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Boer War Flashcards

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1
Q

What two Boer republics did Britain go to war against in 1899?

A

The Transvaal and the Orange Free State

These republics were involved in the Second Boer War.

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2
Q

What was the significance of the garrison town of Ladysmith in the war?

A

It was established as a base for British forces and was soon surrounded by Boer forces.

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3
Q

Who was besieged in the town of Mafeking?

A

Colonel Robert Baden-Powell with 1,200 men.

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4
Q

What was the size of the Boer force that laid siege to Kimberley?

A

7,500 Boers.

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5
Q

What were some problems faced by the British Army in 1899?

A
  • Shortage of ammunition
  • Understaffed Medical Corps
  • Inadequate intelligence and staff work.
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6
Q

When did General Sir Redvers Buller arrive in Cape Town?

A

31 October 1899.

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7
Q

What was the size of the British main force led by Buller to relieve Ladysmith?

A

30,000 men.

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8
Q

How did the Boer Army appear on paper compared to the British Army?

A

The Boer Army could put fewer than 60,000 men in the field.

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9
Q

What was the composition of the Boer Army?

A

Essentially a civilian militia.

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10
Q

What was expected of adult male citizens in a district when danger loomed?

A

To form a commando and bring their own weapon and horse.

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11
Q

What significant events occurred during ‘Black Week’ (10-15 December 1899)?

A
  • Gatacre lost over 700 soldiers at Stormberg
  • Methuen suffered 900 casualties at Magersfontein
  • Buller suffered nearly 1,400 casualties at Colenso.
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12
Q

What advantage did the Boers have during the sieges?

A

Prepared positions and smokeless magazine rifles that could kill at 2,000 yards.

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13
Q

What did many Boers in the British territories of Cape Colony and Natal think about the Boer republics?

A

They sympathised with the two Boer republics.

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14
Q

Who was Sir George White and what was his role?

A

He was in charge of 10,000 men from the Indian Army, arriving in Natal on 7 October 1899.

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15
Q

Fill in the blank: The British forces suffered a series of defeats during _______.

A

Black Week.

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16
Q

True or False: The Boers believed they were engaged in a life-and-death struggle to preserve their culture.

A

True.

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17
Q

What was the outcome of Buller’s attempt to cross the Tugela River at Colenso?

A

He suffered nearly 1,400 casualties.

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18
Q

What did the First Boer War (1880-1) suggest about the Boers?

A

They were likely to be tough opponents.

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19
Q

What type of weaponry did the Boers possess?

A

Some of Europe’s best weapons, including the Mauser rifle.

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20
Q

What was the initial British troop deployment timeline in southern Africa?

A

Troops did not sail from Britain until 12 October.

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21
Q

Who replaced Buller as commander after his defeat at Colenso?

A

Lord Roberts

Lord Roberts was a hero of the 1880 Afghan War.

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22
Q

What was the outcome of the battle at Paardeberg on 28 February?

A

The surrender of a 4,000 Boer army

This was a significant victory for the British forces.

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23
Q

What was the largest force Britain had ever sent overseas by January 1900?

A

180,000 troops

This included men from British-controlled southern Africa and volunteers from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

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24
Q

What major problem did Roberts face that delayed his advance for six weeks?

A

Shortage of supplies

Additionally, almost 1,000 troops died in an outbreak of typhoid.

