The Boer War

This video is a recording of a live talk, originally streamed on 5 March 2021 as part of our free, weekly Friday Insights Programme.

Hear Dr Spencer Jones discuss the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 – 1902 which marked a watershed in the history of the British Empire. Britain had gone to war in 1899 confident of a swift victory against the outnumbered Boer irregulars. But the conflict confounded these expectations.

The opening battles saw the British Army suffer a series of humiliating defeats before reinforcements turned the tide in 1900. Yet, even after the British had conquered the Boer republics, the war raged on in the form of a bloody guerrilla conflict that left swathes of South Africa devastated.

This period of savage fighting would come to be characterised by what Liberal Party leader Henry Campbell-Bannerman condemned as ‘methods of barbarism’, including scorched earth, summary executions and, most notoriously of all, concentration camps.

Dr Spencer Jones will give an overview of the war looking at the build up to the conflict, the forces of both sides whilst also examining the key battles and decisions that influenced the outcome of the war and finally ending on the immediate aftermath of the war and its lasting legacy.

Dr Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian and author. He is Senior Lecturer in Armed Forces and War Studies at the University of Wolverhampton and serves as the Regimental Historian for the Royal Regiment of Artillery. His works include ‘From Boer War to World War: Tactical Reform of the British Army, 1902-1914’ and ‘Stemming the Tide: Officers and Leadership in the British Expeditionary Force, 1914’.

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[geekpie]

There are many statues and memorials in British cities about the Boer War and "service in South Africa" - you can see it really meant something at the time. I am sure I am not alone in saying I know very little about it and this was a great introduction.

[stephanpretorius]

I’m afraid you have your facts wrong on the aftermath of the surrender in the Brandwater Basin - some Boers could go home, but thousands were taken as POW’s to Ceylon and other places across the globe.
Also, regarding the concentration camps being for Boer “refugees” - I find it remarkable that the argument is still put forward to tone down that atrocity by using the term “refugee” … rather misleading as its not like Boer woman and children fled the republics across international borders - they were captured within the republics and imprisoned. NOT in “refugee” camps, that would imply some sort of voluntary action on their sides, which simply was not the case for the most part.

[HardWater]

So good to learn more about this as my great great grandfather was in the conflict. Anyone know how I can find out more information about him? He was in the Royal Scots Guards. That, and his name, are all I have.

[peterrooke]

The boers knew how to shoot at long range unlike poor Tommy Atkins who had very little training . I heard the boers were dissapointed that the brits didn't wear red with the white cross straps x marks the spot type of mentality

[brianmason]

My grandmothers father died in Potchefstroom in 1890 with the Cape Town Highlanders. My grandfather and his brorther in law both joined the 29th Imperial Yeomanry. Fortunately gramps made it out alive but his brother in law died in 1900.

[janventer]

Wrong, the diamonds were in Kimberley which was occupied by the British in response. The crown jewels include the Cullinham diamond that was taken by the British. Wrong, gold provided riches in the Transvaal, not the Orange Freestate. Wrong, there is no evidence that I know of that included a preemptive attack by the FARMERS. Ok, you've exercised the name (not word), Boer, which is considered highly offensive if spoken by you. Back it up a bit (you can learn about it by looking at SA today).

Language of old Dutch? You should look south of Holland. 5:43 Typical Boer fighters. Or did you mean mean Afrikaans farmers?

I'm not going to watch your video any further, it's misinformation. Parting though, go research how the Commandos of WW2 got to be called Commandoes.

[freerangejames]

My Great Grandfather won a DCM in the Boer war.

[grahamparkin]

Second Boer War
Strength
British: 347, 000 Colonial: 103, 000–153, 000 African auxiliaries: 100, 00

[gertvanniekerk]

Please the Boers did not fight a 'Guerrilla' war! In the early stages we fought set battles Won 87% of these until our artillery ammunition ran out and the english empire pumped in hundreds of thousands of soldiers and millions of tons of materials. Guerrilla warfare was used by the Spanish in the Napoleonic wars to snipe at the French. As general Christian de Wet stated "If we were gorrillas, the gorrilas made a mockery of english military superiority"! General de Wet formulated 'Kommando Warfare' and our Fore fathers then used it!

[rogerhudson]

The second Boer war, after the peace of the first Boer war gold was found under the 'farmer's republic ' and the City of London and it's investors wanted it. The second (Great) Boer war was pure exploitation.