The Boer War

by Thomas Pakenham

  10 Grant wrote several chapters of Vol II under Maurice’s editorship and himself edited Vol IV

  11 Atkins 200

  12 W. Churchill Ladysmith 243

  13 Hildyard–Gedge (22)-27 Dec 1899, Hil

  14 Atkins 193–5

  15 [Grant] 27. See also 6 and 11

  16 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 175 col 1

  17 R–Buller 27 Dec 1899, CT no 89

  18 Buller–L 10 Jan 1900, CT no 98. OH II, 340–1. R actually arrived a day earlier than expected

  19 Burleigh 235

  20 Atkins 186–7

  21 Atkins 201

  22 Lyttelton–wife 27 Dec 1899, Lyt 55rd. Dickson Biograph 107

  23 Burleigh 240–2, 281. See Warren 6 Aug 1900, SD II, 34

  24 Pte Hall tape PC. Dickson 114 (photo). Atkins 192–307. For steam traction see RCSAW II, Q 2212–16, and OH II, 334

  25 L/Cpl Bradley 10 Jan 1900, (cy) PC

  26 Sgt Galley 10 Jan 1900, (cy) PC

  27 Bradley 11 Jan 1900, (cy) PC

  28 Ptes Hall & Packer tapes, PC

  29 Lyttelton–wife 2 Jan 1900, Lyt 552a

  30 B. Herbert 29 Jan 1900, Herb. Lyttelton–wife 30 Dec 1899, Lyt 551

  31 Lyttelton–wife 21 Dec 1899, Lyt 551

  32 Lyttelton–wife loc cit. Hildyard loc cit. H. Gough Soldiering On 70

  33 Lyttelton–wife 28 Dec 1899, Lyt 551c and e

  34 Hildyard loc cit

  35 Lyttelton–wife 21 Dec 1899 loc cit

  36 Lyttelton–wife 28 Dec 1899, Lyt 551d

  37 Lyttelton–wife 28 Dec 1899, Lyt 551e

  38 Atkins 216–17

  39 Buller–wife 18, 23 Jan 1899, Bull (Crediton)

  40 Buller–R 11 Jan 1900, CT no 99B. SJ Dundonald 116–17. Churchill Ladysmith 264–5

  41 Atkins 212–14. SJ 16 Jan 1900

  42 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 177–8

  43 See note 74 chap 19

  44 SJ 10 Jan 1900

  45 White–Buller 7 Jan 1900 (no 50), RCSAW III, 635

  46 See note 41 chap 19

  47 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 177–8. OH II, 338–41, 345–9, 623–8

  48 Ibid

  49 Lewis Butler–Sir John Fortescue quoting Buller after the war, Bull (Crediton)

  50 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 177–8

  51 EGO. Info kindly supplied by Mr and Mrs Fabian

  52 Burleigh 277. Dickson 122

  53 Churchill Ladysmith 240, 264–5

  54 Atkins 212–13

  55 Churchill Ladysmith 266

  56 See the sketch from Mt Alice in OH Map Vol II

  57 Blueprint maps in Sandbach MSS and see sketch-map in Sal (Hat)

  58 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 178. OH II, 345–9. Breyt III, Cf Warren’s comments, SD I, 96–7

  59 Buller–L (two letters) 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 89, 95–6. Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 178

  60 Ibid. Warren–C in C SD I, 96–7, II, 33–41. OH II, 372

  61 Warren’s ev RCSAW III, 650. OH II, 372–4. For Boer counter moves see Breyt III, esp 184–9

  62 Col (A Court) Repington Vestigia 116–21. Annual Register 1898

  63 Ibid 217

  64 Ibid 218

  65 Warren’s orders OH II, 635–6

  66 Repington 218–19

  67 Buller–L 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 95. Warren–M Sec 6 Aug 1900, SD II, 36

  68 Repington loc cit. Thorneycroft–Warren 26 Jan 1900, SD I, 100–1

  69 Thorneycroft’s ev RCSAW III, Q 12374 foll esp 12385, 12559, 12605

  70 E. Knox Buller’s Campaign (photo) 78. F. P. Crozier Impressions and Recollections (London 1930) 28–30

  71 Repington 217–18. Knox Buller’s Campaign 57–8

  72 Repington 218–19. OH II, 379–81

  73 Thorneycroft–Warren 26 Jan 1900 loc cit. OH II, 380–1. Repington 220

  74 Ibid

  75 Ibid 221–2. OH II, 381–2

  76 Woodgate–Warren 24 Jan 1900, SD I, 98

  77 SJ 24 Jan 1900. Times 25–6 Jan 1900

  CHAPTER 25: AN ACRE OF MASSACRE

  Head of chapter Buller–wife 23 Jan 1900, Bull (Crediton)

