Thanks to those who’ve sent messages of support in the last few weeks – the level of interaction has been remarkable from all my listeners around the world. For some we started this journey together in September 2017 and here we are almost 36 months later and the Three Years War has ended.
This podcast was always designed to track the war week by week and it’s now time to bid adieu.
So yes, it’s an emotional time for this has been an intense three years and I’d like to thank Jon who listened to the series with his father who passed away during our series. Jon, thanks for sending me notes through this time. 
To Samuel who has donated so much to this podcast series and Thomas who’s constantly spoken to me over the past two years and also helped fund the Soundcloud account – thank you two in particular. 
Gustav – thanks for brightening up my day with some of your observations and unusual comments. 
To Andrew and Martin of History by Hollywood, thank you for sharing your time with me and for your professional help. To Sean the real professional historian who is also known as the Historian who sees the future and who has taken the time to make contact – thank you.  
To Susan from Canada who suggested I talk about two veterans of the Anglo-Boer war who went on to great things during the First World War. One is Lieutenant Edward Morrison who I mentioned in episodes dealing with the Eastern Transvaal, and the second is John McCrae. He wrote a poem called “In Flanders Field” which features the poppies and is now the reason why people wear poppies for remembrance when it comes to the First World War. 
Another direct link between this little African fracas and the utter disaster of the Western Front. 
As we know, the link between the Boer War and the First World War is inescapable. It was 12 years later which sounds a long time, until you get a little older like me then a dozen years is really a short hop in time. 
To Michael who has listened to the whole series – and told me this week he’s gone back to Episode 1 to start again. If that’s not a vote of confidence then nothing is – Michael I reckon you’ll need a medal for bravery. 
Ryan, who’s shared such detail I have stored for a day when our Covid lockdown lifestyle comes to an end – I’ll be making that trip to Lindley in the Free State and a few wee draughts of Brandewyn and coke.

Thanks to those who’ve sent messages of support in the last few weeks – the level of interaction has been remarkable from all my listeners around the world. For some we started this journey together in September 2017 and here we are almost 36 months later and the Three Years War has ended. This podcast was always designed to track the war week by week and it’s now time to bid adieu. So yes, it’s an emotional time for this has been an intense three years and I’d like to thank Jon who listened to the series with his father who passed away during our series. Jon, thanks for sending me notes through this time. To Samuel who has donated so much to this podcast series and Thomas who’s constantly spoken to me over the past two years and also helped fund the Soundcloud account – thank you two in particular. Gustav – thanks for brightening up my day with some of your observations and unusual comments. To Andrew and Martin of History by Hollywood, thank you for sharing your time with me and for your professional help. To Sean the real professional historian who is also known as the Historian who sees the future and who has taken the time to make contact – thank you. To Susan from Canada who suggested I talk about two veterans of the Anglo-Boer war who went on to great things during the First World War. One is Lieutenant Edward Morrison who I mentioned in episodes dealing with the Eastern Transvaal, and the second is John McCrae. He wrote a poem called “In Flanders Field” which features the poppies and is now the reason why people wear poppies for remembrance when it comes to the First World War. Another direct link between this little African fracas and the utter disaster of the Western Front. As we know, the link between the Boer War and the First World War is inescapable. It was 12 years later which sounds a long time, until you get a little older like me then a dozen years is really a short hop in time. To Michael who has listened to the whole series – and told me this week he’s gone back to Episode 1 to start again. If that’s not a vote of confidence then nothing is – Michael I reckon you’ll need a medal for bravery. Ryan, who’s shared such detail I have stored for a day when our Covid lockdown lifestyle comes to an end – I’ll be making that trip to Lindley in the Free State and a few wee draughts of Brandewyn and coke.

Episode 143 - Characters of the war an omnibus final edition with a great deal of Smuts

General Redvers Buller,  the commander of British forces in South Africa,  is in Cape Town having arrived in late October 1899 and walked off the ship and into a firestorm.
His orders to General White in Natal had been ignored,  White had allowed Colonel Penn Symons to move north of the Tugela river to Dundee where he’d been killed in action.  
Now General White himself was holed up in Ladysmith,  surrounded by two large Boer Commandoes,  the Free Staters under General Steyn and the Transvalers under General Joubert.

General Redvers Buller, the commander of British forces in South Africa, is in Cape Town having arrived in late October 1899 and walked off the ship and into a firestorm. His orders to General White in Natal had been ignored, White had allowed Colonel Penn Symons to move north of the Tugela river to Dundee where he’d been killed in action. Now General White himself was holed up in Ladysmith, surrounded by two large Boer Commandoes, the Free Staters under General Steyn and the Transvalers under General Joubert.

