Lord Roberts' Arrival in London
A conquering Boer War hero enjoys a rapturous homecoming parade
At the turn of the 20th century, any procession featuring royals or military heroes could be relied upon to draw a crowd (and, of course, a film camera) and this one has both. Though we can't be sure we see him, this procession is thought to be the one on marking the return from South Africa of Lord Roberts, commander of the British Forces during the Second Boer War. Playing second fiddle - just this once - are the Duke and Duchess of York (that is, the future King George V and Queen Mary).
With the war all-but won, Roberts had handed command to Lord Kitchener, and was now enjoying the universal praise. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter around the same time, with many other awards to follow. The camera's view from what is probably a first-floor window overlooking the parade captures the dignitaries as they pass, though which, if any, of the several military bigwigs in the carriages is Lord Roberts. A surge in the crowd signalling the arrival of the Duke and Duchess. They appear to be in mourning for Queen Victoria (who died on 22 January).
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England Expects
The military loomed large in Victorian society - and filmmakers were naturally eager to satisfy public interest in military subjects.
In the hierarchy of Victorian celebrity culture, military heroes came second only to the Queen herself. With the British Empire at its peak, filmmakers jostled for glimpses of conquering heroes like Lord Kitchener and Field-Marshal Roberts.
The second Boer War was the first major conflict of the film era, and a few intrepid pioneers travelled with their cameras to South Africa. Military commanders kept them away from the front lines, meaning they rarely captured anything of the fighting, the footage they sent home gave filmgoers an unprecedented window on the war. Other filmmakers, meanwhile, were content to re-enact skirmishes at home, or to film processions of departing or returning troops to excite patriotic audiences.
56 videos in this collection
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Coldstream Guards Embarking on Troopship Gascon
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H.M.S. "Powerful" Arriving in Portsmouth Harbour
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Lord Roberts Presenting Medals to Boer War Volunteers in Liverpool (1901)
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Wooden Walls of Old England
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Royal Scots Regiment at Edinburgh Castle (1901)
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Battle of Spion Kop: Ambulance Corps Crossing the Tugela River (1) (1900)
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A Skirmish with the Boers near Kimberley by a Troop of Cavalry Scouts Attached to General French's Column
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Tommies on the March
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Warships at Sunset
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Dispersing the Troops at Windsor after Parade
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Norton No. 57
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Trafalgar Day London 1900
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Lancers Crossing the Modder River
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Sailors on H.M.S. Black Prince Firing Cannon and Rifles
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Train Load of C.I.V.s Leaving Southampton
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War Balloon and Transport Crossing the Vaal River
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Colonial Troops and Cavalry on the March
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French Military Procession
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Gymnasts on Parallel Bars
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Lord Roberts Hoisting the Union Jack at Pretoria
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Military Parade
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Bluejackets' Field Gun Drill at Durban
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Soldiers March along a Road
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The Arrival and Reception of Lord Roberts at Capetown
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The Gordon Highlanders
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Parade of Troops with Band and Crowds Following
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1st Volunteer Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment - Blackburn Rifle Volunteers (1900)
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The 5-inch Siege Guns Crossing Vaal River
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Artillery Crossing a River
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The Australian Mounted Rifles Marching through Cape Town
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Bayonet Drill
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Duke and Duchess of York at Conway
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Entry of the Scots' Guards into Bloemfontein
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Field Ambulances Crossing the Vaal River
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The Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers Digging Entrenchments at Orange River, South Africa - The passing of the armoured train
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Gordon Highlanders Leaving for the Boer War
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Indian Army Parade
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Infantry at Pretoria (c.1900)
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Mounting and Dismounting a 3-ton Gun
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Troopship Nubia Leaving Harbour
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King's Liverpool Regiment
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Lord Roberts' Arrival in London
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Lord Roberts Leaving for South Africa
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C.I.V. Procession. Cyclists and Infantry
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Lord Roberts' Visit to Manchester (1901)
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Manchester's Welcome to the Imperial Yeomanry (1901)
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Military Sunday in Newcastle
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President Kruger
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Ralph Pringle Interviewing Private Ward V.C. Hero in Leeds (1901)
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Sir George White Leaving the London Hippodrome
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The Return of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (1901)
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Return of the Brave Manchester Volunteers (1901)
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The Seaforth Highlanders' Return to Cairo after the Fall of Omdurman and Khartoum
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The Surrender of Kroonstad to Lord Roberts
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