Biscuit Boxes

Subject: Biscuit Boxes Wed Jul 17, 2013 2:39 pm

I'm trying to find out what the biscuit boxes used in the "Biscuit Box Wall' at Rorkes Drift really looked like including their dimensions. Can anyone help?

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:23 pm

Biscuit boxes (approximately 50 kilograms in weight)

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Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:36 pm

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. I've seen the pictures in that thread and they are certainly useful but the problem is that here are 4 different versions shown. There is the one in your link but there is another of a reproduction box, the W Britain one and the one shown in the painting. They are all different. I was hoping that there might be examples in regt. museums or in the War Museum with pictures but my research turns up the same link as you sent me.
Thanks.

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Snowyowl

The picture with four images are of the reproduction box in the Brecon Museum - apart from the colour, this one is identical to the one in South African Museum of Military History. Ignore the ones done by Wm Britain and the ones shown in the painting.

Bill

Subject: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:03 am

Hi Bill .
Thanks for that , I may have missed it but do we know what colour the Biscuit boxes were ?
Were they painted or just the timber look ? . I suppose this may have been covered previously if so , sorry .
90th

Posts : 53 Join date : 2010-09-24

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You will have to excuse the leather Enfield sling added on the side and the hemp rope tied onto the lid and substituting for the hinge. This was added at some point. (Should be a sort of horseshoe shaped two part wire staple hinge). Other than that, all correct and should give a fairly good picture. Hope it helps.
Cheers, Jeff

Salute

90th, Been a while, hope you're well old friend.

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi Dundeeboer,
Thanks for those splendid pics of the biscuit boxes.
Now, another unusual one where you may have a picture.
The relieving force at Rorke's Drift were fed tinned plum pudding by the RD camp ASC commisiariat to assuage their hunger ( most of the Dartnell patrol had not eaten for 60hrs prior to that)
Now, plum pudding is a traditional festive food and 23/01 was somewhat late for celebrations.
The question then arises what was this item doing at Rorke's Drift?. In answer, the story goes that the plum pudding was a gift to the troops from the grateful residents of one of the Natal towns. The ox wagon carrying it up to the front in the middle of December was swept away whilst attempting to cross the flooded Mooi River. All 16 draft oxen, the wagon, its driver, voerlooper, and the load were lost in the very swollen river. Losses such as this were common place there in the wet season.
So, a resupply was sent, but it arrived too late at the front for consumption during the 1878 Christmas or New Year festivities. Thus, plum pudding and copious quantities of rum were eagerly consumed by the tired and hungry men in the relieving force under Chelmsford, who arrived at RD am 23/01.

regards,

barry

Subject: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:21 am

Hi Jeff .
Has been a long while , I'm well , how did you get on with the eye procedure , hope all is well ? .
Thanks for the photo very much appreciated mate . How goes the collecting ???????.
Cheers 90th.

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Hi 90th

As I understand it - the boxes were natural wood colour, and would have weathered to some extent or other. The metal lining inside, plus the internal lid are copper.

Bill

Subject: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 8:58 am

Thanks Bill , much appeciated .
Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:02 pm

Thank you. That is exactly the information that I was looking for. The only thing that I need now are the dimensions. Just for a little background, I'm working on a diorama of part of the fight at Rorke's Drift using the W Britain figures but am building anything that I can. I suspect that the mealie bags and biscuit boxes sold by Britain's are too small. My reading leads me to understand that the biscuit box wall was only two boxes high not the three boxes often illustrated. That means that to supply any protection the boxes had to be sizable.
Anyway, thanks for the help.

Posts : 225 Join date : 2011-09-19

Snowyowl

Dimensions of biscuit box:

Have a look at the various pics and fit these measurements to those pics.

Overall - 21" tall, 16.5" square
The two battens on the side for supporting the rope handles are 17" x 2.25" each and are 6" apart (ONE SIDE ONLY).
The lid on the top is 9.5" x 9.5", inside a square 10.75" X 10.75". there is a brass ring handle on one side of the square
The internal copper lid is 8 and 3/8" in diameter.

Bill

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:48 pm

Thanks again! You have been a great help.

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Fri Jul 19, 2013 8:47 pm

Sending along a few photos featuring the Boxes I'm using to create my Biscuit Box Wall and my Mealie Bag Walls. The Mealie Bag Walls by Conte which I've modified.........The 1stLt.

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Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:30 pm

That's really well done. How long have you been working on it?

Posts : 558 Join date : 2012-05-05

Only the best from the 1st Lt!

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Sat Jul 20, 2013 9:34 pm

Since December of 2006 snowyowl. the attached photos feature it's set up showing my Conte Wagons defending the south wall and followed by showing My WB wagons and mealie bag walls also used defendig the south wall.............The 1stLt

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Subject: Biscuit Boxes Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:24 pm

Excellent work Lt , we wouldnt expect anything less !
Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: Biscuit Boxes Mon Jul 22, 2013 1:19 pm

Most impressive. I have finally made a decision regarding the biscuit boxes and have departed from the authentic design. The reason that i have done so is because my attempts to be authentic just weren't working. Dundeeboer's information was excellent but I found it really tough to make something in 1/32 scale based on real boxes.
On to the next challenge - how to make wagon wheels.

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