Boer War Overview, 1899-1902
The following photo’s and service details are of COLLIE BOY’S who served during the Boer War. Photos are copies from records held by the Sub Branch, from Various Boer War websites, and from the families of the servicemen. The service details are formed from records, sourced from the National Archives (for service after 1901), and from the records of the Australian War Memorial (AWM). Prior to Federation the individual state colonies formed their own military forces to serve in South Africa, records for these serviceman who served before federation are generally held by state archives. Information was also sourced from various Boer War websites. Attestation forms for Soldiers who enlisted after Federation (1901) have been included with the soldier’s details. It should be understood that not all servicemen shown here, were born in Collie. However, the servicemen not born in Collie, who are listed herein, worked and lived in the Collie District, at the time of their enlistment. Finally, it must be said that every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the detail provided herein. At all times the source reference has been records held by the AWM and National Archives.
Overview
From 10th October 1899 to the end of May 1902 a bitter conflict raged across the South African Veldt between Britain and her Empire and the two largely self-governing Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
The six Australian States (colonies) were quick to make troops available to Britain when a Boer ultimatum to the British expired Boer commandos streamed across the borders into the British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. The first formed unit of troops from Australia, a squadron of the New South Wales Lancers landed in Capetown on 2 November 1899, less than one month after hostilities began.
Up until 1899 for Australians there had been quite fierce fighting in some areas as European settlement expanded across the lands of the Aboriginal peoples, and two minor rebellions on the Australian mainland quickly put down by British garrison troops. Australians had also fought in the Maori wars in New Zealand and, in 1885, New South Wales sent a 700 strong contingent of infantry and artillery, with a small medical detachment, to the Sudan in North Africa. The Boer War was the first full commitment of troops by all the Australian Colonies to a foreign war and with the formation of the Australian Commonwealth on 1st January 1901 it became our country’s first military involvement as a nation.
In the beginning there was a preference for infantry units but the value of Australian horsemen was quickly recognised as mounted infantry, due to their capacity to deploy quickly and their ability to match the Boers’ own game. Therefore they were much sought after. With the exception of one field artillery battery and some medical groups (field ambulance, stretcher bearers and some 60 nurses) the Australian forces in South Africa comprised mounted infantry. Along with the New Zealanders, Australian horsemen were unsurpassed as scouts and were greatly valued by column commanders. After Federation the mounted troops which were sent to South Africa included the various Australian Commonwealth Horse units.
Our soldiers, who were truly the first Australian expeditionary force to fight overseas, did Australia proud in the Boer War as they have done in all conflicts since. Informed military commentators saw the magnificent defence of Elands River by Australian and Rhodesian troops as the finest episode of the whole war. The majority of the defenders were Australian bushmen, mainly men from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with a lesser number from Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. They manfully defended the post against impossible odds for 12 days.
The trial and execution of Australian BVC officers ‘Breaker’ Morant and Peter Handcock without the knowledge of, or any reference to the Australian Government, changed forever our nation's attitude to the execution of servicemen. In the period since, no Australian serviceman has since suffered the death penalty, regardless of the war-related crime committed.
The Australians at home initially supported the war, but became disenchanted as the conflict dragged on, especially as the effects on Boer civilians became known.
The Cost
It is generally thought that about 16,000 Australians fought in the Boer War. The nature of the conditions under which the war was fought can be deduced from the fact that in the Australian contingents, 282 died in action or from wounds sustained in battle, while 286 died from disease and another 38 died of accident or other unknown causes. Forty-one Collie boys are known to have served in the Boer War, three were killed in action and one died from disease (see nominal and honour rolls).