1. Introduction - The Boer War

The Second Anglo-Boer War

(Afrikaans: Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, translates; Second Freedom War)

Saluting their Service - Grahame Old

Overview of the Boer War, 1899-1902 (source AWM)

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 Australians at home initially supported the war, but became disenchanted as the conflict dragged on especially as the effects on Boer civilians became known.

Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener

1st Earl Kitchener, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC. Born 24th June 1850 died 5th June 1916. Kitchener drowned when the ship he was on, HMS Hampshire, struck a German mine of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Kitchener was en-route to Russia to attend WW1 negotiations.

Field Marshal Kitchener Commanded the Army during the second Boer War from 1900 to 1902. He was also British Secretary of State for War, from 5th August 1914 until his death on 5th June 1916.

Visit to Collie

Viscount Kitchener visited Collie and Bunbury on 27th January 1910. He arrived by special train from Bunbury, via Brunswick Junction, and was met at the Collie Railway Station by the then Acting Mayor, Mr W.H. Melvin.

Kitchener was accompanied by the West Australian Premier, Mr Newton Moore, Major-General Hoad, Commandant of the Commonwealth Forces. Lieut-Colonel Irvine, Commandant of the WA District, Colonel Fitzpatrick, Captain Fitzgerald, Captain H Parker, Sir John Forrest and Mr G.W Stead, Superintendent of Transportation. A great crowd of people had gathered both on the Railway Station platform and the large area in front of the station building. After a short speech by the Acting-Mayor, the General immediately proceeded to inspect twenty-three returned soldiers from the South African War who lined up on the Collie Railway Station platform, under command of Lieutenant S. Dyke, (Bunbury).