Victorian .303 Rifle Cartridge Telescopic Propelling Pencil Boer War Interest

A late Victorian novelty silver telescopic Propelling Pencil housed within a brass .303 rifle cartridge. The case engraved -

BETHLEHEM
L.O. WARNER
CHAPLAIN XX BRIGADE
JULY 1900

By Sampson Mordan & Co, c1900.

Open 85 mm
Closed 65 mm

The Reverend L.O. Warner was a British military chaplain who served in the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). He is recorded as returning to England from Cape Town in November 1900. Before his service in South Africa, he was involved in missionary work in the Far East, particularly in Korea.

The Battle of Bethlehem (July 1900): Over 6,000 Boers under the command of Chief-Commandant Christiaan de Wet defended the town. British forces under Generals Clements and Paget initiated an attack after connecting their forces near Lindley on July 1st. After two days of fighting on the outskirts, the British occupied the town on July 7, 1900, with over 100 casualties reported.

£345.00