The Boer War, 1899–1902

Ladysmith, Megersfontein, Spion Kop, Kimberley and Mafeking

John Grehan, Martin Mace

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781473838185
• Topic: Geschichte
• Subtopic: Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts

Fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic, the First Boer War (18801881) was a rebellion by the Boers (farmers) against British rule in the Transvaal that re-established their independence. The engagements that it involved, such as they were, were small and involved few casualties.More commonly referred to as just the Boer War, the Second Boer War (18991902), by contrast, was a lengthy conflict involving large numbers of troops from many British possessions (up to as many as 500, 000 men), which ended with the conversion of the Boer republics into British colonies. The British defeated the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, first in open warfare and then in a long and bitter guerrilla campaign. British losses were high due to both disease and combat. It was also the war conflict which saw Winston Churchill first achieve household fame. The war had a lasting effect on the region and on British domestic politics. For Britain, the Boer War was the longest, the most expensive (200 million), and the bloodiest conflict between 1815 and 1914, lasting three months longer and resulting in higher British casualties than the Crimean War. This unique collection of original documents will prove to be an invaluable resource for historians, students and all those interested in what was one of the most significant periods in British military history.

1

BATTLES OF TALANA HILL, ELANDSLAAGTE, BELMONT, GRASPAN AND MODDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1900.

War Office, January, 26, 1900.

THE following Despatches, with their enclosures, have been received from General, the Right Honourable Sir Redvers Buller, G.C.B., South Africa:-

From the General Commanding-in-Chief the Forces in South Africa to the Secretary of State for War, War Office, London, S.W.

Cape Town,

November 9, 1899.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a report from Lieutenant-General Sir George White, V.C., &c., dated 2nd November, on his operations in Natal, which was handed to me yesterday by Lieutenant-General French on his arrival from Durban. It does not seem to call for any remarks from me.

I have, &c.,

REDVERS BULLER,

General Officer Commanding.

From Lieutenant-General Sir George S. White, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., to the Secretary of State, War Office, London, S.W.

Ladysmith, Natal,
November 2, 1899.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to forward the following report on the military operations in Natal since the date of my arrival in that colony:-

2. I reached Durban and assumed command of the forces in that colony on 7th October, 1899, proceeding direct to Maritzburg. I found the troops, Imperial and Colonial, then in the colony, distributed as under:-

At Pietermaritzburg – 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment, and Mounted Infantry Company, 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps.

At Estcourt – Detachment Natal Naval Volunteers, Natal Royal Rifles.

At Colenso – Durban Light Infantry.

At Ladysmith – 5th Lancers, Detachment 19th Hussars, Brigade Division, Royal Artillery; 10th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery; 23rd Company, Royal Engineers; 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment; 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment, and Mounted Infantry Company; 26th (two sections) British Field Hospital, and Colonial troops.

At Glencoe – 18th Hussars; Brigade Division, Royal Artillery; 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, and Mounted Infantry Company; 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and Mounted Infantry Company; 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and Mounted Infantry Company; 6th Veterinary Field Hospital.

With 1 Company, 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Eshowe, and a detachment of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles at Helpmakaar.

3. The information available regarding the positions occupied by the armies of the two Dutch Republics showed the great bulk of the forces of the Orange Free State were massed near the passes of the Drakensberg mountains, west of Ladysmith. The troops of the South African Republic were concentrated at various points west, north, and east of the northern angle of Natal. On 10th October His Excellency the Governor informed me that Her Majesty’s Government had received an ultimatum from that of the South African Republic, and that the outbreak of war on the evening of 11th October might be regarded as certain.

4. Since my arrival in the colony I had been much impressed by the exposed situation of the garrison of Glencoe, and on the evening of 10th October I had an interview on the subject with his Excellency the Governor, at which I laid before him my reasons for considering it expedient, from a military point of view, to withdraw that garrison, and to concentrate all my available troops at Ladysmith. After full discussion his Excellency recorded his opinion that such a step would involve grave political results and possibilities of so serious a nature that I determined to accept the military risk of holding Dundee as the lesser of two evils. I proceeded in person to Ladysmith on 11th October, sending on Lieutenant-General Sir William Penn Symons to take command at Glencoe.

