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The discovery of diamonds and gold in the Boer Republics initiated British plans of annexation. After some Boer successes through the use of guerrila warfare and superior knowledge of the terrain, British forces were eventually able to overrun the Boers and subsequently annex the Orange Free State and the South African Republic.

The war was notable for the use of trench warfare which the heavily outgunned Boer forces used to good effect. The following is an extract from letters written by Captain George Vernon Clarke who fought and died in the British Army during the Second Boer War:

“1899 February 25th.

To-day being Sunday, we have an armistice to bury our dead, who must be very numerous, though I have as yet heard no details. Our Infantry are still entrenched on the side of the hill about 400 yards from the Boers’ position on the top. Nothing was done yesterday. It looks as if we were going to give it up again. The Boers are all standing outside their trenches and offering very tempting targets. There seem to be a great many of them. We have had very hot weather for the last two days.

February 27th.

We did nothing yesterday as I expected. It rained heavily last night, and to-day is quite pleasantly cool. We are still in the same place, and another attack is being made and so far (3 p.m.) it appears to be rather successful. As we have succeeded in tak –

February 28th.

In taking some hills, the Boers left without opposition. It was then that our business began, and from 3 to 6 p.m. our Artillery kept up a pretty hot cannonade. We were in a safe place with the river between us and the Boers, and got no shell or bullets near us. I will finish about the battle in my next as a post is going.

Hart’s Hill, February 28th.

I will now continue my last letter, which was broken off rather abruptly. Just before the fighting began, the news of Cronje’s surrender was announced to all the troops to cheer us on to victory. None of the Boers had heard of it, as we afterwards gathered from prisoners.

We got a splendid view of the whole battle, and I am glad I have good glasses. In many respects it was a model battle. Everything went like a book. The Artillery are getting into the way of co-operating with the Infantry. Everybody was lost in admiration of our Infantry, who advanced with great regularity, although they lost heavily in some places. It was not long before the hill, which Hart’s Brigade failed to take three or four days ago, was occupied.

The Boers stuck to their trenches with great determination, in some cases waiting firing till the last minute, and then holding up their hands. When our Infantry were on the top of Hart’s Hill they found themselves under heavy fire from three quarters, and had to take shelter behind the crest until the men on our right had worked round. It was then getting too dark for us to fire with safety, and the battle looked in rather a critical state so I was glad to see that it was all right this morning, when we started to cross by a new pontoon which had been built where the banks were very steep.

There was a great deal of delay on the hills. We had to put ten horses in each carriage to get it up. On arriving at the top we settled down on Hart’s Hill while the Cavalry Brigade went forward. I believe some of them got into Ladysmith. It was very interesting looking round the Boer trenches.

I am glad to say the burial parties had been at work so I was saved from seeing many horrible sights. We passed several wounded men being carried back to Chieveley, many of them Boers, who much have lost very heavily. I saw a party of 52 prisoners. They were rather pleased with the prospect of a night’s rest, but despised the biscuits which we get, as they always are fed on fresh bread or rusks.

Their trenches were very deep, and must have given them perfect cover, except from a well aimed lyddite shell. There were crowds of cartridges in the trenches, some with dum-dum bullets, split bullets made by Eley & Co., London. The ground all round was strewn with our shell. Two women and a small boy were found dead in the trenches. The enemy drove away all their ponies, but left quantities of saddles on the ground, also a lot of tents and one parasol.”

Extracts from Captain George Vernon Clarke’s letters can be found here: https://marshalclarke.com/GeorgeClarkesDiary.htm

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