in the Willow Grange fight - Boer War 1899.
Q.181	Col. Thorneycroft on his cob in the field - Boer War 1899.
Q.186	The Durham Light Infantry Camp at Frere Camp – Boer War 1899.
Q.190	Camp of the Field Force Natal Police - Body Guard to General Buller at Frere - Boer War 1899.
Q.192	Naval Lyddite shells bursting over the Boer trenches - Boer War 1899.
Q.195	Squadron of Natal Carbineers under Major McKenzie at Chieveley - Boer War 1899.
Q.196	Officers of the Dublin Fusiliers before the Battle of Colenso - Boer War 1899.
Q.199	Our Troops Proceeding from Spearman’s to the Battle of Vaal Krantz – Boer War.
Q.201	Engineers constructing a pontoon bridge across the Tugela River. Built by Major Irvine, R.E., at Trichardt's Drift, on 17 January 1900.
Q.202	Ambulance Waggons with their Pitiful Load Returning from Battle of Spion Kop.
Q,203	Bringing in Wounded from Battle of Spion Kop.
Q.205	Pontooning an Ammunition Column across the Tugela River.
Q.207	The Burden Bearers of the Mountain Battery - on top of Zwart Kop - Natal - Boer War 1899-00-01.
Q.210	Military camp at Chieveley - Boer War - 1899-00.
Q.211	Lord Dundonald's Cavalry proceeding to Battle of Spion Kop - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.218	British troops crossing Springfield Bridge on their way to Spearman's Camp - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.223	General Clery at the Battle of Colenso - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.225	A waggon badly "stuck fast" - Tommy to the rescue - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.229	Mr Winston Churchill after his escape from the Boers revisits the scene of his heroism - the Armoured Train Disaster - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.230	Our Artillery on Zwart Kop firing at the Boer trenches, Battle of Krantz Kloof - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.231	British Transport massed during the Battle of Colenso - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.235	The now famous Zwart Kop which General Buller considered the key to relief of Ladysmith - (we found the lock - but no keyhole) - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.236	The Naval Gun on Zwart Kop which is said to have blown up the Boer magazine on Doorn Kloof.
Q.237	Dispatching by runner an answer from General Buller, Chieveley Camp, to General White, beleaguered in Ladysmith - Boer War 1899.
Q.242	British wounded from the Battle of Colenso - Boer War 1899.
Q.244	Beacon Hill - the British position in the Willow Grange fight - Boer War 1899.
Q.248	Hauling our Field Artillery up the almost inaccessible Zwart Kop to command the Boer position on Krantz Kloof - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.249	British bombardment of Boer trenches at the battle of Vaal Krantz - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.250	General Warren deciding with Engineers where to place pontoon bridge - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.252	British Scouts and Intelligence Dept. - General Buller's Column. Boer War 1899.
Q.269	Receiving a message by Zulu runner from General White, Ladysmith, to General Buller, Chieveley Camp - Boer War 1899.
Q.274	Ward of the Hospital Ship "U.R.M.S. Spartan" [1].
Q.275	Ward of the Hospital Ship "U.R.M.S. Spartan" [2].
Q.276	Our soldiers firing volleys to keep Boers down in their trenches whilst our infantry advanced on Pieters Hill - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.281	Realistic view of cunningly devised Boer trenches - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.283	Potgieter’s Drift - Spion Kop side. Monte Christo in distance (inscription on reverse).
Q.290	A Coincidence. The 66th Battery new guns take possession of Colenso, the town where they lost their former guns.
Q.312	Our infantry proceeding to the Battle of Vaal Krantz.
Q.318	The Rifle Brigade marching into Estcourt - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.320	Sir Chas. Warren's Division marching from Frere to Spearman's - Lancashire Brigade - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.322	The Boer side of Fort Wylie showing their bomb proof shelters - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.324	Sir Chas. Warren's Division - Artillery section leaving Frere for Spearman's - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.328	Sandbag dam on Klip River constructed by the Boers with the object of flooding out the British Army in Ladysmith.
Q.335	Iron railway bridge across the Tugela at Colenso, destroyed by the Boers. Boer War 1899, 1900.
Q.338	The Mountain Battery coming into action at the Battle of Monte Christo - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.340	Durham Light Infantry Camp at Frere - Boer War - 1899-1900.
