Here are some facts about the Anglo-Boer War:

The Anglo-Boer War is said today to be the last of the `gentlemen's wars' , the `last Colonial war' and the `forgotten war'. It was soon overshadowed by World War 1, the unprecedented bloodbath of 1914-1918. Earlier during the Anglo-Boer War, the well-ordered forces of Greater Britain were put to the test by irregular commandos of Afrikaners (of Dutch extraction) which included swift-moving, mounted farmers armed with deadly Mauser rifles and bitter determination. Although described as the Anglo-Boer War, many nationalities were drawn into the conflict. There were Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Ceylonese forces and Indian cavalry and, on the side of the Boers, Germans, French, Russians and Irishmen. Americans and Irishmen fought for both sides.

1899

• Ten thousand British troops are sent to Natal, South Africa -- 8 September 1899.
• Boer President Kruger calls up the Boers (farmers and burghers) -- 27 September 1899.
• President Kruger's ultimatum -- 9 October 1899.
• War breaks out -- 11 October 1899.
• The sieges of Kimberley and Mafeking by Boer forces begin -- 14 October 1899.
• Battle of Talana -- 20 October 1899.
• Battle of Elandslaagte -- 21 October 1899.

 

 Before television, magic lantern shows brought events
like the Anglo-Boer War into neighbourhood theatres. From a collection of glass magic lantern slides.
 
• Battle of Reitfontein -- 24 October 1899.
• Battle of Modderspruit -- 30 October 1899.
• Town of Ladysmith put under seige by Boers -- 2 November 1899.
• Battles of Willow Grange (21 November 1899); Belmont (23 November 1899); Graspan (25 November 1899); Deerdepoort (26 November 1899), Modder River (28 November 1899); Stormberg (10 December 1899), Magersfontein (11 December), Colenso (15 December).

1900

• Battle of Platrand (6 January 1900).
• Slingersfonein (16 January & 18 February)
• Battle of Spion Kop (24 January 1900).
• Battle of Vaal Krantz (5 February 1900).
• Hobkirk's Farm "Pink Hill" (12 February).
• Town of Kimberley relieved by British forces -- 15 February 1900).

 In the foreground a medical orderly tends a battle casualty.Glass slide.

• Battle of Paardeberg (18-27 February 1900).
• Boer General Cronje surrenders -- 27 February 1900).
• Town of Ladysmith relieved by British forces -- 28 February 1900).
• Battles of Poplar Grove (7 March 1900); Driefontein (10 March 1900).
• Bloemfontein captured by British forces -- 13 March 1900).

 Artillery finds its range in a Boer laager. Glass slide.

• Boer Commandant-General Joubert dies -- 27 March 1900).
• Battles of Sannah's Post (31 March 1900); Reddersburg ( 4 April 1900); Biggarsberg (14 May1900).
• Town of Mafeking relieved by British forces -- (17 May 1900).
• Orange Free State annexed by Britain -- (28 May 1900).
• Johannesburg captured by British forces -- 31 May 1900).
• Action at Lindley (31 May 1900).
• Pretoria captured by British forces -- 5 June 1900).
• Action at Roodewal (7 June 1900).
• Battle of Diamond Hill (11 June 1900).
• Occupation of Volksrust (12 June 1900).
• Actions at Zilikat's Nek (11 July 1900) and Koster River (22 July 1900).
• Boer Commandant-General Prinsloo surrenders -- 31 July 1900).
• Siege of Eland's River Post (4-16 August 1900).
• Battle of Bergendal (27 August 1900); capture of Lydenburg (6 September 1900).
• Boer President Kruger leaves by ship for Europe -- (19 October 1900).
• British forces annex Transvaal -- (1 September 1900).
• Action at Bothaville (6 November 1900).
• General Kitchener appointed Commander-in-Chief of British forces in South Africa (29 November 1900).
• Battle of Nooitgedacht (13 December 1900).

1901

• Mooderfontein Post captured by General Smuts--( 31 January 1901).
• British Cape Colony invaded -- (10 February 1901).

 Bad weather--as unpredictable as a Boer attack.Glass slide.

• Peace talk overtures begin at Middelburg (28 February 1901).
• Action at Brakpan (15 May 1901)
• Action at Wilmansrust involving 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles (12 June 1901).
• Battles of Blood River Poort (17 September 1901); Fort Itala (26 September 1901); Bakenlaagte (30 October 1901).
• Action at Tweefontein 25 December 1901).

1902

• Action at Onverwacht (4 January 1902).
• Action at Tweebosch (7 March 1902).
• Cecil Rhodes, a central figure in European South African history, dies -- (26 March 1902).
• Ookiep put under seige (4 April 1902).
• Pretoria hosts peace delegations (12-18 April 1902).
• Zulu warriors attack Boers at Holkrans (6 May 1902).
• Peace talks at Vereeniging (15-18 May 1902)
• Armistice and treaty at Vereeniging (31 May 1902).

International Statesmen of the future took part in the War:

• Winston Churchill, a war correspondent who went on to become Prime Minister of Britain.
• Mahatma Gandhi, a stretcher-bearer for British forces, became the icon for non-violent protest.
• Boer leaders like Jan Smuts and Louis Botha became important figures in modern South African history.

Modern writers exposed the new horrors of war:

• Rudyard Kipling, a great editor and poet served in the war.
• Conan Doyle's The War in South Africa--its cause and conduct was controversial. His book The Great Boer War was history.
• Australia's `Banjo' Paterson was a war correspondent who also wrote some war verse.
• Edgar Wallace (later a famed Crime writer) was war correspondent for the British Daily Mail.