Out of Africa

1
Out of Africa

• From Weir, William R. Turning Points in Military
  History. Citadel Press. New York, N.Y. 2005.

2
Why were the British defeated so easily at
Bronkhorst Spruit?

• The British did not take any security measures
  after rejecting the Boers first warning. They
  took no cover and could not target the Boers who
  used cover and concealment. 120 Connaught Rangers
  and 2 Boers were killed.

3
How were the Boer forces organized? How does this
reflect the state they fought for?

• The Boer Army was loosely organized just like the
  state they fought for. A Boer fighter would serve
  whomever he thought would do the most good. They
  organized militia units called commandos and
  elected officers to lead them. They received no
  pay.

4
Contrast the tactics used by both sides in the
first Boer War.

• The British were heavily drilled and dependant on
  their officers. They fired in aimed volleys
  because their officers worried the men would
  waste ammunition is allowed to fire at will. The
  Boer, on the other hand, were experienced game
  hunters and fired at will with high accuracy over
  great distances in cover and made every shot count

5
Why was Colley worried that peace would break
out? What kind of a commander was he?

• After his first defeat at Laings Nek, Colley was
  worried that peace would break out before he hand
  the chance to make up for the shame of his
  defeat. This shows that the man valued his
  reputation over tactics and that there was
  tremendous public pressure to win or face
  national shame when he returned home.

6
What were some changes made by the British army
as a result of the first Boer War? What were some
tactical changes?

• After their losses at Laings Nek, Schuins
  Hoogte, and Majuba Hill, the British changed
  their uniforms from bright red to khaki, they
  advanced on open formations rather than in single
  columns, and they advanced in rushes rather than
  marching at pace.