5. The Boers crossed the frontier both on the north and west on 12th October, and next day the Transvaal flag was hoisted at Charlestown. My great inferiority in numbers necessarily confined me strategically to the defensive, but tactically my intention was and is to strike vigorously whenever opportunity offers. Up to 19th October the enemy from the north were engaged in moving down on the Biggarsberg – Dundee line in three columns. The main column, under General Joubert, occupied Newcastle, and marched south by the road leading thence on Glencoe Junction. A second column, under Viljoen, crossed Botha’s Pass, and moved south over the Biggarsberg, cutting the railway from Glencoe Junction to Ladysmith on 19th October at Elands Laagte, where they took up a position. A third column, under Lucas Meyer, crossed the Buffalo River, marching west on Dundee, and arrived within striking distance of that place on the night of 19th October. Meanwhile the Free State forces west of Ladysmith contented themselves with occupying the country at the foot of the Drakensberg Range, without approaching within striking distance of Ladysmith, and, though the mounted patrols of both sides were constantly in touch, up to the evening of 19th October, nothing of importance took place in this direction.

6. On the morning of 20th October, at 3.20 A.M., the Mounted Infantry picquet, east of Dundee at the junction of the roads from Landmann’s and Vants Drifts, was fired on and compelled to retire. Two companies, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, were sent out in support of it by Lieutenant-General Sir W.P. Symons, and at 4.30 A.M. a report was received that the enemy had halted and established themselves at Fort Jones. By 5 A.M. all Sir W.P. Symons’ troops were under arms.

7. At 5.50 A.M. the enemy’s guns opened fire, from Talana Hill on our camp, at a range of 5,000 yards. Though well directed this fire had but little effect, as the shells, fired with percussion fuzes, buried themselves in the soft earth. Our guns at once returned the fire, but, finding the range too great, the 13th and 69th Field Batteries were moved, at 6 A.M., to a fresh position south of the town of Dundee, with the Mounted Infantry Company of the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifles as escort. The 67th Field Battery and the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment were detailed to remain in and protect the camp. The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers were sent through the town to Sand Spruit, the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifles taking up a position under cover to the east of the town. These preliminary movements were completed by 6.30 A.M.

8. At 7.30 A.M. the Infantry advanced to a small patch of wood, about 1,000 yards beyond Sand Spruit. They moved, in extended order, over open level grass land, the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers leading, followed in succession by the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifles and the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. Notwithstanding the open nature of the ground this movement was, owing to the accurate fire of our artillery, completed with but slight loss. Sir W.P. Symons’ intention was to make a direct attack on the enemy’s position under cover of the wood above mentioned, and of some buildings known as Smith’s Farm.

9. At 8 A.M. the batteries were brought forward to a range of 2,300 yards, whence the 69th Battery opened fire on Talana Hill, and the 13th Battery on the hill (marked 4,700) south of the road which was also held by the enemy, the guns and escort being under fire from both hills. At the same time Sir W.P. Symons moved the Infantry through the wood to its front edge, on which a very accurate direct fire was opened from the top of Talana Hill, and also from a stone wall which extended half way up and along the side of that hill. The Infantry here were also exposed to an enfilading fire from the hill marked 4,700.

10. At 8.50 A.M. the Infantry Brigade were ordered to advance. The ground was open and intersected by nullahs, which running generally perpendicular to the enemy’s position gave very little cover. At 9 A.M. Sir W.P. Symons ordered up his reserves, and advanced with them through the wood at 9.15 A.M. At 9.30 A.M. the Lieutenant-General was, I regret to report, mortally wounded in the stomach, and the command devolved upon Brigadier-General Yule, who directed the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the left, and the 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps on the right. The latter battalion reached the wall, to which two companies of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers were also brought up, the other six companies being held in reserve. The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, however, less favoured by the ground were unable, for some time, to make any progress.

