The Ross Machine Gun Battery in South Africa?

From an old book on the Boer War I've posted a few photos from elsewhere. The gun is a Colt of course, John Browning's first MG in production I believe. Sir Charles Ross paid for a battery of Colt guns which he took to the war as O.C., as the wealthy who raised formations were allowed to do, right up to the start of WWI.

The caption on the second photo is obviously specious; more like a range practice than an ambush. Look at the photo full size and you can see wire repairs to cracks in the wheel spokes; no springs. Also looks like there are some bullet strikes on the gun shield in the other photo. How many of our WWI MG crew would have been saved by a shield like that? Maybe the Russians know, they put them on their Maxims.

The identification of Sir Charles Ross as the figure in the center of the other photo cannot be correct judging by the row of medal ribbons on that man. Sir Charles had only those he earned in that War.

Quite a variety of head gear; those Colonials you know!

I can't see any ribbons at all...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I can't see any ribbons at all...

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You have to look at the photo full size. When you click on the thumbnail a number of icons appear at the bottom in grey. Click on the second one from the right. ;)

The second one on the right doesn't do anything. I can just see the ribbons...but can't ID anything.

The thumbnail in the first post. ;)

Yes, but I can\t make them out at all...

Neither can I, but I wasn't expecting to. The fact that they are there at all means that isn't Sir Charles Ross.

The Photo is Posed, probably no where near the purported battle site...Note there is NO Belt exiting the Gun's RHS...the 95 used a cloth belt very much similar to the Later Browning M1917 and M1919 guns. (white cotton, woven Pockets, Narrow.) No spent shells littering the Landscape, either.

Pure Journalistic "licence"

Doc AV

The photo in the bush is certainly posed, but the background looks authentic South Africa. The grouping around the gun isn't operational, no ammo, different dress, not deployed for actual use [no field of fire between trees], civilian [?] seated, etc. The other photo may be anywhere.

I agree that the background looks South African, and the several repairs to the wheel spokes suggest this was taken well into the campaign for the Ross MG Battery. In the photo of the three soldiers next to the gun, notice that there are no such repairs. Obviously the wheels were not up to the stresses of the terrain, at least not with a load of ammo etc. on board. I assume there was space in the carriage for .303 ammo boxes, at least ten from the width of the "box" the gun sits on. That would add a lot of weight right there.