'Royal Munster Fusiliers going to the front, South Africa', 1900.

A contingent of soldiers raise their pith helmets in a show of jubilation at the news they are to be sent into action. One of a boxed set of stereoscope photographs which was produced for sale to the general public by a profesional firm of photographers, Underwood and Underwood. The Second Boer War (1899-1902) was the first war to be covered comprehensively by both film and still photography. This was the result of improved technology in both photographic equipment and printing techniques; cameras were more portable and magazines started to reproduce half-tone photographs. The Royal Munster Fusiliers served in South Africa from 1900 until 1902. The regiment was disbanded when the Irish Free State was established in 1922.