#2nd anglo-boer war

[barbucomedie]

Officer's Undress Tunic of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) from the British Empire dated to 1900 on display at the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

In 1899 the Royal Scots Greys were orderd to Cape Town at the start of the Second Anglo-Boer War to join the cavalry division. This year was the end of the regiment wearing the red tunics in the field as they adopted khaki along with many other British Army regiments. Supposedly the Scots Greys tried to dye their horses khaki to better camoflage themselves in the field. Cavalry uniforms used chain mail epaulettes whcih were supposed to protect their shoulders and arms from sword cuts.

Photographs taken by myself 2023

[victoriansword]

“British calvary officer on horseback during the Boer War" by  Frans David Oerder (South African, 1867-1944)

oil on canvas

60 x 81cm

(23 5/8 x 31 7/8 in).

Born and educated in Rotterdam, Oerder went to Pretotia in 1890, where he worked variously as a house painter, art teacher and illustrator for local newspapers, becoming a citizen in 1896. In 1899 he became the Transvaal Republic's only official war artist, supposedly appointed by Paul Kruger himself, joining the Boer forces and sketching in the field. While interned as a P.O.W. his artistic ability came to the attention of the British authorities, who allowed him certain privileges in return for sketches and portraits.

[aiiaiiiyo]

Elizabeth was a 7 year old Boer child inmate of the Bloemfontein British concentration camp who died during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War. 'Lizzie' and her mother were labelled 'undesirables', and placed on the lowest food rations because her father refused to surrender to the British - 1901 [1280x872] Check this blog!

[victorian-nymph]

Excerpt from The London Press, Society, February 2nd, 1889;

"The new Countess Joestar pictured today when she wed Jonathan Joestar, 5th Earl Joestar. The former Miss Erina is of the Pendleton family, based mostly in military and medical ventures, the bride's father Dr Graham Pendleton, DSM, served in the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny as a military doctor and her older half brothers followed him into the profession in the Boer War and Anglo-Zulu war earlier this decade. The bride was trained in nursing and reportedly met her husband whilst in this profession when he was being treated at the Royal London Hospital. Unusual for a woman of her status she has worked as both a nurse and schoolteacher, roles she reportedly plans to keep going into her marriage.

Lady Joestar returned from an upbringing in Darjeeling the past October thus out of season and has not yet been presented at court, though during parties hosted by her now husband during the Christmas season, she is accounted by members of society as a sweet, bright and charitable young woman especially interested in medicine and literary and privately very much in love with her husband. Witnesses of the ceremony say the couple appeared genuinely blissful and elated, the couples love match being a most refreshing thing in what is a common but melancholy string of advantageous but loveless marriages."

[blackswaneuroparedux]

O wae is me my hert is sair, tho but a horse am I. My Scottish pride is wounded and among the dust maun lie. I used to be a braw Scots grey but now I'm khaki clad. My auld grey coat has disappeared, the thocht o't makes me sad.

- Royal Scots Greys, poem recited in reaction to the change their scarlet uniforms and grey horses to khaki.

Formed in 1681, this cavalry unit was Scotland's senior regiment. Its long and distinguished service continued until 1971, when it was merged into The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

The regiment was formed as The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons in 1681 from a number of existing troops of cavalry. Its first action was the suppression of the Earl of Argyll’s rising, launched in 1685 in support of the Duke of Monmouth’s revolt.

Following the Glorious Revolution (1688), the regiment went over to King William III, fighting for him against the Jacobites in Scotland. It was ranked as the 4th Dragoons in 1692.

The following year, the entire regiment attended a royal inspection in London mounted on ‘greys’ (horses with white or dappled-white hair). This gained it the nickname ‘Scots Grey Dragoons’. However, this only became part of its official title in 1877, when it was renamed the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys).

After a period of home service, it joined the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). The regiment fought at Schellenberg (1704), Blenheim (1704), the Passage of the Lines of Brabant (1705), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708), Tournai (1709), Malplaquet (1709) and Bouchain (1711).

