Attack on a Picquet

Summary

A reconstruction of an incident that occurred in the Boer War . A group of British soldiers (a picquet) are surprised by a party of Boers. The soldiers are shot. The Boers rob them. Filmed by R.W. Paul.

Year:

1899

Duration:

0:00:26

Film type:

Black & White / Silent

Master format:

35mm

Description

'A British outpost is seen lying round their camp fire, with rifles stacked, and the sentry on duty is resting on his rifle. He is surprised by a party of Boers from behind a thicket, and clubbed with the butt-end of a rifle, the soldiers are rushed and shot down as they attempt to reach their rifles, and the Boers rob their bodies and carry off their arms. A remarkable natural reproduction of an actual occurrence.'
Taken from The Beginnings of the Cinema in England 1894 - 1901: Volume 4: 1899, p218 (University of Exeter Press, 1996).


Credits

No credits specified


Notes

The film was shot on Muswell Hill golf course in North London.