NAM.2022-03-5-1-1

Photograph captioned as: ‘Ambulance waggons and transport crossing Tugela river by means of pontoon bridge - Boer War 1899-1900.’ Taken by J.E.M. Image taken by John Ernest Middlebrook. A few soldiers walk across the pontoon bridge, whilst a long line of horses, wagons, ambulances and soldiers stand on the other side of the river. The image was probably taken in early 1900 during the various attempts by General Buller’s army to cross the Tugela River west of Colenso and relieve Ladysmith. The image was collected by Sgt Leopold Duffy, who was serving during the Boer War with the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). Duffy had enlisted in the South Lancashire Regiment as a Private in 1893. After serving initially in England and Ireland he went to South Africa during the Boer War, where he was promoted to Colour Sergeant in the field in 1901, before proceeding to India in 1903. He remained in India through the First World War, becoming an officer and rising to the rank of Captain. He is the father of war artist Louis C Duffy (1908-1998). From an album of 91 photographs relating to the service of Sgt (later Captain) Leopold Duffy, South Lancashire Regiment, associated with the Boer War (1899-1902).

Boer War (1899-1902)