It spent a further period on home service until 1742, when it joined the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). The regiment deployed to Germany first, fighting at Dettingen (1743). It then moved to Flanders, where it served at Fontenoy (1745), Rocoux (1746) and Lauffeld (1747).

It’s next major battle honour was at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). This was its only Napoleonic battle honour, at which 201 of its men and 228 of its horses were killed attacking a French infantry brigade. In this attack, Sergeant Charles Ewart captured the French 45th Line Infantry Regiment’s eagle. This later became part of the unit’s cap badge.

A long period of home service followed until the Crimean War (1854-56). There, the regiment won two Victoria Crosses charging uphill against 3,000 Russian cavalry at Balaklava (1854).

On returning home, it saw no further active service until the Boer War (1899-1902) in 1899. During this campaign, it camouflaged its white horses with khaki dye. In the years since Balaclava, much had changed about warfare. Gone were the red coats and bearskin shakos. The Scots Greys would now fight wearing khaki. In fact, with the popularity of wearing khaki that accompanied the start of the Boer War, the Scots Greys went so far as to dye their grey mounts khaki to help them blend in with the veldt. It took part in the Relief of Kimberley, fighting at Paardeberg (1900), before joining the advance to Bloemfontein and later Pretoria, service that included the Battle of Diamond Hill (1900). It also fought in the anti-guerrilla campaign in 1901-02.

After returning home in 1905, the Scots Greys stayed in Britain until August 1914, when it moved to France.

It fought on the Western Front as both cavalry and infantry, winning several battle honours including the Retreat from Mons (1914), Marne (1914), Ypres (1914), Neuve Chappelle (1915), Arras (1917) and Amiens (1918).

According to a report in Scottish newspapers of the time it was decided to paint the horses khaki as their grey coats were too visible to German gunners. This gave rise to a comic poem posted above, of which this is the first verse.

**The unveiling of the Second Anglo-Boer War Memorial for the 2nd Dragoons (RoyalScotsGreys), Edinburgh, Scotland, 16 November, 1906. The Earl of Rosebery unveiled the Monument and spoke of the Regiment’s history. The Greys lost 149 officers, NCO’s and men, with 11 wounded.

[roxyallnutt]

delving into the history of my family through scent

As I near my installation, I now have a good idea of how my scent research around memories can intertwine with my concept.

I aspire to story-tell through scent, and I have decided that the story I want to tell is my own family's.

This has led me into some exceptional conversions with my mum as she teaches me about the generations her family have been through and the stories they used to tell. Please bear in mind my mum's entire family lives in South Africa. So it is noteworthy that this installation is based around this family line, and these scents will connect her back with these routes from her place in New Zealand.

After hours of reading past diaries/transcripts and conversation, I have summarised small parts of these lives and plan to develop a smell that will tell that story. I have a vibrant family history on my mum's side, from war to be one of the first settlers in Zimbabwe and what is even more remarkable is how the whole family had documented their lives.

My Great Great Grandad kept diaries through his experience of, my great grandad who went to war also kept an in-depth diary. These facets of history are at my fingertips and have incredible stories to accompany. My Grandmother kept a diary of her whole life up until she met her husband.

Working alongside my mum, these are the stories and scents I will be portraying in my installation.

Great Great Great Grandpa - The diaries cover him arriving from England as a teenager and living in natal (Durban) then taking an ox-wagon up the country to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The wagons constantly got stuck in the mud as there were no roads as such.

Great Great Grandpa - His diaries cover the time he spent in the 2nd anglo Boer war in 1900

Grandpa - My Mum's critical memories of her Dad was how he always came home with the strong smell of concrete powder or sawdust. He was a builder his entire life. So he would arrive with concrete powder in his clothes, hair Mum always remembers him at this scent.

Granny - My Mum always remembers the scent of her now discontinued perfume Intimate by Revlon. It was sweetly distinctive and has never smelled anything quite like it since.

Mum - The first thing my mum ever learnt to make was pancakes, the smell of Cinnamon sugar has never left her as Pancakes are made the same way all these years on Saturday mornings for my brother and me.

