Extracts from the Illustrated London News - Boer War - 1900

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The Boer War

"Joe Chamberlain" naval 4.7 in. gun



Caption reads: "Joe Chamberlain," the naval 4.7 in. gun which has been talking so persuasively to the Boers at Magersfontein

An extract from the accompanying text reads as follows:

BATTLEFIELD MESSENGERS
The legitimate message sent upon the battlefield is the message of death; and the distinctness with which it was conveyed by the "Joe Chamberlain" naval 4.7 in. gun, when it addressed the Boers at Magersfontein, is beyond doubt. It was the bluejackets and not, needless to say the Admiralty, who thus christened the gun, and who painted with ornaments all in gold leaf, the inhospitable legend:

"He who sups with me will need a long spoon"

[Transcribers note: Another case of journalistic licence: we wouldn't want to offend the delicate Victorian senses would we ;-)] the actual transcription (see photo, ILN, page 180, 10 Feb 1900 - see below) reads (and I quote):

"HMS TERRIBLE
He who sups with me
require a devil of a
long spoon"

Source: Page 1 of the supplement to the Illustrated London News of 21 Feb 1900


The Caption Reads:

CHRISTENING JOE CHMABERLAIN
From a sketch by our special artist Mr Frederic Villiers The first shot - a Lyddite Shell - fired from the 4.7in. gun from HMS "Doris" which has been christened by the Blue Jackets "Joe Chamberlain", was most successful, falling on the enemy's trenches in the kopje on the left of the picture. (Extract from Mr Villiers letter)

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