British Regiments in South Africa, 1899-1902: Their Record, Based on the Despatches

MILITARY GENERAL
Superior Fine Copy!
First published 1903. pp. xiv, 532 #081222
Grenadier Guards, Territorial Regiments, Cavalry, Royal artillery, Royal Engineers, etc.
The Second Boer War , 11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902, also known as the Boer War was fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics over the Empire’s influence in Southern Africa. Following the discovery of gold deposits in the Boer republics, there was a large influx of “foreigners”, mostly British from the Cape Colony. They were not permitted to have a vote, and were regarded as “unwelcome visitors”, invaders, and they protested to the British authorities in the Cape. Negotiations failed, and in the opening stages of the war the Boers launched successful attacks against British outposts, before being pushed back by imperial reinforcements. Though the British swiftly occupied the Boer republics, numerous Boers refused to accept defeat and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Eventually, British scorched earth policies brought the remaining Boer guerillas to the negotiating table, ending the war.

Many consider the Boer War as marking the beginning of the questioning of the British Empire’s veneer of impenetrable global dominance; this is due to the war’s surprisingly long duration and the unforeseen, discouraging losses suffered by the British fighting the “cobbled-together army” of Boers.