@@lairyfairy1964 It’s very touching when the descendants of Men who fought - & all too often, suffered & died - in conflicts such as this, are moved to find out more about the turbulent times in which they lived & the fateful path that led them to their final moments… For better or for worse, all of us stand upon the foundations that were laid by our forebears… some of them laid at a great & terrible cost… & it is a particularly irksome failing of today’s woefully indolent & wilfully ignorant “Post-Millennial” & aptly named “Post-Truth” Generation - who have access to an almost limitless storehouse of readily accessible digital information (that those of us who were schooled many decades ago, could only have dreamed of…) - that they choose NOT to take an *active & discerningly informed* interest in their own rich & varied History & Heritage but, instead, prefer to **blithely, naively & unquestioningly accept** & parrot the shameless Cultural Marxist Propaganda that they are indoctrinated with, by the Political Activists masquerading as School Teachers & University Professors in today’s shameful Education System & similar, revisionist pseudo “Historians” who produce endless “Historical Documentaries” whose sole purpose is to present the ridiculously stilted Marxist view, that all the problems of the world should be laid at the door of the British Empire (as though no other Colonial Empires even existed… ) & more latterly, at America’s interventions upon the World Stage, while every other National, Ideological & Religious influence gets a free pass - because it suits the insidious Political & Cultural indoctrination of our naive & gullible offspring, to present such a patently flawed & wholly one-sided perspective of our History & of the World in which we live today… 😈 Sincere apologies, if that sounds like a rant. It’s not intended to be one… but it’s very difficult not to lament 😔 the almost complete takeover of our sacrosanct Education System - including how our precious History is taught & presented today - by a hardcore nexus of calculating propagandists, who have a very obvious & vested interest in “changing the past so as to shape the present - & control the future” (an especial trademark of Atheistic, Communist Marxist activism), which is why *sober, fair & balanced* History Channels such as this one, have a vital role to play, in remembering & preserving both the worst AND the best of our Ancestors’ achievements, struggles & endeavours upon the World stage… many of which deserve to be treated with respect & held inviolate against the anarchic ravages of an increasingly ignorant & ungrateful Generation, who mindlessly trample upon anything & everything that they don’t understand (which is MUCH…) & which doesn’t fit in with the stilted & patently biased & bigoted false perspectives that their own inexcusable indolence & *wilful* ignorance has thereby ensured that their devious, extremist & Cultish “Educators” & their equally complicit, Political & Cultural Agenda driven Mainstream Media counterparts, are systematically brainwashing them with….. 😈🤞🤥📚📺🗣 😵😵💫🤪🤡
@@the5thmusketeer215 that’s ok. You rant away. I agree with the point you are making. I love our British history and I’m proud of my ancestors role in building our once great and enviable country. I get upset when I hear views that take a dump on my family history. My grandmother who was not rich saved and put a memorial in her local Kirkyard in Orkney for her four brothers all of whom had been killed in various conflicts around the world and whose bodies were never repatriated. Her own father, my great grandfather, was also killed in a Leith dockyard incident. He was a stoker. His body was never recovered. It’s shameful the way they are being demonised. Rule Britannia 🇬🇧
They were fighting for their country, I always respected this, and respect the British soldiers as well, I am ex Black Watch and know of the carnage at this battle, God rest them all
The Boers were to a man (and women), excellent Marksmen, and equipped with better rifles. The British SMLEs were still firing Black Powder Cartridges. The War Office hadn't fully adopted smokeless propellants. They quickly did after the Boer Wars. So not only were the Boers better Marksmen, they had better arms and ammo. That's a huge Force Multiplier. The same things happened during the Great War. 19th century tactics v modern weaponry. No wonder millions were slaughtered.
At 6am, 32 combat Engineers from the Victorian Scottish Regiment stood to attention as an Air Force Officer asked for volunteers, " life at 6-8 weeks " at most. All 32 stepped forward. After 2 years in Port Moresby only one was left, Colour Sergeant Earl Kitchener Mcdonald, 22 years old. He was sent to Knill in South Australia where he taught how to defuse a Japanese bomb and stay alive to new engineers. In 2009 at the age of 93 my father passed on, Knowing more about bombs than any one else in the Pacific, I miss him so badly.
Some biltong, some coffee, a horse, and a trusty Mauser rifle that could drop a man at a thousand yards - and the marksmanship to do it. These farmers in the veld were more than a match for a complacent British enemy! Another great one - thank you! And yes please to a video about Hector MacDonald!
@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 I have read accounts of Boers being able to hit targets in the war at 1000 yards away and farther. Good old marksmanship and smokeless powder.
