Boer War: Effectiveness of the Army Flashcards
When did the Boers originally settle in South Africa?
17th century
Which 2 colonies did the British establish in the 19th century, and which 2 areas were held by the Boers?
British = Cape Colony and Natal Boers = Orange Free State and Transvaal
What was the cause of the 1st Boer War (1880-81)?
Britain had annexed Transvaal after aiding the Boers in the Zulu War
Why was there an inrush of Outlanders in the 1880s?
Gold was discovered
When was the Jameson Raid?
What was the justification for it?
1895
Giving Outlanders voting rights
When did the 2nd Boer War begin?
11th October 1899
What recent defeat made British confidence high before the war?
Sudan
Why were there high expectations for the British leadership?
Buller, Roberts, had both won Victoria Cross, all experienced
What were the attitudes of the British towards the Boers?
Grudging respect – fellow imperialists
But seen as pro-German, hostile to democracy, and a barrier to imperial ambitions
How many troops did the British army have at the start of the war?
250,000 + reservists (but spread all over the empire)
How had the British uniform changed in the lead up to the war?
However, how was it still conspicuous?
From red to less-conspicuous khaki
But shiny buttons – led to disproportionately high officer casualties
How many troops did the Boers and British have initially?
However, how many troops did Britain have by December 1899?
50,000 and 27,000
But 84,000 by December
How did the Boers and British differ in their methods of transporting supplies?
Royal Navy sent supplies to Cape Town
However, difficulty with moving supplies inland, planned to use railways
Boers experienced with using ox-wagons across rough country, plus had local support
What did the British set up to manage and repair the railways?
Department of Military Railways
Why were the railways vulnerable at first?
However, how did Kitchener attempt to solve this problem in the later stages of the war?
Boers easily blocked or cut the tracks
Fortified stations and armoured trains
What new weaponry did the British use?
Lee Enfield rifles, Maxim machine guns
What was the army administration lacking that contributed to their poor organisation?
General Staff (senior officers whose job it is to manage and inspect the army)
Why were the colonial troops more successful than the British army?
Broke with traditional European warfare, advancing forward using fire and manoeuvre and making use of cover
Why were the Boers experienced?
Had fought Zulus and Africans, and British in 1st Boer War
Why was the British’ knowledge of the area limited?
Locals were hostile, whereas Boer generals had expert guides + outdated maps
Why were Boers better equipped to deal with the terrain?
Most Boer fighters skilled hunters and ‘trekkers’, used to riding across rugged terrain
How was the Boer Army supplied with weapons?
Most had their own rifles, those who didn’t were armed by the Transvaal government.
Germany also supported with 30,000 Mauser rifles.
In what way was the Boer technique un-typical for Boers?
Also used artillery, firing from concealed positions
What were the Boer’s most effective fighting units?
Commandos – rode around horseback