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25
When was Mafeking relieved after a siege?
17 May ## Footnote The siege lasted for 217 days.
26
What new tactical guidelines did Roberts issue upon his arrival?
* Careful reconnaissance before an attack * Avoidance of frontal attacks in mass formations * More use of cover
27
What was the significance of the capture of Johannesburg and Pretoria?
It marked the annexation of the Orange Free State and significant British territorial gains ## Footnote Johannesburg was captured on 31 May and Pretoria on 5 June.
28
What was the result of the battle at Spion Kop?
1,350 casualties and a British retreat ## Footnote British troops were overlooked by Boer gun emplacements.
29
What happened to President Kruger after the British advances?
He fled to Europe ## Footnote This occurred after British forces captured key locations.
30
When was the Transvaal formally annexed?
September 1900 ## Footnote This event followed a series of British victories.
31
What was the result of the British offensive launched on 10 February?
Intended to outflank the Boers defending Magersfontein ## Footnote The offensive was part of a larger strategy to relieve besieged towns.
32
Fill in the blank: On 15 February, British cavalry relieved _______.
Kimberley
33
What was one of the key strategies employed by Kitchener to improve British mobility?
Improvised a transport system of wagons ## Footnote This reduced dependence on railway lines.
34
True or False: Lord Kitchener was appointed as Roberts' chief of staff.
True
35
What was the role of Baden-Powell during the siege of Mafeking?
Defender of Mafeking who became a national hero ## Footnote He tied down 7,000 Boers during a crucial period.
36
What was the main goal of Roberts' advance into the Orange Free State?
To put the Boers to flight and capture key towns ## Footnote This included capturing Bloemfontein on 13 March.
37
Fill in the blank: Buller succeeded in crossing the Tugela and defeating the _______.
Boers
38
What was the primary objective of General Sir Redvers Buller upon taking command in October 1899?
To go on the offensive against the Boers with a direct assault on Pretoria ## Footnote Pretoria was the capital of the Transvaal.
39
What significant defeat did Buller suffer while attempting to relieve Ladysmith?
A defeat at Colenso ## Footnote This defeat hindered his initial offensive strategy.
40
What advice did Buller give to White regarding Ladysmith?
To surrender Ladysmith ## Footnote This advice was criticized in Britain.
41
Who replaced General Sir Redvers Buller as a commander in South Africa?
Field Marshal Roberts ## Footnote Buller faced criticism for his leadership and was dismissed.
42
What was the strategy devised by Field Marshal Roberts for the British forces?
A two-pronged attack on the Boers ## Footnote This included relieving besieged towns and launching direct attacks on Boer territories.
43
Which towns were relieved by British forces under Roberts in February 1900?
Kimberley and Ladysmith ## Footnote Mafeking was also taken in May 1900.
44
When did Roberts capture Bloemfontein and Pretoria?
Bloemfontein in March 1900 and Pretoria in May 1900 ## Footnote These victories were crucial in the campaign against the Boers.
45
Who was appointed Commander-in-Chief in November 1900?
Field Marshal Kitchener ## Footnote Kitchener oversaw the final months of the war.
46
What scorched earth policy did Kitchener continue?
Burning of farms and homesteads and destruction of food and livestock ## Footnote This was intended to undermine Boer resistance.
47
What were concentration camps used for during the war?
To house Boer families who had been forced to quit their homes ## Footnote They also aimed to prevent civilians from assisting Boer commandos.
48
What humanitarian issues arose from the concentration camps?
Inadequate food, poor hygiene and sanitation, and shortage of medical facilities ## Footnote These conditions led to diseases and a high death rate.
49
How many Boer women and children died in the concentration camps?
Over 20,000 ## Footnote This represented one in four of the inmates.
50
What was Kitchener's argument regarding the treatment of Boer families?
Leaving Boer families on the ransacked veldt would have been even crueler ## Footnote This was used to justify the concentration camp policy.
51
What military strategy did Kitchener employ to restrict the movement of Boer raiders?
Building 8,000 fortified blockhouses ## Footnote These blockhouses were linked with barbed wire fences.
52
What was the outcome of Kitchener's tactics by early 1902?
It became obvious that further resistance was futile for the Boers ## Footnote The war ended with the Treaty of Vereeniging in May 1902.
53
How many British soldiers died during the Second Boer War?
22,000 British soldiers ## Footnote This included 7,792 in battle, with the rest dying from disease.
54
What was the total cost of the Second Boer War to British taxpayers?
£217 million ## Footnote The war required the services of 450,000 British and colonial troops.
55
What was the general attitude of most MPs towards the Boer War in 1899?
Most MPs supported the war ## Footnote Most Britons were strongly patriotic and proud of the British Empire.
56
What role did war correspondents play during the Boer War?