Myself - It's tricky to define a scent story for myself currently. I have spent the past four years loving my work as a florist. So the scent of the flower wholesaler markets or a full studio of flowers pictures my life pretty well.

From here, I need to create scents that will tell each of these six stories.

[master-john-uk]

30th November 1874 - Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a direct descendant of The Duke of Marlborough and was born in the family’s ancestral home.

During his early school days, he did not achieve academically and often misbehaved. In 1888 Winston just scraped through the entrance exam for the elite Harrow School... after which his academic performance improved and he excelled in history. 

Winston joined the British Army in 1895 and saw action in British India, the Anglo-Sudan War and the 2nd Boer War. Later he also saw active service on the Western Front during WWI. He began his political career in 1900 and held several top Government posts. He was a strong campaigner for workers’ rights and prison reform.

Churchill is probably mainly remembered for his time as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led Britain to victory in The Second World War. He is famed for his rousing and inspiring speeches... and also for his witty and sometimes caustic ripostes. There have been many books written based entirely around Churchill’s quotes.

After his second term in office as as Prime Minister from 1951 to 1955, Winston spent most of his time at Chartwell in Westerham, Kent... his country estate which is very close to my own main residence. My Grandparents were very good friends of Winston and his wife, Clementine and were often invited to their dinner parties. I. myself once had afternoon tea with Winston at Chartwell... but, as I was only two, or three years old I have little recollection of the event!

[greatworldwar2]

• Archibald Wavell

Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, was a senior officer of the British Army. He served in the Second Boer War, the Bazar Valley Campaign and World War I. He served in the Second World War, initially as Commander-in-Chief Middle East until his defeat by the German army in 1941. He later served as Commander-in-Chief, India, from July 1941 until June 1943, and then served as Viceroy of India until his retirement in February 1947.

Born the son of Archibald Graham Wavell and Lillie Wavell. He was born on May 5th, 1883 in Colchester, Essex, England. Wavell attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, Wavell was commissioned into the British Army on May 8th, 1901 as a second lieutenant in the Black Watch, and joined the 2nd battalion of his regiment in South Africa to fight in the Second Boer War. In 1903 he was transferred to join the battalion in India and, having been promoted to lieutenant on August 13th, 1904, he fought in the Bazar Valley Campaign of February 1908. In January 1909 was seconded from his regiment to be a student at the Staff College.

Wavell was working as a staff officer when the First World War began. As a captain, he was sent to France to a posting at General HQ of the British Expeditionary Force as General Staff Officer Grade 2, but shortly afterwards, in November 1914, was appointed brigade major of 9th Infantry Brigade. He was wounded in the Second Battle of Ypres of 1915, losing his left eye and received the Military Cross. As the war continued he continued to receive further promotions of rank until eventually in 1918 Wavell received a further staff appointment as Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster General, working at the Supreme War Council in Versailles. In March 1918 Wavell was made a temporary brigadier general and returned to Palestine where he served as the brigadier general of the General Staff with XX Corps, part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

The Middle Eastern theatre was quiet for the first few months of the war until Italy's declaration of war in June 1940. The Italian forces in North and East Africa greatly outnumbered the British and Wavell's policy was therefore one of "flexible containment" to buy time to build up adequate forces to take the offensive. Having fallen back in front of Italian advances from Libya, Eritrea and Ethiopia, Wavell mounted successful offensives into Libya in December 1940 and Eritrea and Ethiopia in January 1941. His troops in East Africa also had the Italians under pressure and at the end of March his forces in Eritrea under William Platt won the decisive battle of the campaign at Keren which led to the occupation of the Italian colonies in Ethiopia and Somaliland. However, in February Wavell had been ordered to halt his advance into Libya and send troops to Greece where the Germans and Italians were attacking. He disagreed with this decision but followed his orders. The result was a disaster. The Germans were given the opportunity to reinforce the Italians in North Africa with the Afrika Korps and by the end of April the weakened Western Desert Force had been pushed all the way back to the Egyptian border, leaving Tobruk under siege.