@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 wats that 400m?...not so difficult if u own a rifle and use it on a daily basis...using a flat shooting 7x57 makes it easier. In Africa the rifle was a tool used daily unlike Europe and still is
Thanks again for a wonderfull story on the Boer War. My grandmother was 5 years old when she had to present Paul Kruger with flowers at Aerdenhout station in the Netherlands. She told me she was scared stiff by this man...! Keep those stories coming and have a great Xmas.
My great grand uncle was an Irish artillery officer in the English army until leaving Europe and arriving in America 18 months prior to outbreak of Civil War. Having settled in a southern port city on the Gulf he served in the confederate military. Having survived that and after reading some of his letters which are archived it was an experience he never wished to encounter again.
12 years after the end of the war we were fighting in Europe in WW1 and the experience was invaluable. My great grandfather fought in the boar war then re joining at the start of WW1 fighting at Gallipoli in 1915. Boar General Jan Smuts fought with the British in WWI & II and was the only man to sign the instruments of surrender in both wars as a member of the War Cabinet.
Andy, thanks for sharing your family story. Jan Smuts is an interesting man. He is also the only person to sign the documents forming both the League of Nations and the United Nations.
He sounds a lot like Winston Churchill. Participating in the Boer War, both World Wars, and doing a lot in both, including the signings of major documents.
@@nathanappleby5342 WC also participated in one of the last Cavalry charges by the British army at the battle of Omdurman 1898. Although of the 4th Hussars he was attached to the 21st Lancers (who’s unofficial given motto in the 19th century was ‘though shalt not kill’ as they saw little action). The regiment charged what they thought was a small force of Dervishes only for a load more to rise from behind a low ridge. The Lancers had to charge through the force and out the other side. WC says he owed his life to a polo injury which meant he could not use a sword so armed himself with the famous German Mauser ‘broom handle’ C96 with a 10 round 7.63m magazine.
Thank you again-Informative, concise, detailed and added to what I already knew and found your presentation, as the Americans would say 'Top Drawer'! My Afrikaner poem to the Scots in this war. The blades are high, the lances straight, Where they sit and wait. Sharp and clear the bugle blow, Charge down the foe! When they gallop back we ask who they are? That's the Scottish of the third Hussar!
As humiliating as the Boer was, it taught them valuable lessons for WW1. 1, they needed to learn how to aim a rifle, 2, their rifles at the time were inferior to the Mauser, 3, many of the class-based officers were useless. The British army did indeed revise its thinking between 1902 and 1914, and stopped Germany advancing into France. Without the lessons learned in South Africa it's quite possible that a complacent and outdated British military would have been swept aside in 1914. The Boar War changed the course of world history.
BUT - one of the keys to victory was the close fire and manoeuvre lesson from Majuba forgotten. Monash, didn't go to the Boer War, just, as an engineer, had to think it up along with the battlefield integration of technology, for WW2 to be won.
"and stopped Germany advancing into France. " Really? Get a correct description of the battles of Mons and Le Chateau - not the British fairy tale from 1921. The Brits learnt from the Boer war but were still unable to compete. Losing 40-50% more men is not good performance.
I play the tune "Highland Brigade at Magersfontein" on the highland bagpipes. Considering the attrition that took place, it's a surprisingly pretty tune, and actually a waltz.
Yes to Hector MacDonald. A wonderful historical fiction book (The Pipers Glory by Sam Skinner) has a great account of the battle following this battle. Lots about MacDonald, piping in battle and plenty of true Scottish history during this period. I encourage all to read it that has an interest in history during this period. Very enjoyable read.
As for Stormberg and Magerfontein, the casualties in both battles were opposites. At Stormberg, the British dead and wounded were light in number, but the number of captured was appalling. At Magersfontein, the number of dead and wounded outnumbered the captured at Stormberg, which in itself is appalling. I look forward to watching a video on Hector MacDonald, Scotland has been known to produce some of the world's best fighters.
@@nathanappleby5342 Good day Nathan , as a n full blood Boer fighting is not in our nature but however to serve and protect our freedom and our families and the God almighty, than we will go to war with no question asked against all odds.
An excellent, informative and entertaining series on the Boer War, thank you. Yes, please do cover the life (and controversial death) of Major General Sir Hector MacDonald.
Keep up the great history stories! Your coverage of Lcpl Jones from 'Dads Army" and his campaign ribbons certainly solved my curiosity about Jonesie's experiences, long held...Thanks again.