Q.344	Shrapnel shells bursting on Hussar Hill - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.345	The Ladysmith Relief Column entering Nelthorpe, March 1st 1900 - Boer War.
Q.347	Wire entanglement round Fort Chieveley - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.350	Boer shell bursting on Hussar Hill - Boer War - 1899-1900.
Q.353	Pontooning food supplies to our infantry bivouacking on the north bank of the Tugela - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.354	Top of Fort Wylie looking towards British position, showing Boer gun pit - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.356	"Long Tom" (the terror of Ladysmith) - Boer gun emplacement on Umbulwana - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.358	"The Boer Bridge" over the Tugela River - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.362	Panorama taken during the Battle of Monte Christo from Hussar Hill (right & left halves) - Boer War 1899-1900. (2 parts).
Q.369	“The Boer Bridge” (large view) across the Tugela River and Falls - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.373	"Pom-Pom" emplacement from which the Boer gun fired at the British during Grobler's Kloof engagement - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.375	Hlangwane and extension from spot where Long's artillery were cut up Dec 15th - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.379	General Buller's Intelligence Dept and Native runners - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.380	Boer breastwork on Pieters Hill (east to west) from railway line up - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.382	No. 2 In memoriam to the gallant [Irish Brigade?] …. (partial print).
Q.383	Boer graves at Nelthorpe - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.388	Graves of the non-coms and men of the Iniskillings who were killed Feb 23rd in the Battle of Hart's Hill - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.391	Picturesque view of the Klip River near Ladysmith - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.392	Boer huts on the Klip River between Ladysmith and Nelthorpe - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.395	Langverwacht Spruit (dry) showing spot whence pom-pom fired at troops crossing Pom-Pom Bridge - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.398	Spion Kop (from Zwart Kop) showing spot where "our men" suffered so heavily - K.R. Rifle Brigade bivouac in the foreground - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.399	Picturesque view of Hlangwni from Onderbrook Spruit Bridge - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.401	Umbulwana from Caesar's Hill showing "Long Tom" sanger - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.404	Bold view of Talana Hill - Dundee, where "Mr Tommy Atkins" first opened the eyes of "Mr Boer" - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.424	The Union Jack flying over General Penn-Symons grave at Dundee - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.425	Hills held by the Queens during the operation before Grobler's Kloof - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.427	Panorama of Waggon Hill (right half) - Ladysmith - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.429	Hills held by the Devons during the operation before Grobler's Kloof - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.433	Cairn raised by each member of the Gordon Highlanders bringing one stone on the spot where their "Colonel" was mortally wounded - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.436	Grave of some of the gallant Inniskillings who fell whilst attacking the strongly fortified Boer position on Hart's Hill - Feb 23rd and 24th 1900 - Boer War.
Q.440	Dorn Kloof (where Boers had 100 pounder) and surrounding hills held by the Boers during the operations at Vaal Krantz - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.442	First Boer - then British breastworks on Vaal Krantz - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.443	A typical S. African ""donga"" so much used by Boers in their warfare against the British - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.446	Bird's eye view of Spion Kop and range as viewed from the kopje held by the Rifle Brigade - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.447	The brown kopjes held by the Rifle Brigade off Potgieter’s Drift during the operations at Spion Kop - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.449	The Boer Bridge (IVth view) Constructed of N.G.R'ys material over the Tugela River to enable them to reach Monte Christo - Boer War.
