Boer War: Commanders

Question 1

How experienced was Buller prior to the Boer War?

Answer 1

Won the Victoria Cross during the Zulu Wars, had fought in the 1st Boer War, served in Egypt as head of army intelligence
(reconnaissance and scouting!)

Question 2

Why did the British lack good intelligence at the start of the war?

Answer 2

The main columns Buller sent north in Nov 1899 failed to gather much info
Lacked decent maps
Shortage of horses and calvary for scouting

Question 3

What move did Buller make that the British government thought politically unacceptable?

Answer 3

Ordered White to abandon Ladysmith

Question 4

What evidence suggests that Buller was overly cautious?

Answer 4

Reluctant to commit to attacks – wanted to build up numbers from reserves
Indecisive at Colenso
Ordered frontal attacks after considering them pointless

Question 5

What evidence suggests that Buller was narrow-minded?

Answer 5

Refused to use colonial horsemen as scouts

Question 6

Why was Buller dismissed?

Answer 6

He spoke out publicly against a Times article that was critical of the war – against army regulations

Question 7

What evidence suggests that Buller was an innovator?

Answer 7

He urged his men to make better use of natural cover

Co-ordinating infantry attacks with ‘creeping’ artillery barrage

Question 8

What success did Buller find after being replaced by Roberts?

Answer 8

Relieved Ladysmith, led the campaign in Natal

Question 9

What success did Buller find during the later guerrilla phase of the war?

Answer 9

Won at Bergendal against Botha on 27 August 1900

Question 10

Who did Roberts appoint as chief scout and why?

Answer 10

American frontiersman Frederick Burnham – knew Africa and had fought in previous colonial wars – meant better intelligence

Question 11

When did Roberts arrive in South Africa?

Answer 11

January 1900

Question 12

What was Robert’s aim?

Answer 12

To lift the sieges and then take Bloemfontein (capital of the Orange Free State)

Question 13

Which 2 new instructions did Roberts issue to change the current tactics?

Answer 13

Frontal assaults to be avoided – instead better to outflank the Boers forcing them to retreat
Cavalry and mounted infantry to scout and chase Boers

Question 14

How did Roberts improve and utilise the railways?

Answer 14

Ordered repairs to damaged railways
From May 1900, Roberts moved to gain control of railways in the Transvaal.
By September, the British controlled the Boer line from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay

Question 15

Why was Roberts forced to halt at Bloemfontein before pushing on to Mafeking?

Answer 15

Shortage of supplies + outbreak of typhoid killed nearly 1,000 men

Question 16

Which two Boer locations did Roberts take after relieving Mafeking?

Answer 16

Johannesburg and Pretoria

Question 17

Why did it feel like the war was over by the end of summer (despite Boer fighters still resisting in the Transvaal)?

Answer 17

Boer presidents Steyn (Orange Free State) and Kruger (Transvaal) had fled abroad – two territories officially annexed

Question 18

How was Roberts able to move into Boer territory without a shot fired?

Answer 18

Knew the Boers were light on the ground - could pick lightly defended territory to advance into.

Question 19

What was Kitchener’s initial role under Roberts?

Answer 19

Chief of staff (primarily organisation and supply)

Question 20

What battle did Kitchener fight under Roberts that demonstrated his military capabilities?

Answer 20

Paardeburg

Question 21

What complaints did Kitchener make about the situation?

Answer 21

Artillery useless + no emergency rations

Question 22

When did Kitchener take over from Roberts?

Answer 22

November 1900

Question 23

The later stage of the war is often described as a ‘war of …’

Answer 23

attrition

Question 24

What policy did Kitchener take in order to deny food and shelter to the Boer guerrillas?

Answer 24

‘Scorched earth’ tactics – removing or destroying/burning food, livestock, ammunition etc.

Question 25

Why did British commanders feel it was necessary to round up local civilians during the guerrilla phase?

Answer 25

To save them from starvation – but also to stop them giving aid to the guerrillas.
Some hoped the camp policy would persuade Boer men to stop fighting.

Question 26

What were conditions like in the concentration camps?

Answer 26

Food supplies erratic, medical care almost non-existent, poor sanitation led to water-borne diseases like Typhoid

Question 27

How many people were in camps by September 1901?

Answer 27

110,000 people in 35 camps

Question 28

What proportion of people in camps had died from disease by the end of the war?

Answer 28

1/4

Question 29

How many people total had died in camps by the end of the war? How many of them were children under 16?

Answer 29

28,000 (22,000)

Question 30

How has the army been defended in terms of the camps?

Answer 30

High death count was because army could not cope with the number - inadequate admin, not deliberate

Question 31

Why do some critics suggest the concentration camps were deliberate neglect?

Answer 31

Possibly the army thought the high death count would demoralise Boer fighters

Question 32

What was Lieutenant Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant accused and executed for in February 1902?
What did his defence claim?

Answer 32

Accused of ordering the shootings of Boer prisoners of war

That he was under orders from Kitchener, who had issued a ‘no prisoners’ order

Question 33

How quickly was Morant shot after the trial?

Answer 33

Within 18 hours

Question 34

What structures did Kitchener build to section off the countryside?

How many were built?

Answer 34

Blockhouses and wire

8,000

Question 35

The system of Blockhouses used most of the men, How many soldiers operated each one?

Answer 35

4-8

Question 36

What was the last attempt at resistance before the war’s end?

Answer 36

Boer fighters invaded Cape Colony, hoping for an uprising which did not take place

Question 37

When was the Treaty of Vereeniging signed?

Answer 37

May 1902