  1 Barnard 94–5. Du Cane War in South Africa II, 167. Sandberg 257, 266. Standard & Diggers News 29 Jan 1900. (Note Botha’s words are not recorded)

  2 Ibid 95. Cf OH II, 383–4

  3 Barnard 95–6, (map) 88–9. Breyt III, 236. OH Map Vol II, 20 etc

  4 Interview with Botha Standard & Diggers News 3 Mar 1900. Report of Ram & Thomson 703–4 (Leyds 279 III) cited Barnard 183

  5 Ibid 76

  6 Grobler Die Carolina Commando etc quoted Barnard 96

  7 Barnard 96

  8 On the hill itself never more than 350 at most acc Botha. See Barnard 97 and 84

  9 See Barnard photos 1, 8

  10 Barnard 74–5

  11 Ibid 75–6

  12 Ibid 77

  13 Sandberg 272–3

  14 Botha tel 46 25 Jan 1900, Ley 715 (f). Botha’s interview in Standard & Diggers News 3 Mar 1900

  15 Reitz 69 (date wrongly given as ‘23rd’)

  16 Ibid 69–72

  17 Ibid 72–3

  18 Ibid 73. Sandberg 266

  19 Reitz 73–4. See also SP IV, 345

  20 Reitz 73–4. Barnard 98

  21 Reitz 74–5. Cf TH II, 263–5

  22 Reitz 75–7

  23 Treves 15–19

  24 See note 33. PPW 172, 179, 181, 183 etc

  25 Capt Carleton, his ADC, letter-wife 1900, (cy) PC. Blake Knox 67. Cf OH II, 384 ‘shrapnel ball in the head’

  26 Knox 67. TH III, 257–8

  27 OH II, 381–3. See blueprint map ‘D’ in Sand MSS

  28 Charlton 110. OHII, 381. Cf Repington 220–1

  29 See Thorneycroft’s ev RCSAW III, Q 12441

  30 Charlton 110

  31 Ibid 110–13

  32 Cpl W. Macarthy [1900] enc with letter to Sir R. Buller, Bull (Crediton)

  33 TMI man’s letter in Leicester Record Office. Cf Lt A. Wood–Sir E. Wood 9 Feb 1900 quoted Sir E. Wood Winnowed Memories 298–9

  34 Col Crofton–HQ c. 9 am 24 Jan 1900 ptd OH II, 639, 384–5

  35 Knox 69–70

  36 Thorneycroft’s report of 26 Jan 1900, SD I, 100. Thorneycroft’s note 24 Jan 1900, 2.3o pm, SD I, 98–9. Knox 70–1. OH II, 386–7. TH III

  37 Ibid

  38 Warren’s report Jan 1900, SD I, 97 para 3. OH II, 385

  39 Ibid II, 385–6. Repington 223

  40 Warren loc cit & Warren’s ev RCSAW III, 650

  41 Cy of tel in SD I, 117. See also Lyttelton’s memo 4 Sep 1900, SD II, 43 OH II, 385, 639

  42 Warren’s report Jan 1900, SD I, 97–8

  43 Atkins 237–8

  44 See Buller’s comments on Warren’s report 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 89, 95–6 and Buller’s ev RCSA W III, 178

  45 Lewis Butler–Sir John Fortescue loc cit. Buller’s ev RCSA W III, 178

  46 Lyttelton’s report 25 Jan 1900 and memo 4 Sep 1900, SD I, 115–18 and II, 43. Lyttelton–wife 25 Jan 1900, Lyt. Cf Warren’s letter 6 Aug 1900 and Buller’s comments on this 4 Sep 1900, SD II, 37, 42

  47 Buller blamed Lyttelton for sending them, hence Lyttelton’s bitterness. Lyttelton–wife 1 Feb 1900, Lyt

  48 Repington 223. Sandbach–mother 30 Jan 1900, Sand. Warren’s letter 6 Aug 1900, SD II, 38 section 11

  49 Buller’s comment to Sec of State 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 89 esp para 6

  50 Repington 223

  51 Buller–Sec of State 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 95 section 4. OH II, 388–9. Cf Warren’s report Jan 1900, SD I, 97 section 4 and his letter of 6 Aug 1900, SD II, 37 section 8

