The Boer War

by Thomas Pakenham

  17 Dundee postmaster, H. Paris, quoted PPW 77. Maj. Bird loc cit

  18 Ibid. Trench loc cit Netley diary 22–4 Oct, PC. OH I, 146–7

  19 OH I, 147. Bird loc cit

  20 Netley diary loc cit Nevinson Ladysmith 49. OH I, 148–51

  21 Kerin 64, Ker

  22 Ibid 61–4. Donegan 22–3 Oct 1899, PC

  23 Kerin 64–5, Ker. Donegan 23 Oct 1899, PC

  24 Donegan23 Oct 1899, PC. Kerin65, Ker

  25 SJ 21 Oct 1899. Kerin 65–8, Ker. Donegan 23 Oct 1899, PC. Cf Reitz Commando 32–3. Crum Memoir, Cru

  26 Donegan 23 Oct 1899, PC

  27 Kerin 62, 75–6, Ker. Donegan loc cit

  28 Donegan 24 Oct 1899, PC. Cf Kerin 76–7, Ker. TH II, 209

  29 Donegan 25, 29 Oct, 2 Nov 1899, PC

  30 Netley diary & tapes loc cit

  31 Bird loc cit Kentish loc cit TH II, 206–8

  32 OH I, 44. TH II, 212–13

  33 TH II 212–13. SJ 29 Oct 1900 ‘100 days reserve’

  34 ‘Hills & hollows - wind and dust-storms perpetually, hills covered with sharp stones’ Capt. Steavenson 20 Aug 1899 Stea., EGO

  35 SM 2/1. Butler Autobiography 414, 418

  36 Butler’s plan, he later claimed: Autobiography 420–1

  37 Buller–Bigge 4 Jan 1900, Big

  38 Butler had moved half the garrison out because of typhoid. Autobiography 416

  39 See Rawlinson diary 7–11 Oct 1899, Rawl 5201/33/7–1

  40 TH II, 260–4

  41 Hely–Hutchinson-White Oct 1899, Whi 56A

  42 White–brother 17, 23 Oct 1899, Whi 98B/3. White–wife 27 Oct 1899, MS cit

  43 White–wife 19 Oct 1899, MS cit White–brother 27 Oct 1899, MS cit

  44 SJ intell letter 6 Dec 1899. The disproportion between British and Boer numbers at both Talana and Elandslaagte was actually much larger than White knew. Breyt L 215–16,241 and cf White SD 1,9

  45 White SD I, 8, 62–3. OH I, 152–6. For vivid account by company COs of Gloucesters see C. J. Hickie diary 24 Oct 1899, Hick

