How successful was the British army?

BOER COMMANDOS


1899 British army very similar to army of 1854
Numbers increased slightly
Cardwell's reforms introduced
Smaller than conscript armies of Russia,Germay, France
Expensive per man
Very small compared to vast empire
Many soldiers from poorest backgrounds
Soldiers social standing was low
Working class families in many cases ashamed of family volunteering
Nicknamed 'Tommy's' or ' Tommy Atkins'
Food allowance generous - 3/4 lb of meat and 1lb bread per day plus a gill of rum!
Regular rations attractive for many
Discipline harsh - flogging in wartime only abandoned 1881
Drill, cleaning, mundate tasks
Initiative not encouraged
Still using old fashioned tactics
Officers still could not survive on salary alone therefore still from wealthy families
Little interest in soldiering tactics - move bravery and loyalty which could have huge consequences
Too much focus/interest from officers in sport

SOME IMPROVEMENTS
Khaki uniforms
New Lee Enfield magazine rifle
Supplies improved with creation of army service corp
Medical services with Royal Army Medical Corps
Commissions abolished after Cardwell reforms

OVERALL IN 1899 IT WAS NOT AN EFFECTIVE FIGHT FORCE


HOW DID THE WAR GO FOR THE BRITISH INITIALLY?

INITIALLY BADLY UNDER COMMAND OF BULLER



BULLER

Due to the Boers superior numbers they famously sieged 3 key towns -
Mafeking - British Colonel Baden-Powell held out
Kimberley - British and mine owner/politican Cecil Rhodes - cut off by Boer leader Cronje
Ladysmith - British Sir George White

However tactically this was defensive as the Boers did not push onto the British ports in the south and basically dug in to British territory. Only a matter of time before additional British troops arrived.

Boers believed the sieges would force British into a negotiated peace and full independence for Boer states.

British underestimated skills of Boers and impact of new technology in weapons e.g quick firing guns and smokeless powder. They still used front attacks in broad daylight.

BLACK WEEK - DECEMBER 1899

Buller on arrive split his forces in three - mistake
All three forces faced defeat
Lord Methuen defeated at Magersfontain by Boer leader Cronje
Gatacre was defeated at Stormberg
Buller defeated at Colenso 15th December

Further defeat at Spion Kop 23/24th Jan 1900

TIDE TURNS - ROBERTS IN COMMAND


ROBERTS

Massive reinforcements plus 30,000 from across the empire e.g. Australia. Many mounted infantry. 448,000 reinforcements shipped to Cape Colony
Appointment of Field Marshall Lord 'Bobs' Roberts in command. Supported by Kitchener. Arrived Feb 1900
Kimberley and Ladysmith relieved Feb 1900
Boers led by Cronje forced to surrender at Paardeberg
Series of British victories followed e.g. Bloemfontein capital of Orange Free State captured
However British suffered from supply issues, reliance on the railway and typhoid - which killed more men than the Boers.
Autumn 1900 Kitchener took over from Roberts

POST 1901 - LONGEST PHASE OF THE WAR - KITCHENER


KITCHENER

Boers had lost major cities but continued guerilla warfare
Hit and run tactics
Kitchener response
Divided land by barbed wire
Used scorched earth policy removing food/livestock/farms
Set up blockhouses across the region - i.e. guard houses
Boer women and children placed in concentration camps

1902

Boers worn down
Negotiations began
Peace finally agreed at Vereeniging May 1902
Treaty of Vereeniging signed