  52 Knox 72–9. Thorneycroft’s reports 26 Jan, 24 May 1900, SD I, 100, SM 6/2–4. OH II, 389–90

  53 Ibid 79

  54 Ibid 79–80. Botha tel no 46 25 Jan 1900, Ley 715 (f). Barnard 98, 101. TH III, 268–9

  55 Thorneycroft’s reports loc cit. OH II, 386–7. TH III, 269–75. Knox

  56 Thorneycroft’s note 24 Jan 1900, SD I, 98–9. Cf diff version in SM 6/2

&nb
sp; 57 Coke’s report 25 Jan 1900, Coke’s message enc with Warren’s report Jan 1900, SD I, 99, 102. OH II, 394–5

  58 TH III, 271–3. Possibly this is one of the scandalous ‘episodes’ Buller referred to in his letter to R of 19 Sep 1900, WO/105/24

  59 See Col Sim’s report 28 Jan 1900, SD I, 104–5. OH II, 395–6

  60 W. W. Williams Warren 276–7

  61 Barnard 102. Breyt III, 210–12

  62 OH Map Vol II. EGO. Breyt III, 236

  63 TH III, 276–7. OH II, 393–4

  64 Barnard 102

  65 DSAB II, 106–8

  66 Barnard 102

  67 Reitz 77. Cf Knox 81–2, Treves 81–2. L. Oppenheim Nineteenth Century Jan 1901

  68 Reitz 77–9. Knox 88–9. Barnard 102–3

  69 Botha tel no 46 25 Jan 1900, Ley 715 (f)

  70 Botha–Burger quoted Barnard 102 note 111

  71 Barnard 102–3. Report of Ram and Thomson quoted Breyt III, 228

  72 Reitz 79

  73 Maj Bayly–Lyttelton (recd 2.30 pm 24 Jan) enc with Lyttelton’s report 25 Jan 1900, SD I, 116–17

  74 Lyttelton’s report 25 Jan 1900 loc cit. Lyttelton-wife 25 Jan 1900, Lyt

  75 Lyttelton’s report 25 Jan 1900 and encs, DD I, 117–18. OH II, 398–9. Cf TH 276-foil.

  76 ‘It is said that the Boers were preparing to withdraw... If that is so we have lost the best chance we are likely to have...’ Lyttelton–wife 25 Jan 5900 loc cit

  77 Warren’s ev RCSA W III, 644–54 esp section 19

  78 Col Sim’s report 28 Jan 1900, SD I, 105. Cf Warren’s letter loc cit

  79 Thorneycroft’s note to Warren (after 6.30 pm) 24 Jan 1900 and his official report of 26 Jan 1900, SD I, 99, 100–1. OH II, 397

  80 Coke’s report 23 Jan 1900, SD 1, 102. OH II, 400

  81 Churchill Ladysmith 307–8, My Early Life 326

  82 Ibid

  83 Churchill Ladysmith 308

  84 Ibid 309–11

  85 Ibid 311–12. For Thorneycroft’s state see F. P. Crozier op cit

  86 Thorneycroft’s report of 26 Jan 1900 loc Cit. OH II, 397

  87 Coke’s report 25 Jan 1900 enclosing Phillips’s memo, SD I, 103–4

  88 Coke’s report loc cit

  89 Sim’s report loc cit

  90 Knox 87–94. Reitz 79

  91 Churchill My Early Life 328–9

  92 Reitz 79. Barnard 102–3

  93 Buller’s comments of 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 95–6

  94 Buller’s confid letter 30 Jan 1900, SD I, 89. Buller–Mil Sec 4 Sep 1900, SD II, 43

  95 NB R’s criticism of Buller for not superseding Warren was published in the despatches (London Gazette 17 Apr 1900) but Buller’s criticism of himself not until 1902 (Cd 968). R’s exoneration of Thorneycroft has never been published. See WO 105/24. R changed his mind after personally seeing battlefield

  96 Barnard 104–6. Cf Breyt III, 230–1

  97 Churchill Ladysmith 342. Buller’s report 30 Jan 1900, SD I,77–8,

  98 Ibid. [Grant] Natal 26. Churchill op cit 343

  99 OH II, 597 (casualty total for 8 days was 1,733)

  100 Churchill op cit 343–4. Birdwood Khaki and Gown 102. Callwell Life of Wilson I, 32

  101 Lyttelton–wife 1 Feb 1900, Lyt

  102 B. Herbert–parents 29 Jan 1900, Herb

  103 Sgt Galley, (cy) PC

  104 Nevinson Essays in Freedom (London 1909) 96–9. [Grant] Natal 27–8. Lt Crossman diary 29, 30 Jan 1900, Cros 6306/34

  105 Lyttelton–wife loc cit

  106 R–Buller 27 Jan 1900, RCSA W III, 627. See R’s despatch that doesn’t mention Buller’s self-criticism

  107 W–Buller 26, 27 Jan 1900, RCSAW III, 627–8

  108 See Buller–White tels in SD I

  109 Buller–wife 30 Jan 1900, Bull (Crediton)

  110 OH II, 403–22, 598

  111 Buller’s ev RCSA W III, 178. For a sympathetic view of Buller’s difficulties, see Stopford ev RCSA W III, 266, Repington 206–9, Henderson Science of War 371–2

