A FINE AND RARE LARGE ORIGINAL BOER WAR PHOTOGRAPH OF HASLER’S AUSTRALIAN SCOUTS

A fine and rare original Boer War photograph mounted on its original card of Hasler’s Australian Scouts. The photograph is of 35 Officers and men which suggests this was the entire unit.

To front of card border, Lieutenant De Mestre and Captain Hasler are noted, as are a trooper Benman, Sergeant Bryne and Hood, the latter also having a faint cross next to him on the photo. To the reverse are various details saying:

‘This group of Mtd Rifles from NSW taken in South Africa Boer War 1901’ and ‘Later formed up as Hasler’s Scouts’.

Also details show the photo was once owned by Mrs Hood, here husband being noted in the photo:

‘480 Sgt John Hood 2nd Mt Rifles N.S.W.’ and ‘1087 Sgt J Hood 3 Aus Pioneers AIF killed in action Jonnebeke France 15 Oct 1917’.

Hasler's Scouts were formed in July 1901 from the 3rd Contingent New South Wales Imperial Bushmen and 2nd Contingent New South Wales Mounted Rifles, both of which were in Lieutenant Colonel Ingouville-Williams' column operating in the Western Transvaal. Williams appointed his staff officer Julian Hasler, a special service officer and on his staff, to command a group of scouts numbering about 30 who would act as the advance guard of his column.

A corner of the card, which has age spots, has broken away but the board is solid. Photograph itself is undamaged and very clear. Card 24 x 18cm, photo 20 x 14.5cm.

A rare photograph.