The 2nd Boer War Flashcards
(55 cards)
When was the 2nd Boer War?
1899 - 1902
What did George Wyndham declare at the start of the 2nd Boer War?
that the army was more efficient than at any time since the battle of waterloo in 1815.
On 1st December 1899 what did the number of British soldiers in South Africa rise to?
27,000 to 84,000
Problems the British faced in The Second Boer War?
- inland transport as the Boers found it easy to block/ cut the tracks - option was now ox-wagons + horses
- the british army did not know the Boer terrain
- some Boers had experience fighting Zulu’s and British + most were skilled hunters + could shoot
- The Boers had friends on almost every farm - could live off the land
Main problem for the British in the Boer war?
- outdated tactical approach, british infantry suffered losses in frontal attacks + neither cavalry nor artillery came up to expectations
When did the Boers surround Ladysmith and how many?
35,000 surrounded it in November 1899
What was Sir George White criticised for in regards to his defense of Ladysmith?
He left much of the defense to junior officers + only the northern sector heavily fortified
When did the Boers make their one attack on Ladysmith and what section did they attack?
6th January 1900, attacking the weaker south side
Who led the British response to the Boers siegers?
Sir Redvers Buller
When was the black week?
10th - 17th December 1899
What were the defeats during the Black Week?
Stormberg, Magersfontein, Colenso + Spion Kop
How was Stormberg a failure?
- British infantry were exposed to Boer fire + their own artillery fire
- Casualities light but 500 left behind/ taken prisoner
How was Magersfontein a failure?
- supposed to advance along railway but blocked by Boers who were at the bottom rather than the top which the British expected
- 11th December - British attack but had not scouted properly + in darker soldiers blundered into wire and tin cans strung by Boers
- Pinned in daylight, exposed to sun + enemy fire - Methuen withdrew with 200 dead
When was the siege of Collenso?
15th December 1899
How many British died at Collenso and how many Boers?
British - 143
Boers - 8
Why did Collenso fail?
- lack of knowledge of terrain + poor planning as soldiers were sent across the river Tugela in wrong places
- artillery battery mistakenly dropped within rifle range
- Buller called off assault even though the Brits occupied Collenso - in confusion while they withdrew some were taken prisoner
How many British died at Spion Kop and why?
243 - they thought they’d taken the hilltop but morning mist cleared and they were exposed to the Boers firing from higher ground
When did the British pull out of Spion Kop?
24th Jan 1900
Who replaced Buller after the Black Week?
Lord Roberts as commander-in-chief and Kitchener in second command
When was Ladysmith relieved from the 118 day siege and how?
28th February 1900 - Roberts and Kitchener used pontoon bridges + artillery bombardment to cross the Tugela river
When was Kimberley relieved from the 124 day siege and how?
15th February 1900 - Roberts took personal command + set off with 40,000 men and used superior numbers to push the Boers back until the cavalry fought through
How did the sieges benefit the British in the Boer War?
- Boers were skilled in being fast, striking quickly then dissapearing, so sieges meant they had to risk attacks against British artillery if they refused to surrender
- sieges gave british time to reinforce
How many British and colonial soldiers were in South Africa by the end of January 1900?
180,000
What had Buller served as in Egypt?
Head of intelligence
