The South African War 1899

Causes Of The War, and its Results

The root cause of this war was the long-standing rivalry between the two colonizing races, British and Dutch. The Dutch Boers, who disliked British rule, had trekked north to avoid it, and had finally succeeded in establishing their independence in the Transvaal and Orange Free State Republics. Then the discovery of gold in the Transvaal at Johannesburg brought in a large foreign population, chiefly British. The Transvaal Government shared in the profits, but refused citizenship and liberty of education to those who produced the wealth. Great Britain championed their cause and brought pressure on the Transvaal Government. That Government, relying on the sympathy of the Dutch population in Cape Colony and on the weakness of the British garrison, and encouraged by intriguing Powers in Europe, then proceeded to arm and equip. The Orange Free State did the same and the two republics entered into a secret alliance.

The easily defeated escapade, known as the Jameson Raid, in 1898, when a few hundred British mounted police (unauthorized) tried to reach Johannesburg where an armed rising had been arranged, did not improve relations.

A few British reinforcements had been sent, but the total number of British troops was only about 27,000, of which 18,000 were in Natal based on Durban, and the remainder scattered over Cape Colony based on Cape Town. The Boers could put well over 50,000 men in the field, all well armed and all mounted, crack shots and natural soldiers, very mobile and unencumbered with transport, with about 110 guns of various calibres. Added to that they had considerable contempt for British regular troops, with every expectation of intervention by the German Empire. It is not to be wondered at that they were ready to risk a war to drive the British out of South Africa.

Early in October, 1899, therefore, Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic, suddenly delivered an ultimatum to the British Government and the war began. Strong Boer forces invaded Natal and Cape Colony.

The initial Boer plans miscarried and a critical situation was saved; but the struggle lasted nearly three years, and before it ended England and the Empire had put 450,000 men in the field and spent a vast sum of money. But the Empire had held together and the experience gained showed how ill-prepared it was for the European War which followed twelve years later.

Last but not least the two Dutch States which had fought us to a finish were given self-government four years after their defeat. They rallied to our side in the First World War of 1914-18 and have been loyal members of the British Union of South Africa ever since, fighting alongside Great Britain again in the Second World War, 1939-45.