Macdonald's (McDonald?) story would be great please, real soldiers rising through the ranks are always an interesting tale. Great series Chris, the Boer conflicts are ones I know little about and fill in big gaps in my knowledge.
Mc Scottish names show Irish heritage, Mac names older Scottish names. I wonder why you thing Macdonald ‘must’ be McDonald? See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_MacDonald (although Mac names are usually not followed by a capital despite what someone has put on Wikipedia!)
Most enjoyable Chris. More please and yes on MacDonald. My grandfather's brother was a piper and member of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was sadly killed in WWI.
Thanks so much for that interesting, factual and unbiased account. Much enjoyed. I dedicated several chapters in my historical novel, Judge Not, to both Anglo-Boer Wars. This very battle, among many others was included. Yes! I would love to see a video on Gen. Hector McDonald. Every good wish for your success in that worthy venture.
YES ! Good Stuff,for those like myself who are interested. Coming from, and being brought up in Glasgow I can tell those interested that the H L I depot was Maryhill Barracks (famous for Rudolf Hess and The late David Niven who once served there as a young officer) in Glasgow,abandoned by the Army in 1959 and demolished a year or two later. It is now the Wyndford Housing Estate. In nearby Kelvingrove park is to be found a monument to the H L I with reference to the heavy losses sustained in the Boer War. All over Scotland there are relics of the nations martial prowess and connections with the British Army. The H L I, were somtimes known localy as 'The Hairy Legged Irishmen' due to the large number of Irish who crossed the water to serve in their ranks Their were upwards of six Irish regiments in the British Army at the time of the Boer War. It is also a little known fact that Scots served in large numbers in the Royal Navy,which at one time had numerous installations in Scotland also. Hector Macdonald sounds like the stuff of legend,looking forward to the video.
Hi there, I love that you pronounce most of the names very well except for Mager s fontein - Magers Fon (as in the German von) tane (as in bane, sane). 😀😉
Whoever wrote this, in regard to the benefit of high ground (4:41) has never read "The defense of Duffers Drift" which goes into all the extremely good reasons to not sit on high ground. Since the book was written to illustrate the failures of different British tactics in the Boer war, it's especially relevant.
many thanks, John. Make sure you subscribe to my channel so you don't miss future presentations. I'm planning one about Australian, NZ & Canadian contribution to Boer War.
De la Rey noticed that shooting from a hill the bullets impact at an angle, minimizing probable hits. Shooting horizontal one bullet has probability of multiple hits.
Hi Cris I have to say that you present these history channels very well ,I have some books on the SA sorties and it may be time to have a reread. Cheers
Funny thing was this was the second time the British fought the Boers yet they completely forgot about their tactics. The British had a bad habit of doing the same thing in every war and it was nearly a disaster in the beginning.
Great delivery and content , I like how you compare this battle with WW1 ,… soldiers getting tangled on barbed wire and shot with German rifles … and also you have made the comparison with other colonial battles , but the great difference is that the Boers had guns and tactics , whereas other attacking forces had swords and prayers !
Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to comment. You are correct that the Boers had guns and tactics. I am sure that if, say, the Sudanese army at Omdurman had been armed with modern weapons and modern tactics things might have turned out differently.
Great video! I have read on this before, but it's nice to see a video about it. I had my Victorian Age craze when I was much younger, but it's always been of great interest to me. I love your channel!
Chris hi. I’m subscribed. As usual enjoying your vid. Wondering if you have an inclination to devote a presentation on Commonwealth forces in 2nd Boer War? I’m ret’d Canadian Army and 2 of the regiments I served in (Lord Strathcona’s Horse Royal Canadians - known simply as Strathcona’s Horse during the 2nd war and regiment upon retirement and earlier service with the Royal Canadian Dragoons). Both regiments have South Africa emblazoned on their Guidon as a battle honour.
Another brilliant instalment, thank you Chris. I was hoping to see (hear) something about the Norwegian contingent in this battle, whom Koos de la Rey rather ruthlessly used as bait for British artillery. They were placed in the hillside positions where De la Rey knew the British would direct their bombardment. First prize was to save as many Boer lives as possible, of course, but somewhat callous towards the Norwegians. Looking forward to Spioenkop and Colenso. 😁
Winston Churchill was captured by the boars, and escaped with a price on his head. The boars murdered any African of Colour they caught fighting with the British. Captured boars were often shipped of to St Helena and India. thousands of boar families from the veld were placed in what were termed concentration camps, basically internment camps. To stop them supplying the boar commandos who were conducting an irregular war. Turned into,a major mess as typhus, cholera and dysentery from poor understanding of hygiene swept through the camps killing a great many detainees.
