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Introduction to the War

Two political ideologies namely British imperialism and Afrikaner nationalism were to clash at the turn of the nineteenth century in South Africa. Britain sought the unification of whole of South

Republican Strategy

The primary object of the Boer command was to isolate or wipe out the British forces at Dundee and Ladysmith in Natal, and at Mafeking and Kimberley before the arrival

Meanwhile, the first British reinforcements had already arrived in South Africa. General Sir Redvers Buller, the British Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, soon after his arrival in South Africa on 31

Black Week of the British Army

Buller’s defeat at Colenso led to his replacement by Lord Roberts as supreme commander of the British forces in South Africa on 18 D ecember 1899. However, before Roberts’ arrival,

Second British Offensive

The new Commander-in-chief, Lord Roberts and his chief of staff, Lord Kitchener landed in South Africa on 10 January 1900. Roberts decided to conquer the Boer Republics from the Cape

The Mobile War Begins

As the Transvaal leaders decided not to defend Pretoria, Roberts entered the capital unopposed on 5 June. At Donkerhoek (Diamond Hill) from11-12 June 1900 and Bergendal (Dalmanutha) from 21-27 August 1900…

The Guerrilla War

Lord Kitchener saw the final phase of the war as “insensate resistance”. It was to continue for nearly two years – from March 1900 to the end of the war.

Peace Treaty of Vereeniging

In March 1901 the first overtures for peace failed mainly because the Boer leaders had refused to give up their countries` independence. In April 1902 the republican governments once again

Chronology of the war

The War strecthed from October 1899 till May 1902 and featured many key incidents and occurrences initially causing the war, prolonging it for 3 years and eventually ending it in 1902…

General De La Rey

Jacobus Hercules de la Rey was born on 22 October 1847 in the district of Winburg and died at Langlaagte on 15 September 1914 He was the son of Adrianus

General Louis Botha

Louis Botha was born in Greytown, Natal on 27 1862 and died in Pretoria on 27 August 1919. He was the son of Louis Botha and his wife, Salomina van Rooyen.

General CR De Wet

Christiaan Rudolph de Wet was born at Leeukop in the Smithfield district on 7 October 1854 and died at Klipfontein, Dewetsdorp on 3 February, 1922. His father Jacobus de Wet was

Emily Hobhouse

Emily Hobhouse was born on 9 April, 1860. She was raised in the tiny village of St. Ive near Liskeard in East Cornwall. Her father was rector of the Anglican Church

President Paul Kruger

Stephanus Johannes Paulus (Paul) Kruger was born in Bulhoek, Cradock on the 10 October, 1825 and died in Clarens, Switzerland on 14 July, 1904. His parents were Casper Kruger and Elsie

President MT Steyn

Marthinus Theunis Steyn was born at Rietfontein, Winburg on 2 October 1857 and died at Bloemfontein on 28 November 1916.

Solomon Plaatje

Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje was born on 9 October 1876 on a farm called Doornfontein in the north-western part of the Orange Free State, some thirty miles north east of Kimberley. He

Concentration Camps

In early March 1901 Lord Kitchener decided to break the stalemate that the extremely costly war had settled into. It was costing the British taxpayer 2,5 million pounds a month.

Prisoners of War

The first sizable batch of Boer prisoners of war taken by the British consisted of those captured at the battle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899. No camps had been

Pow Camps Overseas

The first overseas camps were opened in St Helena.The SS Milwaukee arrived off St Helena on 11 April 1900 with 514 prisoners on board. This was the first batch of

British Prisoners of War

The hospital at the Racecourse was used for wounded and sick prisoners until the fall of Pretoria. The officers remained at the Staats Model School until 16 March 1900 when

Cape Rebels

The primary object of the Boer command was to isolate or wipe out the British forces at Dundee and Ladysmith in Natal, and at Mafeking and Kimberley before the arrival

Black Camps

Some 30000 Boer farmhouses were destroyed and the Boer women and children were removed to concentration camps. Of necessity the Black servants and workers also had to be removed, to

Concentration Camp System

The guerrilla phase not only prolonged the war a further eighteen months but escalated it until it spread across almost the whole of South Africa. During this period several incursions

Role Players and Figures

Lord Fredrick Sleigh Roberts

After the defeat of the British forces during the so called Black Week, Sir Buller was replaced by Lord Fredrick Sleigh Roberts as commander of Her Majesty’s Forces in South

Emily Hobhouse

Emily Hobhouse was born on 9 April, 1860. She was raised in the tiny village of St. Ive near Liskeard in East Cornwall. Her father was rector of the Anglican Church

General CR De Wet

Christiaan Rudolph de Wet was born at Leeukop in the Smithfield district on 7 October 1854 and died at Klipfontein, Dewetsdorp on 3 February, 1922. His father Jacobus de Wet was

General De La Rey

Jacobus Hercules de la Rey was born on 22 October 1847 in the district of Winburg and died at Langlaagte on 15 September 1914 He was the son of Adrianus

General Louis Botha

Louis Botha was born in Greytown, Natal on 27 1862 and died in Pretoria on 27 August 1919. He was the son of Louis Botha and his wife, Salomina van Rooyen.

President MT Steyn

Marthinus Theunis Steyn was born at Rietfontein, Winburg on 2 October 1857 and died at Bloemfontein on 28 November 191

President Paul Kruger

Stephanus Johannes Paulus (Paul) Kruger was born in Bulhoek, Cradock on the 10 October, 1825 and died in Clarens, Switzerland on 14 July, 1904. His parents were Casper Kruger and Elsie

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