  PART III

  CHAPTER 26: THE STEAM–ROLLER

  Head of chapter Tape recording with Pte Bowers, PC

  1 Phillipps 59–62. Colvile 24. Rankin Subaltern’s Letters esp 30–3. Chester–Master MSS Ches. French diary 11 Feb 1900, Fren. Haig–Henrietta 22 Feb, Haig–Lonsdale Hale 2 Mar 1900, Haig. OH 11–12

  2 Colvile 23–4

  3 Ibid

  4 Chester–Master MSS, Ches

  5 Battersby 29–32

  6 See table SD I, 124–8. Total strength in Cape on 31 Jan 1900 comprised 60,296 men and 150 guns. See also SD I, 53

  7 Haig–Lonsdale Hale loc cit. See also R–L 9 Feb 1900, no 132 H & O I, 36

  8 Kekewich diary 8–10 Feb 1900, Kek

  9 French ev RCSAW III, Q 17201–3. Haig–Lonsdale Hale loc cit

  10 French ev RCSAW III, Q 17178. Capt Bellew diary 30 Jan 1900, Bel

  11 French ev RCSAW III, 301 col I. Haig–Henrietta 16 Mar 1900, Haig

  12 SD I,124–8

  13 Phillipps 59–62. Methuen–wife 14 Dec 1899 etc Meth. R–L 12 Jan (tel no 8), 30 1900 H & O I,9, 24

  14 Capt Bellew diary 12 Feb 1900, Bel. Haig–Hale loc cit

  15 Ibid. Capt Bellew diary 12–15 Feb, Bel. Lt Abadie diary 12–15 Feb Abad. French diary 12–15 Feb 1900, Fren

  16 Ibid. OH II, 33–6

  17 Lt Addison diary 1 Jun 1900, (cy) PC. Photos H. F. Mackern Sidelights

  18 Black & White Budget and H. Wilson With the Flag

  19 W. Churchill My Early Life 342–3

  20 R ev RCSAW III, 462–3. OH II, 15–33

  21 Buller ev RCSAW III, 179–80

  22 R–Buller 10 Feb 1900, CT no 150

  23 R ev RCSAW loc cit. M–R 4 Feb 1900, RCSAW III, 529–30. R–M 5 Feb 1900 ibid 30–1

  24 Kerry–L Feb 1900 Lan

  25 Capt Congreve–parents Jan 1900, Con

  26 Magnus Kitchener 115, 133–6

  27 Ibid 109–15

  28 Robertson Private to Field–Marshal 112–13

  29 R–Gen Lockhart 26 Dec, R–L 27 Dec, 2 Jan 1900–1, H & O I, 4–7

  30 R ev RCSAW II, 460–1

  31 R–L 27 Dec 1899,2 Jan 1900,15–17 1900 and 22–4 Jan, H & O I, 4, 7, 10 and 17

  32 Robertson 103–9. OH I, 411–12

  33 R–L 27,29 Jan 1900, H & O I, 20–3. R ev RCSAW II, 462. M–R 4 Feb, R–M 6 Feb 1900, RCSAW II, 529–31

  34 R ev ORCSAW III, 461–2Cf Buller ev RCSAW III, 179

  35 Buller–R 9 Feb 1900, CT nos 193, 195. R–Buller 10 Feb, CT no 150B

  36 R–L 30 Jan 1900, H & O I, 24–5

  37 R–L 29 Jan 1900, H & O I, 22

  38 Methuen–wife 4 Jan 1900, Meth

  39 Sir John Fortescue History of Army Service Corps 229–65

  40 Col Clayton ev RCSAW II, Q 2655–91. Fortescue loc cit. OH I, 416–20. Cf R ev RCSAW II, Q 10506 and RCSAW IV, 234

  41 Lyttelton–wife 1900, Lyt 562d

  42 R–L 6 Feb 1900 (tel no 112), H & O I, 30. Ld Kerry diary 5–6 Feb 1900, Lan

  43 Kekewich–R 9 Feb, R–Kekewich 9 Feb 1900, Bobs 23 Misc IV

  44 Colvile 26

  45 OH II, 74–8. De Wet 47–9

  46 Buller ev RCSAW III, 218. Cf R ev RCSAWII, 463

  47 Ibid

  48 L–R Feb 1900 (Personal & Pte), Bobs 23/IV and 34

  CHAPTER 27: THE SIEGE WITHIN THE SIEGE

  Head of chapter C. Rhodes–Kekewich quoted Kekewich’s official report to Roberts WO 105/14

