Boer War - October 1899 to September 1900 (2)

Question 1

When did Roberts and Kitchener launch their first offensive to relieve Kimberley?

Answer 1

• 10th Feb 1900
• Intended to outflank Boers at Magersfontein

Question 2

In their attempt to Kimberley what change did Roberts and Kitchener make to increase mobility?

Answer 2

• They doubled the number of their mounted infantry to increase their mobility

Question 3

Why were Kitchener and Roberts low on supplies when trying to relieve Kimberley?

Answer 3

They lost an ox-wagon convoy of medicine and food at Waterval Drift on 15th Feb

Question 4

Did Kitchener and Roberts end up relieving Kimberley?

Answer 4

• No
• John’s French Cavalry relieved Kimberley with a successful dash ending its 124 day siege

Question 5

Despite not receiving Kimberley himself, what Boer did Roberts chase?

Answer 5

• Piet Cronje
• He bombarded Cronje into submission and on the 28th Feb he surrendered with 4000 men

Question 6

Who surprisingly relieved Ladysmith after many failed attempts?

Answer 6

• 26th Feb Buller used all his forces in one all out attack and succeeded in crossing the Tugela and beating Louis Botha at Colenso
• After a siege of 118 days Ladysmith was relieved

Question 7

In an attempt to relieve Mafeking, when did Roberts enter the Orange Free State and what happened?

Answer 7

• He entered causing the Boers to flee Poplar Grove on the 7th March
• He captured Bloemfontein on the 13th March

Question 8

Why was Roberts delayed for six weeks after capturing Bloemfontein whilst relieving Mafeking?

Answer 8

• His army was short of supplies
• Outbreak of typhoid due to soldiers drinking out of the Modern River that was polluted by corpses of men and horses
• 1,000 troops died and the Hospital Field Service was unable to keep up with this

Question 9

When was Mafeking relieved?

Answer 9

• 17th May 1900
• After Roberts sent a small force towards Mafeking ending it’s 217 day siege

Question 10

Who became a hero after the relieving of Mafeking?

Answer 10

• Baden-Powell became a national hero
• Tied down 7,000 Boers, 1/5 of their forces
• This was at a crucial point where the Cape Colony was denuded of defenders

Question 11

When was Orange Free State, Johannesburg and Pretoria all annexed?

Answer 11

Orange Free State - 28th May
Johannesburg - 31st May
Pretoria - 5th June

Question 12

What did General Hunter do after Orange Free State was annexed?

Answer 12

• He set out to mop the last major Boer force
• He failed to capture President Steyn but did trap the main Boer Army led by Pretorius
• Forced 4,500 men to surrender

Question 13

Where did President Kruger flee?

Answer 13

• Him and his government retreated to eastern Transvaal

Question 14

Where did Bull and Roberts finally go to cut the Boers off and cause them to effectively surrender?

Answer 14

• Advanced down a railway line to Portuguese East Africa reaching Komati Port on the 21st July
• Roberts broke Boer defensive position at Bergendal on the 26th August

Question 15

Where did Kruger die?

Answer 15

• Fled to Europe and died in exile 1904

Question 16

Where did Botha take the remaining Boer forces that were now made to flee?

Answer 16

• Through the Drakensberg mountains into the Transvaal high veldt

Question 17

When was the Transvaal formally annexed?

Answer 17

3rd September 1900

Question 18

What did Roberts do after his successful campaign?

Answer 18

• November 1900 handed over to Kitchener
• Replaced Wolesley as commander in chief and was given £100,000 as a reward for his work
• There were just small pockets of resistance in South Africa