  46 Times 30 Oct 1899

  47 For excellent comparison of old-style and new-style war see PRAI XXVIII 351–64

  48 See esp White–wife 27, 30 Oct 1899, MS cit and White–brother 27 Oct 1899 quoted at head of chapter

  49 White–brother 27 Oct 1899, MS cit OH I, 172–3

  50 TH II, 214–15. Gardyne III, 30. Sampson & Hamilton Anti–Commando 119

  51 White–Hely-Hutchinson Oct 1899, Whi 56A

  52 White–wife 30 Oct 1899, MS cit White–WO (tel) 30 Oct 1899 reprinted in Times 1 Nov 1899

  53 White–L 2 Dec 1899, SD I 63–4

  54 White–brothers loc cit

  55 Carleton’s report RCSAW IV, 403. Cf R’s memo SM 18/3–5

  56 White–L 2 Dec 1899, SD I, 64. White–Buller 31 Oct 1899, SD I, 9

  57 White–wife 30 Oct 1899, MS cit.

  58 OH I, 175–7

  59 Rawlinson diary 30 Oct 1899, MS cit OH I, 176–7

  60 Steevens 80

  61 Nevinson 58

  62 White–Buller 31 Oct 1899, MS cit ‘Some of them [our troops] do not fight with the spirit they had at first’

  63 TH II, 255–6. Gardyne III, 32

  64 Netley diary 30 Oct 1899, PC

  65 TH II, 235. Capt. Steavenson: ‘very nearly a stampede (30 Oct 1899), Stea

  66 Gilbert diary 20 Oct, 1899, Gil

  67 OH I, 174–86. Rawlinson diary 30 Oct 1899, Rawl

  68 Ibid

  69 OH I, 186–95. PPW 88–97. Breyt I, 337–8. De Wet Three Years War 21–5. Van Dam PRAI

  70 White–L 30 Oct 1899, Whi s6B

  71 White–wife 30 Oct 1899, MS cit

  72 SJ intell letter 6 Dec 1899. Buller–L CT no 2

  73 J. Wolfe Murray SD I, 16. Haig diary 2 Nov 1899 Haig. SJ 2 Nov 1899

  CHAPTER 14: THE WHALE AND THE FISH

  1 J. Atkins Relief of Ladysmith 28

  2 W. Churchill London to Ladysmith 3–4. A. Pollock Seven Generals 1–2

  3 Illustrated London News 1899 684–5

  4 W. Churchill op cit 2. W. Churchill–mother 25 Oct 1899, quoted R. S. Churchill Companion Volume to W. S. Churchill II, 1055–6

  5 Repington Vestigia 196. W. Churchill My Early Life 249

  6 W. Churchill–mother 25 Oct 1899, MS cit

  7 Dickson Biograph in Battle 2–6. W. Churchill My early Life 249

  8 Repington 201, 208. See J. Symons Buffer in Natal 133

  9 Dickson 10–11, 17 (inc photograph)

  10 W. Churchill Ladysmith 3

  11 Repington 195

  12 Dickson 15–16. Atkins 33–5. Pollock 4

  13 Dickson 15–16

  14 Churchill My Early Life 251. Pollock 4

  15 Churchill Ladysmith 16–19. Repington 196. Pollock 5

  16 Cape Times 31 Oct, 1 Nov 1899

  17 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 171. M’s diary 31 Oct 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  18 Buller–L 7 Nov 1899, Lan IV

