3.2 The outbreak of the sa war (1899 -1900)

Social sciences: history

Grade 7

Democracy or war

Module 10

The outbreak of the war (1899 – 1900)

1899: The year of the Boers

When Britain refused to withdraw the British soldiers, the Boer forces of the Transvaal and the Free State invaded Natal and the Cape colony. On the western front, Mafikeng, Kimberley and Ladysmith were besieged. Tswana chieftains helped the Boer forces. When the British attempted to relieve Kimberley, they were defeated by the Boer forces in the Northern Cape. The Battle of Magersfontein became a complete catastrophe as far as Britain was concerned, while the British were also defeated at Stormberg and Colenso. This catastrophic week is known as “Black Week” in British history. One third of British soldiers surrendered.

British uniforms and strategies were altogether unsuitable for South African conditions. The Boer forces did not have uniforms, and old and young fought side by side. They knew the terrain and were able to ride and shoot from their youth.

1900: The year of the British

Lord Roberts's troops relieved Kimberley and captured 4 000 Boer troops. Twelve days later 4 000 Boer soldiers surrendered at Paardeberg, after having been under attack by 40 000 British troops for two weeks. Then Bloemfontein was taken and the Orange Free State became a British colony. Johannesburg was attacked by 43 000 British soldiers and was taken without a single shot being fired. British soldiers from Natal joined these troops and Pretoria was taken five days later. In February, the siege of Ladysmith came to an end and Mafikeng was relieved on 17 May. The Transvaal was declared a British colony in September. The Boer commandos continued to fight, and were provided with food and shelter by Boer women and children, so there was no peace yet.

Activity 1:

Using various sources of information on the south african war and reporting on this information

[lo 1.2]

First study the following sources

a) Create a comic strip to explain why 1899 was the year of the Boer forces.

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b) Compare the Boer and British forces by means of an interesting crossword puzzle.

DANIE THERON

THE MASTER SCOUT

Danie Theron undertook the following daring scouting exploits at Paardeberg between 24 and 26 February 1900, a week after Colonel Hannay's death on 18 February, when Gen. De Wet needed to send a message to the beleaguered Boer force. Afterwards Gen. De Wet described it as a venture such as would not be surpassed in the whole of that savage war.

General Christiaan de Wet, the fiery Free State commander is anxious. The Boer fighters initially caused heavy losses to the enemy through blows that made the mighty British army stagger, especially during that “black week”. But after five weeks of war the English with their superior numbers are wiping away all opposition. Everywhere the octopus is extending its tentacles and strangling the Boer forces. Here at Paardeberg they have trapped General Piet Cronjé with four thousand burghers. If the Boer force were to yield, it would result in a devastating blow to the Republics. General De Wet ponders and contemplates the possibilities. The military force simply has to be relieved and he is considering a plan to shoot open an escape route at two points. But then it would be imperative for the trapped men to know where and when this would happen. His main problem is how to get the message past the solid cordon of British soldiers.