In early June Wavell sent a force under General Wilson to invade Syra and Lebanon, responding to the help given by the Vichy France authorities there to the Iraq Government during the Anglo-Iraqi War. Initial hopes of a quick victory faded as the French put up a determined defence. Churchill determined to relieve Wavell and after the failure in mid June of Operation Battleaxe, intended to relieve Tobruk, he told Wavell on June 20th that he was to be replaced by Auchinleck, whose attitude during the Iraq crisis had impressed him. Rommel rated Wavell highly, despite Wavell's lack of success against him.

Wavell in effect swapped jobs with Auchinleck, transferring to India where he became Commander-in-Chief, India and a member of the Governor General's Executive Council. Initially his command covered India and Iraq so that within a month of taking charge he launched Iraqforce to invade Persia in co-operation with the Russians in order to secure the oilfields and the lines of communication to the Soviet Union. Wavell once again had the misfortune of being placed in charge of an undermanned theatre which became a war zone when the Japanese declared war on the United Kingdom in December 1941. On February 23rd, 1942, with Malaya lost and the Allied position in Java and Sumatra. In order to wrest some of the initiative from the Japanese, Wavell ordered the Eastern Army in India to mount an offensive in the Arakan, which commenced in September. After some initial success the Japanese counter-attacked, and by March 1943 the position was untenable, and the remnants of the attacking force was withdrawn.In January 1943, Wavell was promoted to field marshal.

On 22nd April Wavell returned to London. On May 4th he had an audience with the King, before departing with Churchill for America, returning on May 27th. On June 15th, Churchill invited him to dinner and offered him the Viceroyalty of India, made public on June 19th he assumed the Viceroyalty on October 19th. Lady Wavell joined him in London on July 14th, when they took up a suite at the Dorchester. When Linlithgow retired as viceroy in the summer of 1943, Wavell was chosen to replace him. he was formally named Governor-General and Viceroy of India. In 1947 Wavell returned to England and was made High Steward of Colchester. The same year, he was created Earl Wavell and given the additional title of Viscount Keren of Eritrea and Winchester.

Wavell died on May 24th, 1950 after a relapse following abdominal surgery in May. After his death, his body lay in state at the Tower of London where he had been Constable. A military funeral was held on June 7th, 1950 with the funeral procession travelling along the Thames from the Tower to Westminster Pier and then to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service.

[gueststeachingmaterials]

World History

British Empire

1. Born through privateering and piracy 2. Many colonies failed! 3. Trade Wars X = Piracy Wars  4. Chartered companies to colonize 5. American colonies from religious persecution in England 6. Sugar and Slave Trade 7. Trade meant expansion and bitter rivalries 8. Continental wars = Increased empire 9. American Revolution = First reduction in British territory. 10. Criminal sentencing = Australia 11. New South Wales = Australia 12. Napoleonic Wars = Expansion due to Fear of Invasion 13. Napoleonic Wars = Expansion into Mediterranean and Africa 14. Napoleonic Wars = Abolition of slave TRADE, but not SLAVERY. 15. Most dominant military and economic power. Iron-fisted Empire! 16. Used natives to fight wars. 17. Pax Brittanica = British Peace is a MYTH! 18. Even Canada rebelled against governments placed in power. 19. Gained control of the Suez Canal through dirt/clever tricks against the French. 20. Anglo-Zulu War destroyed the Zulu culture and territory 21. 2nd Boer War = Concentration Camps 22. Opium Wars caused by British smuggling ended with taking control of Hong Kong. 23. Britain forced China to legalize Opium for economic reasons. 24. Used Indian and Sikh troops to control the Middle East 25. Failed twice in Afghanistan 26. Administering the British Empire = Telegraph 27. All Red Line = British telegraph system connecting the colonies, 28. Tools of the British Empire = Best Technology (Steamships, Railroads, Canals) 29. Scramble for Africa / Berlin Conference (Did not include Africa) 30. African colonization destroyed African culture and lands. 31. Took advantage of smaller islands in the Pacific. 32. Control of Burma took three wars and 60 years. 33. Occupation of Singapore for strategic reasons. 34. Winston Churchill = Epitome of the British Empire 35. World War I - Aligned Britain with the US, Created the Irish Free State 36. Iraq = British mandate [1921] 37. World War II - Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, Burma, Singapore and threatening of India, Australia, and New Zealand. 38. Decline following World War II 39. Churchill’s defeat in 1945 = Death of the Empire 40. What’s Left Today!?

