TOPIC:

I ran across this on the internet, which might be of interest. Does anyone have any more information on the source of this footage? It seems like this is staged. The photo below is one frame from the footage which can be seen via the imbedded link. The fellow out front seems to be wearing what appears to be a US Civil War uniform... ??? Thanks in advance. John
www.loc.gov/item/00694155/

I agree this is staged. Rob

Believe it or not, these are from the Library of Congress (LOC) that holds Edison films. Here is another one that is blatantly staged entitled: English Lancers Charging at the Modder River.

www.loc.gov/item/00694195/

This is the description of the footage on the LOC site.
Summary
"The stubborn resistance of the Boers is shown by the activity and persistency with which they fire the two large field pieces immediately in the foreground. It seems, indeed, a hopeless matter to attempt to capture and overthrow such an invulnerable position. The British Lancers are seen advancing, urged on by their officers, with the Royal colors flying in the air. They press the battery of Boers with such vigor that before the position is surrendered, there is scarcely a handful left to retreat, the remainder lying dead and wounded on the battle field. This picture is full of action and very exciting. 75 feet"--Edison films catalog no. 105.

There are four others: Capture of Boer Battery; Capture of Boer Battery by British; Red Cross Ambulance on Battlefield and Battle of Mafeking. They are all obviously staged. If I recall, there were reenactments of ABW battles in the US; something along the lines of Buffalo Bill's shows or even today's reenactments. I suspect that Edison and his crew filmed them and now they form part of the LOC collection. These are two notes from the Battle of Mafeking page, which certainly and sadly don't tell those who access these that they are staged.
- Edison motion pictures, 1890-1900, says the location of filming was the Orange Mountains, however, the location was probably Second Watchung Mountain, which, according to Wikipedia, is often erroneously referred to as Orange Mountain.
- According to the Scottish Military Research Group WWW site, no Highland regiments were present during the siege of Mafikeng.

John,

Re-enactments were also common in the UK. For instance, R.W. Paul produced a number of "Reproductions of Incidents of the Boer War", a few of which are listed below. (Source: John Barnes, The Cinema in England, Bishopgate Press 1992, Vol. 4, pp. 215 - 220)


BATTLE OF GLENCOE (Nov 1899) - "British storming the hill, and driving the Boers over the ridge with a Maxim and a strong rifle fire. A very successful and complete reproduction".

MAFEKING: BOMBARDMENT OF MAFEKING (Nov 1899) - "Outpost seated round fires, playing cards and talking. Sentry on duty. Shells explode all round them, at which they jeer. Very funny".

PICQUET: ATTACK ON A PICQUET (Nov 1899) - "A British outpost is seen lying round their camp fire, with rifles stacked, and the sentry on duty is resting on his rifle. He is surprised by a party of Boers from behind a thicket, and clubbed with the butt-end of a rifle, the soldiers are rushed and shot down as they attempt to reach their rifles, and the Boers rob their bodies and carry off their arms. A remarkably natural reproduction of an actual occurrence".

SPY: SHOOTING THE SPY (Nov 1899) - "Boer spy brought in by escort. Sentry turns out guard. Officer offers to bandage the spy's eyes, but latter refuses. Firing party forms up, fire a volley, spy falls, and guard marches into guard-room".

CAPTURE: CAPTURE OF A MAXIM (Dec 1899) - "British capturing a Maxim".

NURSES: NURSES ON THE BATTLEFIELD (Dec 1899) - "Nurses tending the wounded". "A most affecting picture, but very beautiful and natural. It depicts the battlefield with the wounded and dead scattered over it. The picture shows the stretcher party with doctor and his orderly, who, with the nurses, are tending a wounded Boer. At the same time a British Soldier is carried down by his comrades to the other nurses. Specially recommended".

TRAIN: WRECKING AN ARMOURED TRAIN (Dec 1899) - "The armoured train". "A graphic and complete reproduction of the armoured train incident at Mafeking. The British are seen defending the train and firing on the Boers. Several are wounded, and at last the British officer hoist a white flag in token of surrender".





The 1904/1905 "Great Boer War Spectacle", which toured the US after the war did at least feature Boers who had seen service in South Africa. Generals Cronje and Viljoen received star billing (much to the disgust of their compatriots back home).


























SEE ALSO: General Ben Viljoen - an extraordinary story of love and betrayal

AND: The St Louis Fair, 1904


..

Thanks Neville,
Most interesting and from a 21st Century perspective, strange.