Image description
Top illustration:
Britannia, the personification of Britain as a helmeted woman in white, holds a Union Jack flag aloft and a sword in her other hand. A lion stands beside her. Spread out behind her, beside her and in front of her are British soldiers in a variety of uniforms. A large fort can be seen in the distance behind her.
Illustrations from top to bottom and left to right:
Illustration titled “The Lonely Sentinel” shows a soldier carrying a rifle standing alone on a cliff under the night sky.
Illustration titled “The Soldier’s Bed” shows soldiers sleeping in sleeping bags on the ground with their rifles leaning against each other. A lone soldier stands guard in the background.
Illustration titled “A Brave Deed” shows a soldier hurrying to get onto the horse of another. His horse lies on the ground. Enemy soldiers approach in the distance.
Illustration titled “The Spy’s Fate” shows a man being shot by a line-up of soldiers all firing at the same time.
Illustration titled “The Dying Soldier’s Message” shows a soldier in bed with his arm in a sling and a bandage around his head. He is speaking to a nurse sitting beside him, who is writing down his words on a piece of paper.
Illustration titled “The Good-Bye” shows a woman kissing a soldier on the docks next to a large ship. A little girl looks up at them. Other soldiers and their families are in the background.
Illustration titled “Highlanders Storming a Hill” shows a large group of soldiers wearing kilts rushing up a hill brandishing rifles. One of the soldiers directs the others using a trumpet. Enemy soldiers can be seen in the distance.
Illustration titled “Bombarded” shows a bomb exploding in the middle of a dinner scene in which men and women are seated, dining in fine clothing.
Illustration titled “Bringing up the Guns” shows a group of horses pulling a large cannon while soldiers push from behind. To the right, a small explosion has just gone off, causing a soldier on a horse to startle and another soldier fall off his horse. Two other soldiers are on the ground.
Illustration titled “Wrecking an Armoured Train” shows three men armed with bandoliers and rifles crouch behind some rocks. British soldiers are on the other side. Some rush forward while others are injured. Behind them, a steam train has fallen off the tracks.
Illustration titled “The Soldier’s Funeral” shows soldiers standing around a priest, bending their heads and holding their hats. A group of soldiers in kilts fire rifles into the air while some play bagpipes.
Illustration titled “Crossing a River” shows soldiers wading through a river. They yell out as they are shot at. A few soldiers are throwing their heads back, struck by bullets.
Illustration titled “The Flag of Truce” shows three men standing in front of a group of British soldiers with their hands up. One of them holds a white flag.
Illustration titled “Fording a River” shows soldiers riding their horses through a river. A couple of soldiers whip their horses to drive them forward.
Look at Source 5b.
Described as ‘Pearson’s Great Coloured War Sheet’ this image was created in 1900 and shows different scenes that relate to the war in South Africa. Catalogue ref: COPY 1/170
- Describe 4 scenes shown in the source
- Can you explain why some scenes have more prominence in the image?
- What elements do you think are missing from the image? Can you explain why?
- In what ways could this source be viewed as propaganda for Britain’s role in Boer war and the British Empire?