They reported on the war for newspapers, influencing public opinion and selling newspapers.
57
What was 'khaki fever' and when did it occur?
'Khaki fever' raged throughout Britain in 1899-1900.
58
What event in 1899-1900 resulted in half a million people cheering in Britain?
The departure of the First Army Corps from Southampton.
59
What was the 'khaki election'?
The general election called by Salisbury in September 1900.
60
What was the outcome of the 'khaki election'?
The Conservatives and their Unionist allies were returned with a majority of 134.
61
What did historians struggle to understand about the 'khaki election'?
The election results reflected the disorganisation of the Liberal opposition rather than a vote in support of the war.
62
How did the press influence public support for the Boer War?
The press encouraged support for the imperial idea and reflected public views.
63
What technological advancements in the 1890s affected newspaper circulation?
Technical improvements and advertising revenue lowered costs, allowing more Britons to afford daily newspapers.
64
Who became a national hero during the Boer War and why?
Winston Churchill became a national hero after escaping capture by Boers and traveling to safety.
65
What was the impact of war correspondents on military reputations?
Their reporting and control over news dissemination could shape public perception more powerfully than reality.
66
What was General Buller's relationship with the press?
He had contempt for the press and used heavy-handed censorship, harming his reputation.
67
What did Roberts do differently in his relationship with war correspondents?
He befriended them and kept them away from unpleasant scenes.
68
What media innovations allowed the war to be captured visually?
Photographs and moving pictures from the bioscope.
69
Who launched the Daily Mail and when?
Alfred Harmsworth launched the Daily Mail in 1896.
70
What was the circulation of the Daily Mail by 1900?
Nearly one million.
71
What was the political stance of the Daily Mail regarding the Boer War?
It was fiercely imperialist and a vigorous supporter of the war.
72
What was the initial public response to the war?
A sizeable minority of the population vehemently opposed the war from the start ## Footnote They were backed by newspapers like the Manchester Guardian and assorted socialist journals.
73
What were some criticisms of imperialism in Britain?
* Imperial ambitions distracted attention from domestic social problems * Greed was seen as the motivating force in overseas expansion * Imperial issues split the Liberal Party between Liberal Imperialists and Radical Liberals
74
What did the Radical Liberals' resolution drafted by Lloyd George in 1900 state?
The war was denounced as 'a crime and a blunder, committed at the instigation of irresponsible capitalists' ## Footnote This resolution expressed the opposition of Radical Liberals to the war.
75
What was the Trades Union Congress's position on the war?
Officially maintained a position of neutrality ## Footnote This was partly to avoid conflict with trade unionists who joined the army.
76
How did members of the fledgling Labour Party view the war?
They tended to believe that the conflict was a capitalist war.
77
What was the stance of some Labour leaders during the war?
In a national emergency, they were Britons first and socialists second.
78
Who were the most outspoken opponents of the war?
The Irish Nationalists ## Footnote They regarded the Boers as fellow-victims of imperialist aggression.
79
What role did Emily Hobhouse play during the war?
She highlighted the appalling conditions in South Africa's concentration camps, forcing the government to take action.
80
What organization did Hobhouse become secretary of in 1899?
The South African Conciliation Committee.
81
What did Hobhouse do in 1900 for Boer families?
Set up a fund to provide aid and supplies ## Footnote The fund was generously supported by the Quakers but received very few contributions from the British public.
82
When did Hobhouse land in South Africa?
December 1900.
83
What were some findings from Hobhouse's report to the government in June 1901?
* Families were accommodated in overcrowded tents with little weather protection * Food rations were scarce and inadequate * Most children were undernourished, making childhood diseases often fatal * Water was in short supply and insanitary conditions led to outbreaks of typhoid
84
What did Hobhouse call for in her report?
The end of the scorched earth policy and the forcible relocation of families into the camps.
85
Who took up Hobhouse's report and what did they criticize?
Lloyd George and other Radical Liberals criticized 'the methods of barbarism' occurring in South Africa.
86
What was the Fawcett Commission tasked with?
To investigate the camps in South Africa.
87
What did the Fawcett Commission confirm?
Every one of Hobhouse's findings ## Footnote It recommended increased rations and more nurses.
88
What significant change did Kitchener instruct in December 1901?
Not to bring Boer families into the camps when clearing the country.
89
What was the effect of Kitchener's instruction?
It seemed to appease critics while handicapping the guerrillas who had to care for their families.

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