Thank you for your excellent and informative videos. My preferred learning style is by watching and listening rather than reading so, yes please, do cover MacDonald at some point in the future. Please keep up the great work.
Excellent stuff Chris! This topic is little covered and your presentation is delivered with much enthusiasm. Keep them coming, I have an insatiable interest in the 2nd Boer war!
Hi Mike, thanks for that kind endorsement. Plenty more to come, I promise. Make sure you subscribe to my channel so you don't miss any of them: ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Thank you Sir For Producing another gem in a long line of great mini documentaries. And by all means Sir do produce a video on General Hector Mcdonald. Once again kudos Sir.
Thank you so much for your videos. some of the best military history content on RUclips!! I am South African myself and they dont teach Afrikaans history in schools anymore so i truly appreciate this bit of history 😊
The crossing of the Modder river on the 10th was another British debacle. The Boer forward screening units retreated in good order, but due to communication problems the 50 odd men (out of some 100) of the Scandinavian volonteers were left behind. They held off some 600 highlanders for several hours, inflicting some 200 casualties on them. One contributing factor being that barbed wire had also been placed directly in the river where the attackers were entangled. A final charge killed half the scandinavians, and all suvivors, most severely wounded, were captured. By delaying the British advance, they bought the Boer main force the time to prepare and defeat the British at Magersfontein. I think the story should be included here, as it had a significant impact on the outcome of the main battle. The Scandinavian volonteers were mostly sailors who had taken up gold mining and were sympathetic with the Boer cause. They had very brief military training. An equal number of scandinavian volonteers sided with the Cape colony.
OWS at Steyr had Norwegian inspectors and some crew under the production. These rifles were part of batch that was not deemed 100% perfect for Norwegian demands. As not to run bust ,they were allowed to set up a up sale company via inspectors and sell them commercially. These 300 were part of that. Interestingly on seek up " Krag Jørgensen prøvegeviær in 7x57". One see a test rifle in 7mm. No data exisit whether ,why for whom it was built,likely a in house test to have some standarized tool for ammo and ranges. This one was on Danish Krag action. Boers wanted the M94 made in 7mm,but that was not possible.
@@MrPh30 I don't think that the Krag-Jørgensens that some the Boars had, were issue.They were a mix of Norwegian made and Austrian made parts and a number of the Steyr were built from part made by Kongsberg and Steyr. However the 6,5*55 standard Swedish cartridge was no match for the 7mm Mauser but, even with the 6.5 it was a very effective weapon and as infantry rifles they were closely related. The Swedish-Norwegian Rifle Commission started its work in 1891. One of their first tasks was to find the best possible calibre for the new weapon. After extensive ballistic tests where different calibres were tested (8 mm, 7.5 mm, 7 mm, 6.5 mm etc.), the optimal calibre was determined to be 6.5 mm (0.256 in). Following this decision, a joint Norwegian-Swedish commission was established in December 1893.[2] This commission worked through a series of meetings to decide on the different measurements for the cartridge case. A rimless cartridge case of 55 mm length was approved, and each possible measurement (diameter at base, diameter at neck, angle of case, angle of shoulder etc.) was decided upon.[2] The corresponding dimensions of the cartridge chamber to be used in a future service rifle was also determined.[2] The cartridge became what is later known as 6.5×55mm. The round of ammunition is also known as 6.5×55 Krag, 6.5×55 Scan(dinavia), 6.5×55 Mauser, 6.5×55 Swedish, and 6.5×55 Nor(wegian), but they all referred to the same cartridge. The Danish Krag's were chambered for an 8 mm projectile.
@@michaelmayo3127 Besides the Mauser rifle, boers, in the later stages of the war, used British Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles, both a match for the Mauser. During the War, Some Boers were armed with 30 year old British Martini-Henry rifles, a weapon inferior to the other rifles.
@@nathanappleby5342 Well the Boers carried arms, not only in the service of the state, but generally.Of course the Boers would use war trophies taken for the British because ammunition would be really available. Whether the one make of rifle was better that the other, was irreverent. However it should me mentioned the the trajectory of the 7mm Mauser and the 6.5 mm Krag were very similar and more flat that their British counter part. And that both the Krag and the Mauser were magazine rifles. All the rifles were constructed on different variations of the Mauser bolt action principal. What mattered was, that the man using the weapon, knew what the businesses end of the rifle in his hands was all about and it was here that the Boers excelled, they were marksmen, one and all. And as far as I know, the Boer States purchased sufficient numbers of Mauser to issue to their defence troops.