Q.453	The battlefield on which the Devons inflicted such a severe defeat on the Boers - Jan 6th - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.458	View of Grobbelaar’s Kloof and surrounding country from Hart's Hill - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.460	Grave and cross in memory of some of the N.C.O.'s and men of the Devons killed in action - Jan 6th - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.461	Obelisk erected on the spot - "Wagon Hill" - where the Devons most gallantly routed the Boers, which saved Ladysmith, Jan 6th - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.464	Boer trenches on main road, Colenso to Ladysmith - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.468	The Boer position - Battle of Botha's Pass - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.473	The Biggarsberg, where the Boers deeply entrenched themselves to no purpose as General Buller got behind them via Helpmakaar - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.490	Fort Wylie and Tugela River - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.491	Bird's eye view of Elandslaagte - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.494	Panorama of the Boer and British positions at Amajuba (right & left halves) - Boer War 1899-1900. [2 parts]
Q.495	Caesar's Camp - Besters Hill - Ladysmith - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.497	Pepworth's Hill and battle ground - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.508	The new iron railway bridge across the Tugela, Colenso, in course of construction to replace the one destroyed by the Boers - 1899-1900.
Q.515	Norval Pont railway bridge over the Orange River near Colesberg destroyed by the Boers - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.517	Relief of Mafeking celebrations in Durban. Passing a vote of hearty congratulation to B.P. - Boer War 1899-00.
Q.518	Elandslaagte. Made famous during the Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.519	"The Kings Post" Shell proof shelters constructed by the K.R.R. during the Siege of Ladysmith - Boer 1899-1900.
Q.525	Bird's eye view of the Intombi Camp cemetery - Boer War 1899 - 1900.
Q.531	Rest Camp. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.542	Battle ground of Spion Kop where the T.M.I., I.L.I., Lanc Fusiliers and Middlesex Regt suffered so severely - Jan 24th 1900 - Boer War.
Q.543	The British position as viewed from the top of Spion Kop - Boer War 1899/00/01.
Q.544	Camp of the refugees at Howick, Natal - Boer War 1899/00/01.
Q.550	The Mooi River Military Hospital - Boer War 1899/00/01.
Q.557	Generaal Tobias Smuts / General Tobias Smuts. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.560	Laing's Nek Tunnel vernield door de Boeren (zuid) / Laing's Nek Tunnel (South entrance) destroyed by us [the Boers]. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.562	Bridge over the Vet River (full on) destroyed by the Boers in their retreat from the O. Free State.
Q.567	Colenso Railway Bridge destroyed by us [the Boers] to delay the advance of the hated English. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.569	President Steyn's visit to the Boer Army at Ladysmith. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.576	Spion Kop. Boer Commando on Spion Kop. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.577	Boer Artillery. Engaged at Ladysmith. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.578	Capture of the armoured train outside Mafeking where the first shot in the Boer War was fired. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.581	Drie Geslagten in den Ooolog 1900 / Three generations in the war. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.583	Boers in the trenches on Spion Kop. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.586	Culvert at Biggarsberg destroyed with dynamite. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.602	Laager of the Pretoria Commando - the historical 'Amajuba' in the background. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.605	Field Marshal Lord Roberts at Pretoria. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.607	Mrs Berrett, the Boer woman who went on commando for 3 months. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria?).
Q.608	Rabbit Hole - Colonel Baden-Powell's schuilplaats [shelter] in Mafeking. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.614	Boer forts at Mafeking / Boeren fort te Mafeking. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.619	Colonel Schiel. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.620	Mr Wagner. Mrs Berrett, the Boer woman who was 3 months on commando. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.621	German Duitsche Corps at Ladysmith. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.624	Mortar at Ladysmith / Mortier Kanon. (Original: van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.636	"Long Tom" who created such panic amongst the Rooi-Necks in Mafeking. (Original: Van Hoepen, Pretoria).