  19 See TH II, 280–1

  20 See Buller–L 7,14 Nov, 4 Dec 1899, Lan IV. Buller–M c. 5, 7 Nov 1899, Mil 12 (SA 92)

  21 M’s diary Oct–Nov 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  22 M–C 9 Nov 1899, MP IL 25

  23 Ibid

  24 Parkin–M 31 Oct 1899, Mil 17 (SA 31). See also Wyndham–M 13, 27 Oct 1899, Mil 17 (SA 31)

  25 See Le May British Supremacy 36–7

  26 M’s diary 4 Nov 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  27 M–Hely-Hutchinson Cd 43. MP I, 461–2

  28 L’s memo 3 Oct 1899 quoted RCSA W I, 37

  29 SJ 1–6 Nov 1899

  30 See re-assurance Buller–M 7 Nov 1899, Mil 12 (SA 92) ‘I take heart...’ And see Ly E. Cecil-‘Tim’ 6 Nov 1899 Sal (Hat)

  31 Rhodes–M 5, 7 Nov, Mayor–M 5 Nov, Kimberley MLA 7 Nov 1899 CO 879/62/135–40

  32 M–Rhodes 7 Nov 1899, CO 879/62/136

  33 M–Hely-Hutchinson quoted 1 Nov 1899 SI. M–C 23 Nov 1899, CO 879/56/437

  34 OH I, 196–205. TH II, 286–8

  35 M–Buller[c.5 Nov 1899], Mil 12 (SA 92)

  36 Buller-(brother) Tremayne 3 Nov 1899, WO 132/6/841

  37 Buller–L 4 Nov 1899 CT no 8. Buller–L 7, 14 Nov 1899, Lan IV. See Henderson Science of War 368

  38 White–Buller 1 Nov 1899, Whi 56B

  39 See appendix to Duff Cooper Haig (London 1935) I, 381–2

  40 L–Buller 1, 3 Nov 1899, CT nos 2G and 3C

  41 Buller–L 2 Nov 1899, CT no 3A

  42 Buller–L 8 Nov 1899, CT no 15B

  43 Buller–L 11 Nov 1899, Lan IV/25

  44 See chap 8. And see Wolseley’s furious letter W–Ardagh 23 Sep 1899, Ard 30/40/3

  45 ST 22 Sep 1899

  46 SJ 9 Nov 1899

  47 Buller–M 5 (?) Nov 1899, Mil 12 (SA 92)/86

  48 Fleetwood Wilson–M 14 Oct 1899, Mil 17 (SA 31)

  49 Buller ev RCSA Will, 171

  50 M–Selborne 18 Oct 1899, MP II, 24

  51 M–Selborne 26 Oct 1899, MP II, 25. M–C 11 Oct 1899, MP II, 18

  52 M–Buller 6 Nov 1899, MP II, 21. For phrase ‘white man’s war’ see TH II, 138–40

  53 M–C 24 Nov 1899, CO 879/Af 629/46

  54 M–Buller 6 Nov 1899, MP IL 21

  55 Buller ev RCSAW III, 171. MP II, 33

  56 Buller ev RCSA W loc cit

  57 M’s diary 9 Nov 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  58 M’s official diary 9–14 Nov enc M–C 16 Nov 1899, CO 879/Af 629/136. SJ 9 Nov 1899

  59 SJ 9–16 Nov 18990. See list with dates OH I, 471–6

  60 Ibid

  61 M’s official diary enc M–C 16 Nov 1899, MS cit

  62 OH I, 285–7. SJ 18–19 Nov 1899

  63 M’s diary 18 Nov 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  64 Capt. Algy Trotter–mother 8, 15, 21 Nov 1899, Trot

  65 Buller’s ev RCSA W III, 172

  66 Buller estimated he had 54,000 ‘fighting men’ including cavalry and gunners. Buller–L 4 Dec 1899, Lan IV. For ‘steamroller’ see TH II, 289

  67 Buller’s ev
RCSAW III, 171–3. Buller–L 14, 21 Nov 1899, SD I, 12–16

  68 Buller–Forestier-Walker 20 Nov 1899, quoted OH I, 209

  69 Repington 198–200

  70 Melville Buller II, 66. Buller’s ev RCSA W III 173

  71 Buller–wife 18 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)

  72 M–C 22 Nov 1899, CO 879/Af 572/437

  73 OH I, 269–70, 215–16, 285–7. Buller–L 14 Nov 1899, Lan IV/31–6 ‘matters are going better now’

  74 M’s diary 22 Nov foil 1899, Mil (dep 69). Cf Buller–L 4 Dec, 1899, Lan IV, and Buller–wife 2 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)

  75 Possibly she acted as the intermediary with C when M was appointed High Commissioner. M’s diary 19 Apr, 25 Nov 1896, 15 Mar 1897 etc, Mil (dep 66, 7)

  76 Margot Asquith–M 9 July 1900, Mil 29 (SA 32)

  77 Chamberlain family information, PC. M–C cypher nd. Mil

  78 M’s diary 26, 28 Sep, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8,11,13, 17, 19 Oct 1899, Mil

  79 Ly Milner 4 Dec 1899, quoted Picture Gallery 149

  80 Ibid 146–8. See also MP II, 27 (inspired by Ly Milner). Ly Milner, I take it, had misunderstood M. That he knew Buller was going is clear from his protests. See also M’s diary 23 Nov 1899, Mil (dep 69)

  81 C–M 5 Oct 1899, ChamJC/10/9/70

  82 Wyndham–M 13 Oct 1899, Mil 17 (SA 31)

  83 SJ 15 Nov 1899

  84 For the ‘conspiracy’ see Le May 31–4

  CHAPTER 15: BOTHA’S RAID

  Head of chapter Botha quoted Barnard 41 (loosely translated)