[xtractinfo]

152nd Gandhi Jayanti Celebration : Why Gandhi Jayanti is Celebrated ?

It's Historical that 152nd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will be celebrated in this October 2021 and Yes it's 152nd Gandhi Jayanti Celebration. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated in India on October 2 every year. There is no doubt that Gandhiji fought for freedom against the British all his life. His life is an inspiration in itself. Let us study through this article about the importance of Gandhiji and his birthday, how Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated, etc.

Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of the Indian national movement who followed the path of non-violence and raised his voice against British rule. He has also gained international fame for his theory of non-violent opposition. There is no doubt that Mahatma Gandhi was a prominent political and spiritual leader of the Indian and Indian freedom movement.

Did you know that Mahatma Gandhi was given the title of Mahatma by Rabindranath Tagore and Rabindranath Tagore was given the title of Gurudev by Gandhiji?

Gandhi Jayanti is one of the 3 national holidays of India but why is it celebrated only on 2nd October and what is its significance? Let's study through this article.

Why is Gandhi Jayanti celebrated?

Mahatma Gandhi ji's full name is Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi and he was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. MK Gandhi is also addressed as the Father of the Nation or Bapu.

Mahatma Gandhi was the man who fought for India's independence all his life against the British.

His goal was to build a new society through non-violence, honest and clean practices.

He used to say that non-violence is a philosophy, a principle and an experience on the basis of which it is possible to build a better society.

According to him, everyone living in the society should get equal status and rights irrespective of their gender, religion, colour or caste.

Mahatma Gandhi is hailed as the best ideal to live life with simple life, simplicity and dedication in India and around the world. Their principles have been adopted by the whole world. His life is an inspiration for all people.

10 Interesting Facts About Gandhiji

According to the National and Festival Holidays Act, 1963, every employee in each calendar year has a provision for a full day off on January 26, August 15, October 2, May 1, and five other holidays.

Not only that, his birthday is also celebrated as International Day of Non-Violence. On 15th June, 2007, the United Nations(UN) General Assembly declared 2nd October as International Day of Non-Violence.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. For the first time in the history of India, he requested people to celebrate this day not only as a holiday but also to pledge the "Swachh Abhiyan" programme and help keep India clean.

Gandhi Jayanti, Prayer Meetings and Rajghat in India are celebrated as national holidays by paying homage in front of the Gandhi statue in New Delhi.

Prayers are held at mahatma gandhi's samadhi in the presence of the President and the Prime Minister of India, where he was cremated.

His favourite and devotional song Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram goes to his memory.

The day is also celebrated as International Day of Non-Violence across India.

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated in most schools a day in advance. All these festivals affect the principles of life that Gandhiji had explained: discipline, peace, honesty, non-violence and faith.

In many places in India, people sing, pray and pay homage to Gandhiji through the memorial ceremony, singing Bapu's famous song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram".

This day is organized in art, science exhibitions and essay competitions. Awards and honours are also given for promoting non-violence and peace.

What is the significance of Gandhi Jayanti?

Mahatma Gandhi's contribution towards teaching peace and non-violence to this world is in parallel. His teaching is that all conflicts should be resolved with non-violence.

At the same time, every major and small problem in this world should be solved with peace and non-violence to create a better environment for people to live in.

Important Facts About Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's father's name was Karamchand Gandhi and mother's name was Putlibai who was the fourth wife of Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhiji was the last child of his father Karamchand Gandhi’s fourth number wife. His father was a diwan of a small princely state (Porbandar) of Kathiawar at the time of the British Raj.

In May 1883, after completing the age of 13-and-a-half years, he was married to 14-year-old Kasturba. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Kasturba Bai had four sons.