Q.637	Foreign attachés attached to Lord Roberts. (Original: Rudolf Steger, Pretoria).
Q.639	Boer hand Maxim at Mafeking. (Original: ?????).
Q.652	On Spionkop / Boers building fortifications. (Original: van Nes).
Q.655	Ex-President Steyn addressing his Burghers at Smaldeel Station, O.R.C. from the platform of his private saloon carriage. (Original: van Nes).
Q.656	Boers Waiting for the Enemy. (Original: van Nes).
Q.657	General Botha giving orders to shift camp. (Original: van Nes).
Q.658	Boer laager at dinner time. (Original: van Nes).
Q.672	Entrenchment on Spion Kop made by British Pioneers. (Original: van Nes).
Q.676	Star shells were often used by the British Troops at Tugela to light up the country at night.
Q.754	Graves on the battlefield of Elandslaagte, where the intrepid I.L.H. and gallant "Gordons" were.
Q.758	Pugwana: where the Boers had a Long Tom firing at us when we held Inkwello - Boer War 1899/00/01.
Q.762	After the fierce heat of war, Boer and Briton lie side by side behind Swedish Church, Dundee - "The sleep that knows no enmity" - Boer War 1899/00/01.
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Q.???	Panorama of the Battle of Botha's Pass.
Q.???	Elandslaagte iron railway bridge destroyed by the Boers when they fled north - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.???	The Battle of Pieters. The Bombardment. Panorama of the Boer positions during the bombardment by 90 British guns.
Q.???	The Battle of Pieters. Massing. Our infantry massing for the attack on the Boer position - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.???	The Battle of Pieters. No. 2. The first movement - our infantry on Majuba Day deploying to the right for the purpose of storming Pieter's Hill.
Q.???	The Battle of Pieters. The Attack. Our infantry attacking in open order - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.???	A striking picture - drawing artillery up steep bank of the Tugela - Boer War.
Q.???	Grave of Officers of the Inniskillings killed in action during the gallant attack on Hart's Hill, Feb 23rd - Boer War, 1899-1900.
Q.???	[caption missing] - Photograph of Indian Transport No 10: Scots Guards disembarking at Durban.
Q.???	The Boer trench on Brackfontein on right - across the Potgieter Drift - Ladysmith Road - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.???	Mass of rock on Zwartkop struck by Boer shell which was fired at our Naval Guns - Boer war 1899-1900.
Q.???	Colenso: immediately after its re-occupation by the British, February 1900 - Boer War 1899-1900.
Q.???	Base Hospital at Ladysmith [Dennis Edwards, p. 1].
Q.???	Fortified kopjes, North of Colenso, from whence the Boers fought the Battle of Colenso, Dec 15th 1899 [Dennis Edwards, p. 6].
Q.???	Trestle Bridge made by the Royal Engineers - Frere [Dennis Edwards, p. 7].
Q.???	Ingagane iron bridge, destroyed by the Boers on their flight to Amajuba [Dennis Edwards, p. 7 11].
Q.???	"Master Thomas" carrying stones to form breastwork [Dennis Edwards, p. 12].
Q.???	Armoured Train with Sailors and Marines from H.M.S. Forte with 7-pounder aboard [Dennis Edwards, p. 16].
Q.???	LadysmithSpearman's Camp [Dennis Edwards, p. 19].
Q.???	British Forces crossing the Tugela [Dennis Edwards, p. 19].
Q.???	Breastwork made by the Boers on Hart's Hill [Dennis Edwards, p. 21].
Q.???	Pieter's Hill (general view) [Dennis Edwards, p. 21].
Q.???	Naval Guns at Estcourt [Dennis Edwards, p. 24].
Q.???	Royal Field Artillery at Durban [Dennis Edwards, p. 36].
Q.???	The Somerset Light Infantry at Durban [Dennis Edwards, p. 47].
.
	Officers of the 10th Contingent (2nd Battalion) New Zealanders at Durban on their way to the Boer War.

..

Neville, the photograph Panorama of the Battle of Botha's pass doesn't have a Q number and if it did, it was erased (left bottom corner).

A Middlebrook photo related to the ABW but no Q number. The inscription at the bottom reads: "Officers of the 10th Contingent (2nd Battalion) New Zealanders at Durban on their way to the Boer War". I found it on the National Library of New Zealand website, no idea why I downloaded it.

I find the Battle of Botha's Pass photo very evocative - you can sense the tension in the air. Is that smoke (from the Boer artillery??) in the middle distance or just a blemish? Wonder where it fits on this map?

Thank you Everhard and David.

Although Middlebrook himself operated from his Durban studio during the ABW, he had a second establishment in Kimberley, where assistants worked as traditional portrait photographers.

These artists do not appear to have captured any images of the town under siege, this aspect being left to the likes of M. Bennett and Frank H. Hancox.












..

Neville a Q photo not on your list:



It can be downloaded from The National Galleries of Scotland website:

www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/76265