  1 Breyt I, 346–7, 362–3

  2 See Breyt I, 458–62

  3 D. Reitz 17, 35–6. Viljoen 71

  4 TH II, 48. OH I, 121

  5 Breyt I, 153–5. He estimates Boers had only 32,000–35,000 in the field at outbreak of war

  6 Breyt I, 153, 166 foll. Barnard 32–3

  7 Reitz 45–7. See Viljoen 55–6, 67. Their defeat was ascribed to cowardice

  8 Breyt I, 233–4. Viljoen 57

  9 Breyt I, 260–3. Viljoen 55

  10 SJ 20, 21 Oct 1899. Cf Breyt I, 235–6, 259–60. (At Elandslaagte 336 Boer casualties)

  11 Joubert–Reitz 22 Oct 1899, quoted Breyt I, 465

  12 Joubert–Prinsloo 9 Nov 1899, KG 346 (V)/16–17. Engelenburg Botha 28. Barnard 33. Breyt I, 362

  13 Joubert quoted Barnard 32. Breyt I, 343

  14 Joubert–Reitz I Nov 1899, Leyds 710. Breyt I, 346–7

  15 Ibid

  16 Joubert–Prinsloo 9 Nov 1899, KG 346 (V). Breyt I, 362

  17 Breyt ‘I, 362–7

  18 Breyt I, 367–8. Barnard 33–5. Cf OH I, 265

  19 Barnard 1–16, 32. Jones Life 34–5, 43–7. Rompel Heroes 127

  20 Breyt I, 367

  21 Buller 6 Nov 1899, quoted SJ 6 Nov. OH I, 264–5. TH II, 300–2

  22 Buller–L 16 Nov 1899, CT no 25

  23 SJ 3 Nov 1899. OH I, 263–4

  24 Capt. Haldane 3 Jan 1900, SD I, 121–3. Botha–wife 16 Nov 1899, Ley 710 (b). W. Churchill Ladysmith 76–93, My Early Life 257–8

  25 Barnard 35–8. Naude Vechten en vluchten 51–6. OH I, 267–8. TH II, 305–8. Breyt I, 368–9. PPW 152–6

  26 Ibid. Haldane Soldier’s Saga 139–44. Churchill loc cit

  27 Botha–wife 16 Nov 1899, Ley 710 (b)/541

  28 Barnard 37–8 quoting tel Theron–Reitz 28 Nov 1899. Cf R. Churchill Churchill I, 461–74. W. Churchill My Early Life 266–71, Ladysmith 96–7

  29 See chap 24 note 13. See also Col Long’s telegram enc in report Clery–Buller 17 Nov 1899, Bull (Crediton) code tels Box

  30 See Buller 2 Dec 1899, SD I, 21. OH I, 268–70. TH II, 304

  31 TH II, 304–5. Amery Days of Fresh Air 140–1

  32 Barnard 38–9. Breyt I, 372–3

  33 Ibid

  34 OH I, 269–70, 477

  35 For landing dates see SJ 12 Nov 1899, foll OH I, 473–6

  36 OH I, 269–70

  37 One other Boer was killed acc Botha, two acc Joubert Joubert–Reitz (no 10) 25 Nov 1899, Ley 711 (b). OH I, 271–2. Hildyard’s report 24 Nov 1899, SD I, 22–3. PPW 166–7. Barnard Viljoen 71

