Nature of the British army - The Boers' readiness for war

Question 1

What previous fighting experience did the Boers have?

Answer 1

some had experience of fighting Zulus and other Africans & Br in 1880-81

Question 2

What was unique about the Boers that made them excellent fighters?

Answer 2

most Boer farmers were skilled hunters & ‘trekkers’ = used to riding on horses & shooting

Question 3

What professional soldiers did the Boers have?

Answer 3

had some artillery gunners w some old field guns but also G & Fr artillery

Question 4

How did Boer artillery gunners operate?

Answer 4

used artillery singly, rather than in groups,
+
fired from concealed positions = often out-shot the Br

Question 5

Did the Boers struggle with supplies?

Answer 5

NO
had local support to move supplies & rarely ran out of ammunition
vs.
Br struggled to keep troops supplied

Question 6

What were the Boers’ most effective fighting units?

Answer 6

mobile commandos
- bands of horsemen
- guerrilla warfare
- commandos elected officers who knew the country
- friends on almost every farm = could live off the land

Question 7

When were mobile commandos especially effective?

Answer 7

later stages of the war (1900-1901)

Question 8

Who supported the Boers?

Answer 8

• Afrikaans speakers in Br-ruled Natal & Cape Colony sympathised
• foreign backers e.g. Germany + few hundred foreign volunteers joined

BUT
foreign countries reluctant to risk Britain’s enmity by giving overt support