Gandhiji helped as a health worker in the Anglo Boer War of 1899 during his stay in South Africa. But seeing the terrible picture of war, they were determined to raise their voice against violence, thus following the path of non-violence,

Gandhiji's Civil Rights Movement (Civil Rights Movement) reached a total of 4 continents and 12 countries.

Gandhiji helped establish three football clubs in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa. The name of these three clubs was the same - "Passive Sisters Soccer Club".

During his visit to England in 1931, Gandhiji first spoke for the US on radio. His first words on the radio were "Do I have to speak the microphone inside it?" “Do I have to speak into this thing?”

Did you know that in 1930, he was awarded the "Most Important Person of the Year" by the prestigious Time magazine of the United States?

Mahatma Gandhi was given the title of "Father of the Nation" (Rashtrapita) by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Gandhiji was shot dead by a man named Nathuram Gaudse on January 30, 1948.

Mahatma Gandhi's funeral procession was 8 kilometres long.

Gandhiji describes philosophy and the path of his life in his autobiography "The Story of My Experiments with Truth".

It would not be wrong to say that various activities like competitions, sports, speeches are held in schools, colleges and other educational institutions in India on subjects such as non-violence and Gandhiji's efforts in the Indian freedom struggle on October 2. There is no doubt that Gandhiji is an ideal and inspiring leader for the youth. Gandhiji did a great job in achieving Swaraj. He also improved the economic condition of farmers and played a key role in eliminating other social evils like untouchability or untouchability from society. He also supported women empowerment. He was a great leader. Therefore, Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on October 2 to promote his principles in the country.

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[victoriansword]

A short walk up Talana hill: the first battle of the Anglo-Boer war

The opening engagement of the Anglo-Boer war was fought in this small town in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. It was a small but important battle that showed the British army how dangerous it was to scorn their enemy. Join me for a walk up Talana hill as I get some exercise and move in the footsteps of the British infantry. If you love military history and visiting far flung battlefields then don't forget to subscribe.

[eenblond]

Completed in 1914, the South African War Memorial was built to only honour the British men who died in what was then the 2nd Anglo Boer War. In 1999 it was rightly re-dedicated to woman and men of all races who died in what we now call the South African War. Wars are senseless. But I love the peace angel. #thisisafrica #thisishome #wedotourism #eenblondtours #travel #travelgram #travelmoments #travellovers #travellers #tourguide #tourguide #southafrica #meetsouthafrica #johannesburg #joburgtourism (at Eenblond Tours) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPQHXGkpB3R/?utm_medium=tumblr

[extremefrontierssa]

Off the beaten track. Norval's Pont, Northern Cape. The tiny hamlet of Norvals Pont, or Norval’s Ferry, sits astride the old main road from Colesberg across the Orange River towards Springfontein and Bethulie in the southern Free State. At one time the railway bridge across the river was a flashpoint of conflict between the Boers and British during the 2nd Anglo Boer War, given its strategic importance as the only railway bridge across the Orange River, linking Noupoort junction in the old Cape Colony with Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State... #volunteer #volunteerabroad #volunteering #volunteers #vetnurse #exchangestudent #studentexchange #safari #natureconservation #naturephotography #travelphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #vacation #wildliferescue #wildliferehabilitation #gapyear #travel #travelling #medicaltourism #tourismwithpurpose #tourist #tourists #tourism #honeymoonplanner #adventure #weddingplanner #ecotourist #ecotourisme (at Norvalspont, Northern Cape, South Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIDOgelJTon/?igshid=giq8wtzgdm3r

[freifraufischer]

I saw you posted a thing about the Germans killing Namas and Hereros in Namibia between 1904 and 1908. I would just like to talk about how the British invented the Concentration Camp during the 1899-1902 2nd Anglo-Boer War on Afrikaans people (or Boers). You can read about it on Wikipedia if you type in “Emily Hobhouse” or “Lizzie van Zyl” (the photos of her are shocking to see). Also, the Americans invented Zyklon B (same gas the Nazis used) to use on Mexicans (Posting for historical accuracy)

While your information about British South African concentration cams is accurate your information about Zyklon B is both inaccurate and misrepresentative.  It was invented by Bruno Tesch, Gerhard Peters and Walter Heerdt for the German company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Schädlingsbekämpfung mbH.  I suggest From Cooperation to Complicity: Degussa in the Third Reich by Peter Hayes if you are interested in the history of corporate chemical giants and the Holocaust.  It’s use by the US government on the Mexican border was for delousing clothing (which along with disinfesting ships, warehouses, and trains was the labeled use).  You can find the story inRingside Seat to a Revolution by David Dorado Romo.