  38 Botha–wife no 39 28 Nov 1899, Ley 711 (c). Barnard 41

  39 Botha speaking at a Durham banquet in 1908, quoted Barnard 41

  40 Joubert–Reitz (no 51) 28 Nov 1899, Ley 711 (c). Barnard 41–2. Davitt Boer Fight for Freedom 250

  41 Barnard 41

  42 Joubert–Reitz (nos 11 etc) 25 Nov 1899, Ley 711 (b)

  43 Kruger–Joubert (no 25) 25 Nov 1899, Ley 711 (b)

  44 See note 42. Barnard 41. Cf TH II, 214

  45 Naudé 66–8. Barnard 41

  46 Mouton 246–7. Barnard 42–3

  47 P. Warwick loc cit. And see missionaries’ reports of commandeered natives in S PG

  48 Barnard 47

  CHAPTER 16: THE LIGHTS OF KIMBERLEY

  Head of chapter De Beer’s 12th Annual Report, Beer

  1 Methuen–wife 19 Nov 1899, Meth

  2 Ibid 20 Nov 1899. Battersby In the Web 25

  3 Methuen–wife 18–21 Nov 1899, Meth. OH I, 214

  4 Ralph Towards Pretoria 94–7, 151–7. Battersby 17–19, 24–5

  5 DNB

  6 Methuen–wife 18–21 Nov 1899, Meth

  7 L–Buller 10 Nov 1899, Lan

  8 Methuen–wife 12 Nov 1899, Meth

  9 See note 7

  10 Methuen–wife 20 Nov 1899, Meth

  11 See note 7

  12 Methuen–wife 21 Nov 1899, Meth. Methuen ev RCSAW III, Q 14147

  13 Methuen–wife 22 Oct 1899, Meth

  14 Methuen–wife 12 Nov 1899, Meth

  15 Ralph op cit 139–40. Wilson With the Flag 1, 150, 130. Breyt I

  16 Ralph op cit 134–8

  17 Ralph op cit 139–45

  18 Ralph op cit 146–7

  19 Ralph At Pretoria 29–34. See also G. Henderson Science of War 371–2

  20 Ralph Towards Pretoria 147–8. SJ 10 Nov 1899. OH I, 213. March Phillipps 7

  21 M–C 9 Nov 1899, MP II, 25. OH I, 213–14

  22 Buller–wife Nov 1899, Bull (Crediton). SJ 16 Nov 1899

  23 R–L I Apr 1900 H & O I, 87–8: ‘It is a terribly sad business, but I hear that Gough showed signs of insanity as far back as 1885’