11. About 11.30 A.M., the enemy’s guns were silenced, and the Artillery moved into a range of 1,400 yards and opened a very rapid fire on the ridge over the heads of our Infantry. This temporarily brought under the enemy’s rifle fire, and enabled our infantry to push on. The ground in places was so steep and difficult that the men had to climb it on hands and knees, but by 1 A.M., the crest was reached, and the enemy, not waiting to come to close quarters, retired in the directions of Landmann’s and Vants’ drifts. Brigadier-General Yule then ordered the Artillery to the neck on the Dundee – Vants’ drift road, on arrival at which point the retreating enemy was seen streaming away in clumps of 50 and 100 men, on which guns could have inflicted great loss. The enemy, however, displayed a white flag, although they do not appear to have had any intention of surrendering, and in consequence the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery refrained from firing.

12. Turning now to our Cavalry, the 18th Hussars received orders at 5.40 A.M. to get round the enemy’s right flank and be ready to cut off his retreat. They were accompanied by a portion of the Mounted Infantry and a machine gun. Making a wide turning movement they gained the eastern side of Talana Hill. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Möller halted with one squadron, 18th Hussars, the machine gun and the Mounted Infantry, sending his other two squadrons further to the east. These two latter squadrons took part in the pursuit of the enemy, who retreated eastward, but Lieutenant-Colonel Möller and the troops with him appear, so far as can be ascertained, to have pursued in a northerly direction, to have come in contact with superior forces not previously engaged, and to have been surrounded and forced to surrender, while endeavouring to return to camp, round the north of the Impati Mountain.

13. The Boer force engaged in this action is computed at 4,000 men, of whom about 500 were killed or wounded. Three of their guns were left dismounted on Talana Hill, but there was no opportunity of bringing them away.

14. Our own losses were severe, amounting to 10 Officers and 31 Non-commissioned officers and men killed, 20 Officers and 165 Non-commissioned officers and men wounded, and 9 Officers and 211 Non-commissioned officers and men missing. The Divisional Staff suffered severely, Lieutenant-General Sir W.P. Symons, K.C.B., being mortally wounded, and both Colonel C.E. Beckett, C.B.. A.A.G., and Major Hammersley, D.A.A.G., being severely wounded. Of the Brigade Staff, Lieutenant-Colonel John Sherston, D.S.O., Brigade Major, was killed, and Captain F.L. Adam, Scots Guards, Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Yule, was severely wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel R. Gunning, commanding 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was killed within a few yards of the crest of the position.

15. Meanwhile, on 20th October, I had pushed a Cavalry reconnaissance to Elands Laagte, and had obtained definite information that a Boer force was in position there, but apparently in no considerable strength. I therefore ordered Major-General French, commanding the Cavalry of the Natal Force, to move out by road at 4 A.M. with five squadrons of Imperial Light Horse and the Natal Field Battery, followed at 6 A.M. by half battalion 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment, with railway and telegraph construction companies by rail. Major-General French’s orders were to clear the neighbourhood of Elands Laagte of the enemy, and to cover the construction of the railway and telegraph lines.

16. On arrival near Elands Laagte, the station buildings were found to be in possession of the enemy. Our Artillery opened fire on them, while a squadron of the Imperial Light Horse, under Major Sampson, moved round to the north of them. The enemy at once replied with artillery, and thus disclosed his main position on a commanding group of hills, about one mile south-east of the railway station. This position proving too strong and too strongly held to be dealt with by the force then at Major-General French’s disposal, he retired his troops out of fire, and reported to me by telephone. I sent out to him reinforcements, consisting of one squadron 5th Dragoon Guards, one squadron 5th Lancers, and the 21st and 42nd Batteri...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Abbreviations
• 1. Battles of Talana Hill, Elandslaagte, Belmont, Graspan and Modder
• 2. Battle of Graspan, Naval Despatches
• 3. Battle of Ladysmith
• 4. Battle of Stormberg
• 5. Battle of Magersfontein
• 6. Battle of Spion Kop
• 7. Battle of Paardeberg
• 8. Relief of Kimberley
• 9. Siege of Mafeking
• 10. Relief of Mafeking
• 11. Relief of Ladysmith
• 12. The Battle of Diamond Hill and the Capture of Johannesburg and Pretoria
• 13. Battle of Blood River Poort
• Notes