Posing with their officer is the crew of a Royal Artillery howitzer - an Ordnance BL 6 inch 30cwt howitzer - in their emplacement. While the various gunners wear a variety of headgear mostly the ubiquitous slouch hats and one foreign service helmet, the officer wears the newer style Wolseley Helmet. The black armband that he wears is probably in memory of Queen Victoria who died in 1901.

 

The gun fired a 122 pounds 9 ounces (55.6 kg) Lyddite explosive shell that was replaced during the war with a "light" 100 pounds (45.36 kg) shell. This increased maximum range when firing from its wheeled traveling carriage to 7000 yards. Twelve Ordnance BL 6 inch 30cwt howitzers were employed by British forces in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War.

Cabinet Photograph
A Cecil Coyne - Photographer
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
c. 1902