  24 Methuen–wife 18 Nov 1899, Meth. Methuen ev RCSAW III, Q 14142. SJ 13 Nov 1899

  25 Rimington ev RCSAW III, 26–7. March Phillipps 4–5. Chester Master MSS, Ches

  26 Burnham Scouting 290–301

  27 Methuen–wife 18–20 Nov 1899, Meth

  28 SJ 10 Dec 1899. Methuen ev RCSAW III, Q 14147–52

  29 Methuen loc cit Q 14159–12. OH I, 214

  30 Methuen loc cit Q 14142–3. OH I, 211–13

  31 Methuen–Buller 2 Dec 1899, Bull (PRO) WO 132/15

  32 TH II, 323–4

  33 C. Rose–Innes With Paget’s Horse 97 foll

  34 Methuen–wife 26 Nov, 2 Dec 1899, Meth

  35 TH II, 323–4. Photos in J. Cuthbert Scots Guards 3–5

  36 Kekewich diary passim, Kek. O’Meara Kekewich 20, 38

  37 Ibid 20, 64. Wilson With the Flag II, 371

  38 Kekewich ev RCSAW III, Q 21889 OH II, 52

  39 DNB. O’Meara 13–15. Kekewich ev RCSAW III, Q 21853, 56–61.

  40 O’Meara 17. Kekewich loc cit Q 21863

  41 SD I, 160–1. OH II, 47

  42 SJ 12–18 Oct 1899

  43 Kekewich loc cit Q 21866–70

  44 Diamond Fields Advertiser 17 July 1971 (Centenary supplement)

  45 Lockhart & Woodhouse 46–7, 73–8 etc

  46 However Moffat thought compound system preferable to its absence on Rand. See S.A. Native Races Committee (ed)

  47 Ashe Besieged by the Boers 14–15. Mrs Maguire in Times weekly edit Apr 1900. Meintjes De la Rey 102

  48 O’Meara 58

  49 OH II, 53

  50 Kekewich diary 15 Nov 1899, Kek. SD I, 164–6, 207–10

  51 O’Meara 19

  52 SD I, 162–3, 173 SJ Oct 1899, passim

  53 O’Meara 48–9. SD
loc cit

  54 SJ 17 Oct 1899. SD I, 162

  55 Kekewich diary 5–6 Nov 1899, Kek. O’Meara 51–5. SD I, 163, 171–2

  56 Ashe (London edit) 43, 38. SD I, 173

  57 O’Meara 55–6. But cf Kekewich diary 7 Nov 1899, Kek

  58 P. Jordan Cecil Rhodes (London 1911) 119–20. Photo in H Wilson With the Flag II, 393

  59 O’Meara 58. Kekewich diary 9–10 Nov 1899, Kek

  60 O’Meara 59

  61 Ibid 59–61. Kekewich diary, MS cit

  62 Ibid 62–4. SD I, 169

  63 O’Meara 64–6. Kekewich diary, loc cit

  64 O’Meara 66–7, II

  65 Kekewich diary 20–22 Nov 1899, Kek

  66 O’Meara 68–9 (plate IV)

  67 O’Meara 70

  68 SD I, 207–8. O’Meara 70–2. Kekewich diary 24–5 Nov 1899, Kek

  69 SD I, 180–1, 165. O’Meara 71, 174. Kekewich diary, MS cit

  70 O’Meara 71–3

  71 Cf SJ 27 Nov 1899. OH 11

  72 O’Meara 74–5

  73 Kekewich diary 27 Nov 1899, Kek. SD I, 181–6. SJ 27 Nov 1899. O’Meara 74–5

  74 O’Meara 77–8

  75 Methuen–wife 23–6 Nov 1899, Meth

  76 Gerald Trotter–mother 26 Nov 1899, Trot

  77 OH I, 227, 466

  78 PPW 204–14

  79 Gerald Trotter, MS cit

  80 See PPW 221–5

  81 OH I, 466

  82 Breyt II, 53. Cf SD I, 28

  83 Methuen ev RCSAW III, Q 14147–51, 14376–9, 14453. Colvile Ninth Division 2. OH I, 216

  84 SD I, 26–8. OH I, 218–22

  85 Methuen–wife 26 Nov 1899, Meth

  86 Methuen–wife 23 Nov 1899, Meth. Trotter MS cit. March Phillipps 12–14. Ralph Towards Pretoria 165–6. PPW 18

  87 Methuen–wife 25 Nov 1899, Meth. OH I, 229–42. Breyt II, 53

  88 SD I, 45. OH I, 245–6. Pemberton Battles 62–5

  89 OH 246–7. Info from Miss F. Barbour

  90 Lt B. Lang–mother 4 Dec 1899, (cy) PC. Lang tape, PC

  91 Methuen SD I, 45–6

  92 Methuen–Buller 2 Dec 1899, Bull (PRO) WO 132/15

  93 Ralph Towards Pretoria 179–80

  94 Colvile 5–6. TH II, 350 (copy at Corsham with ‘yes’ in margin inscribed by Ld Methuen)

  95 Breyt II, 57, 61. Info from Miss F. Barbour. Cf OH I, 248

  CHAPTER 17: BREAKFAST AT THE ISLAND

  Head of chapter Conan Doyle The Great Boer War (1900 edit) 127

  1 Meintjes De la Rey 118

  2 H. Wilson With the Flag (photo) I, 156. Ralph Towards Pretoria 255. See photos in Cuthbert Scots Guards 9, 12. EGO

  3 DSAB I 214–15. Meintjes De la Rey passim

  4 Meintjes De la Rey 79–81