Episode 7 - General Buller splits his force

Sir Redvers Buller the commander in chief of British Forces in South Africa, sailed into the harbour on the Dunottar Castle on 31st October 1899,  with his warhorses, polo sticks and a bicycle, and Winston Churchill the young war reporter in tow.  He was to arrive as the British experienced a major defeat and the most men taken prisoner in a single battle since the Napoleonic Wars almost a century before.

Sir Redvers Buller the commander in chief of British Forces in South Africa, sailed into the harbour on the Dunottar Castle on 31st October 1899, with his warhorses, polo sticks and a bicycle, and Winston Churchill the young war reporter in tow. He was to arrive as the British experienced a major defeat and the most men taken prisoner in a single battle since the Napoleonic Wars almost a century before.

Episode 6 - "Mournful Monday" as the British suffer a major defeat

In October 1899 the Boers have begun to invade Natal and are about to threaten Ladysmith.  It’s only two weeks after the war began on 10th October and at first the British believed they’d won two small battles at Talana Hill overlooking Dundee and Elandslaagte station north of Ladysmith.

In October 1899 the Boers have begun to invade Natal and are about to threaten Ladysmith. It’s only two weeks after the war began on 10th October and at first the British believed they’d won two small battles at Talana Hill overlooking Dundee and Elandslaagte station north of Ladysmith.

Episode 5 - Retreat from Dundee and the siege of Mafeking and Kimberley

In this episode we’ll learn about the first battle of Dundee or what’s known as Talana Hill, and Elandslaagte a day later.  Both appeared at first to be British victories .. but appearances can be deceptive.

In this episode we’ll learn about the first battle of Dundee or what’s known as Talana Hill, and Elandslaagte a day later. Both appeared at first to be British victories .. but appearances can be deceptive.

Episode 4 - Talana Hill & Elandslaagte

This week we’ll hear about the start of the war in October 1899 and hear about the structure of both the British and Boer armies.  We’ll also find out just how unprepared the British were for this conflict and learn a little about how mobile the Boers really were in this first war of the modern era.

This week we’ll hear about the start of the war in October 1899 and hear about the structure of both the British and Boer armies. We’ll also find out just how unprepared the British were for this conflict and learn a little about how mobile the Boers really were in this first war of the modern era.

Episode 3 - Troops on the move and its war

In this episode we’ll learn about the attempts by Kruger and the Free State leadership to avoid war while continuing to deny English speakers the vote in the two Boer Republics, the Transvaal and Free State.  At the same time, Sir Alfred Milner, the governor of the Cape, pushes for intervention.  We’ll take a closer look at how the two sides shaped up and what happened at the Bloemfontein Convention and ultimately, the failure of talks.

In this episode we’ll learn about the attempts by Kruger and the Free State leadership to avoid war while continuing to deny English speakers the vote in the two Boer Republics, the Transvaal and Free State. At the same time, Sir Alfred Milner, the governor of the Cape, pushes for intervention. We’ll take a closer look at how the two sides shaped up and what happened at the Bloemfontein Convention and ultimately, the failure of talks.

Episode 2 - Negotiations Fail

The Anglo-Boer war which began in 1899 and ended in 1902 was the culmination of more than 250 years of Boer expansion into Africa and conflict with blacks as well as a century of conflict with the British Empire.  Some of the most famous names of the 20th Century were involved including Mahatma Gandhi as a stretcher bearer and Winston Churchill as a war correspondent.  It was a war that the British expected to wrap up in a few months but ended up costing tens of thousands of lives over three years.  It started with lofty ideals and ended with the British throwing Boer women and children into concentration camps where they died in their hundreds.

The Anglo-Boer war which began in 1899 and ended in 1902 was the culmination of more than 250 years of Boer expansion into Africa and conflict with blacks as well as a century of conflict with the British Empire. Some of the most famous names of the 20th Century were involved including Mahatma Gandhi as a stretcher bearer and Winston Churchill as a war correspondent. It was a war that the British expected to wrap up in a few months but ended up costing tens of thousands of lives over three years. It started with lofty ideals and ended with the British throwing Boer women and children into concentration camps where they died in their hundreds.

Anglo Boer War Episode 1

The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 saw the British Empire at the height of its power facing a small band of highly mobile Boers in South Africa.  The war introduced the world to the concentration camp and is regarded as the first war of the modern era where magazine rifles, trenches and machine guns were deployed extensively.  British losses topped 28 000 in a conflict that was supposed to take a few weeks but lasted three years.

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The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 saw the British Empire at the height of its power facing a small band of highly mobile Boers in South Africa. The war introduced the world to the concentration camp and is regarded as the first war of the modern era where magazine rifles, trenches and machine guns were deployed extensively. British losses topped 28 000 in a conflict that was supposed to take a few weeks but lasted three years.

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