  1 O’Meara Kekewich 120

  2 Kekewich–R 11 Feb 1900. See also Kekewich–R 9 Feb 10 am, 4 pm 1900, Bobs 23 (IV) 5 (b). O’Meara 120. R’s ev RCSAW II, 462

  3 O’Meara 109–10. Kekewich diary 9 Feb 1900, Kek

  4 O’Meara 111. Kekewich diary, MS cit

  5 Diamond Fields Advertiser 10 Feb 1900. O’Meara 112–13, 144–6

  6 O’Meara 113–15. Kekewich’s tel is in R–L 12 Feb 1899, CT no 156E. Kekewich diary 10 Feb 1900, Kek

  7 O’Meara 117–18

&nbs
p; 8 Kekewich diary 19 Jan 1900, Kek. O’Meara 103–4. Ashe 112–14 (with photo)

  9 De Villebois–Mareuil War Notes 341 foll. O’Meara 107. Macnab French Colonel 120–30. Sternberg Experiences of Boer War 143–5

  10 O’Meara 106–9, 111. Kekewich diary 7 Feb 1900, Kek. Ashe 119–34

  11 Ashe 134–42

  12 Ashe 140–2

  13 Ashe 93–4

  14 Ashe 78–92

  15 Ashe 83–9, 98–9. O’Meara 100–1

  16 Kimberley MO quoted Kekewich ev RCSAW III, 560

  17 Ashe 91

  18 Kimberley MO quoted Kekewich loc cit. Ashe 98–9. H. Wilson With the Flag II, 393

  19 Ashe 142–7

  20 Ashe 147

  21 O’Meara 122. Ashe 148

  22 Ashe 165–8

  23 O’Meara 133. B. Gardner Lion’s Cage 191

  24 Waters War in South Africa I, 146–7

  25 French diary 9–16 Feb 1900, Fren. Capt Bellew diary 15–17 Feb 1899, Bel. Haig–Lonsdale Hale 2 Mar 1900, Haig 203–4. French blamed bad selection and treatment of remounts. See French–COs

  18 May 1900 and French–R 1 Dec 1902 gives losses of horses 11–17 Feb 1900 total 341, Bobs 23 IV. OH II, 26–7, 37–8, 92–6

  26 See comments of Childers Arme Blanche 96–117. Cf Goldmann 95–6

  27 Ashe 171–3

  28 O’Meara 133–4. Kekewich diary 15 Feb 1900, Kek

  30 O’Meara 137. Kekewich diary 16–17 Feb 1900, Kek

  31 Capt Bellew loc cit. Maj Allenby–wife Feb 1900, All

  32 See note 25

  33 OH II, 80–1

  34 Ibid II, 81–2

  35 Ibid II, 81. Kelly–Kenny diary 15 Feb 1900, Kell

  36 Ibid II, 87

  37 Ibid II, 97. G. French Life of French 83–5. Haig–Lonsdale Hale 2 Mar 1900, MS cit

  38 Ibid II, 99–100. Haig–Lonsdale Hale 2 Mar 1900, MS cit. Cheste–Master MSS Ches

  39 OH II, 100–9. EGO

  CHAPTER 28: GONE TO EARTH

  Head of chapter Smith–Dorrien diary 18 Feb 1900, Smit

  1 De Wet Three Years’ War 51, 46

  2 De Wet passim. See also Seele–Molyneux’s diary (cy) PC

  3 DSAB I, 233–40. Rosslyn Twice Captured 256

  4 De Wet 79–80, 85

  5 Ibid 47–8. Cf OH II, 78–9

  6 De Wet 49–55

  7 EGO. See OH Map Vol II no 23 (a). Sternberg 155. Pte Edwards diary 12 Feb 1900, ‘Sun comes up very hot,’ Edwards MSS in Essex Record Office

  8 De Wet 55–6. O. T. De Villiers Piet de Wet en Steyn in het Veld 13–16. OH II, 135–6 gives De Wet’s force as 600

  9 Kelly–Kenny diary 18 Feb 1900, Kell. Kelly–Kenny SD I, 185. OH II, 106, 116