It was very racist and very likely killed or harmed many Mexican immigrants but we’re talking about a time when we were much less generally knowledgeable about the health affects of bathing people in pesticides (this picture is DDT).  

Your use of “the Americans invented Zyklon B to use on Mexicans” is inflamatory because for most people they don’t know that Zyklon (grades A, B, C, D, and E) were commercial pesticides not invented by the Nazis for killing humans.  The American government wasn’t trying to exterminate the Mexican farm workers they used Zyklon B on.  They were didn’t spray the people with the chemical in gas chambers as might be implied by your choice to pair the information with a discussion of German concentration camps in Africa.  They sprayed the workers clothing.  Did people very likely die from exposure to the chemicals in their clothing?  Almost certainly.  But that wasn’t the intent.  Anymore than killing people was the intent of the use of DDT.

Moreover the story of British Concentration Camps during the Boer War while horrifying did not have the same purpose that the German camps in German South West Africa did.  Many people died in those camps but the purpose was to guard a civilian population away from places they could provide material support to the Boer armies.  Did people die?  YES.  Are the pictures disturbing!?  YES.  There are many many horrifying aspects of colonialism.  This is a picture from the Madras Famine of 1877.  

I recommend the books Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World by Mike Davis; King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild; The Kaiser’s Holocaust: Germany’s Forgotten Genocide and the Colonial Roots of Nazismby Casper W. Erichsen and David Olusoga; andImperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya byCaroline Elkins.

If you are interested in the horrors of American Eugenics on the Mexican border I suggest Eugenic Nation:  Faults and Frontiers of Better Breeding in Modern America by Alexandra Minna Stern.  

If you are interested in how race and public health intersected in American government policy Colonial Pathologies: American Tropical Medicine, Race, and Hygiene in the Philippines by Warwick Anderson.

(because you should get your information on these kinds of things from better sources than WIKIPEDIA).

We should understand the impact and horrors of Colonialism for their victims but what we should not be doing is equating ALL colonial horrors with the Shoah.  The differences here are that the Imperial Germans were trying to exterminate the Namas and Hereros and the Nazis were trying to exterminate the Jewish people.  The British were NOT trying to exterminate the Boer population.  The Nazis were explicitly using Zyklon B to kill people.  The American government was using Zyklon B (which they did not invent) to kill lice.  

Since you are so interested in historical accuracy.

[nomad4everrr]

The Voortrekkers - were a group of Afrikaaner Boers - Dutch, Germans and French Hugenots, who left Kapstadt/Cape Town & the now British Cap Colony in 1835 in search for better lands far beyond the Vaal River. After a long and epic trek they founded the Oranje and Transvaal Freestates between the lands of the Zulu and Swazi people. A lot of massacres and injustices occurred, both against the Zulu and also against the Boers, culminating in the 2 Anglo-Boer wars, the first of which they won and the 2nd ended with them being defeated and the 2 free states annexed by the British and integrated into their colony in 1902. The suffering & hardships of the Boers were a reason for them trusting nobody but themselves and a strong reason for the later apartheid, when the British Colony became independent and the country of South Africa🇿🇦. I love a piece of amazing history and this monument honoring those pioneering Voortrekkers is certainly one of it! 😉👌 -- #SuidAfrika #SouthAfrica #Pretoria #Voortrekkers #VoortrekkerMonument #Pretorius #Boer #Boers #Boerwars #Afrikaans #Afrikaans #Afrikaaners #Freestate #Oranje #Transvaal #AngloBoer #AngloBoerWar #Zulu #CapeColony #ColonialHistory #Pioneers #Apartheid #BoerHistory (at Voortrekker Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jHv-XDD43/?igshid=1hadnxqf8dx29

[isblackbutlerstorical]

Episode 2 - Guns, Cars, and more telephones.

In episode 2, Sebastian rescues Ciel from a group of mafia/gangsters, and we get a chance to see 3 new technologies from there era. These are: a sniper rifle, a car, and a field telephone. Let’s begin with the earliest that we see.

The Sniper Rifle

A would-be assassin attempts to kill Sebastian with what appears to be a sniper rifle, with a telescope attachment. In a close-up upon Sebastian, we can see that this telescope also includes crosshairs. Would a victorian hit-man have used such a weapon?

The military rifle, then called the Enfield Rifle, was patented in 1853 and used by British Soldiers. The sniper rifle itself was patented one year later in 1854, and known as the Whitworth rifle. This had improved accuracy, however as you can see in the image below, did not include a telescope. 

Interestingly enough, there are records of telescopes being used on firearms as early as 1844, with practical applications of them from the 1880s onwards. Therefore, this type of rifle, and the usage of a telescope attachment is entirely plausible in Black Butler. 

The Car

Next, Sebastian gave chase after the snipe and his getaway driver, driving what appears to be an early car. We can clearly see a self-powered vehicle, with a steering wheel, and even suggestion of a gear stick right below it. The car design is of an open-carriage, with two rows of seats. Let’s explore the usage of cars in the victorian era. 

A variety of steam-powered vehicles, such as steam trains and steam cars did exist in the victorian era, and even caused the Locomotive Act of 1865 to be published as a result. However, this car looks closer to a fuel-powered car, as we cannot see the engine itself, nor a vent for any steam to come out. Such cars with combustion engines, similar to our modern cars, were patented in 1879 by Karl Benz, and sold commercially from 1888 onwards.  

The design of this car looks closest to the photo above, of an 1899 Daimler car. Note the large thin wheels, the position of the steering wheel, and the two rows of seats. While this is a very late date, 1899 is still just within the Victorian period, and there was the existence of such cars being commercial sold even prior to this. Therefore, it is possible for the gangsters to own and use a combustion-engine car. 

The Field Telephone

As we established in the analysis of episode 1, commercially available telephones did very much exist at the time. However, this is not your average telephone - it is a field telephone. These were used for long-distance communication where communication on-the-go may be required, most commonly for war and military groups. But how likely is it that a victorian gangster would have had one? 

Well, barely. This image is of an 1898 field telephone, designed for use by the British Army. They were used by the British during the 2nd Boer war (1899-1902), however, they were not at all as functional as this episode suggestions; known to be fragile, difficult to hear, and became harder to use when far away from telephone poles. So, I believe it is unlikely that gangsters would have access to a fully functional field telephone that could work during a high-speed car chase when not even the military did. Possible, but quite unlikely. 

Quite a long analysis, but this episode had a lot to cover! 2/3 isn’t so bad though, and overall, episode 2 is mostly plausible! 

references:

http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/whitworth-rifle.html 

https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781849084857?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=je6NUbpObpQ&utm_campaign=10&siteID=je6NUbpObpQ-rwEzqDQHVRnN1I8WVt2nMg 

"The 1860's Target Rifle". Snipercountry.com. 29 June 2000. Archived from the original on 24 October 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

Stein, Ralph (1967). The Automobile Book. Paul Hamlyn.  

http://louderfunier.blogspot.com/2008/08/cars-of-1800s_28.html 

https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5bee02a621ea6707803382c6 

Sterling, Christopher H.; Military Communications: From Ancient Times to the 21st Century (2008). Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-732-6 p. 444.  

https://www.e-ir.info/2011/10/09/the-second-anglo-boer-war-the-russo-japanese-war-and-the-shifts-in-the-nature-of-warfare/#_ftn17 

https://oldbike.eu/1898-ericsson-field-telephone-c-mark-1/