Maybe more to do with penny pinching Governments not producing maps for its army when it goes wrong pin it on the Generals works every time, among his many skills Wellington could survey ground.
It's quite likely that my two Great-grandfathers fought against each other at Magersfontein. On the Annandale side of the family they rode with de la Rey, and on the Nicholl side, fought as an officer with the Black Watch. Two families, one Scots, the other descended from a Scots emigrant to South Africa. Brought together by the marriage of my grandparents, Isabelle Nicholl and George Annandale. The Afrikaans side of the family still doesn't like talking to the English-speaking side because of this marriage, and it's over 120 years since the war!
My Grandfather, Andrew Meachen Rankin, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, fought in and survived this debacle (obviously!). In loving memory of a proud Scot.
Many thank, Bob. Here is my latest one on the Battle of Colenso and how the British managed to lose 10 field guns to the Boers: ruclips.net/video/OL9EVULR5bg/видео.html
Fantastic history, thankyou once again. My granmothers brither was in the Boer War as a private. Ill have to see if I can find out more. One of the 1st movies I saw when I emigrated to Oz, wasn't meant to stay here, plan was to go back to thre Uk after I had made my fortune, how many British have done that over the centuries. Left in 81 am still in Sydney, ties to the UK gradually being briken and ones in OZ growing eg MUM & Dad in the UK dead now and grandkids in Sydney etc. One of the first movies I saw was Brraker Morant in 1982, about some Australian Light Horsemen who were executed as political pawns in the Boar War for alleged attrocities they were supposed to have commited. Bit rusty on the details now, sorry, will have to read the book again, it is somewhere in my garage in some obscure spot now. Maybe just check it out on the web via say Wikki. I think the HIstory Chap if he hasn't read it yet would love Paul Ham's recent book, 1914 The Year The World Ended. A superb rendition of the lead up to WW1. The British experience in the boaer War looms large in the intiial response by the British Expeditionary Force and stopping the German's advance on Paris. I'm not a fan of jingoistic stuff and having lived in Oz now for 35 years I can see that lots that the British Emoire di was simply attroscious and I am totally ashamed (when I was a 14 yr old kid playing war games based on the movie Zulu in a NW London 1930s suburban house with mates I was very jingositic and proud of being British. not so much now, now that I have come across so much of what it really meant. One of the worst egs is the Peterloo Masacre in 1819 by the Dragoons on British people. However, the actions of the British as described int he Paul Hams book are not what we have learned via urban myths. WW1 starting was not the fault of a mad and stupid British ruling class (some were), many of those elites were smart and I can honestly say I am proud of how they conducted themselvs, they were not war mongers at all. Plus the Expiditionary Force was amazing and that was born of experiences like the Boaer war and saved the allies. They were true heros and were decimated for the efforts, totally and totally professional. A video on this may be a good to do. Yes I would like a video on that Scottish General who was the son of a crofter. Don't foget Cook was the son of a farm labourer and Nelson the 2nd ( I think) son of a vicar. And those industrialists were often only one step away from being the workers themesleves, eg the guy who started the Welsh coal mining industry. Funny how quickly their beginnings are forgotten when their offspring go to Eaton and Haroow etc. Even Churchill the result of a US industrialist looking for legitimacy and so marries into British aristocracy. The British aristocracy being regarded as largely spent and genetically degenerate at the time. As Alxis Sayles says, "its a funny old world". Thanks
Thank you for this account. In 1999, on the exact anniversary of the battle, I was privileged to accompany the RSM and Pipe-Major on a Battlefield Tour there. We joined a large number of fellow pilgrims in re-enacting the march of the Highland Brigade that fateful night. We halted where the Bde was halted, and a volley of blank rounds rang out from the hill. A poignant salute to the dead of both sides. Later in the morning I shared the conduct of a Memorial Service with an Afrikaans-speaking Chaplain from the SADF. A powerful moment of reconciliation. The Chaplain of the Highland Brigade in December 1899 was Revd James Robertson, who was beside General Wauchope when he was shot. Padre Robertson's portrait still hangs in one of the staircases of the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, just across the road from the Black Watch Anglo-Boer War Memorial, and he is quoted in this link: www.angloboerwar.com/books/93-sellers-from-aldershot-to-pretoria/1898-sellers-chapter-vi-magersfontein
Thanks for all your contributions. It would be great to keep in touch. If you would like to, please drop me a line via my website www.thehistorychap.com
I enjoyed this programme and as a former Gordon Highlander, I wept from my fallen brothers of the Highland Brigade..Ok please show us the story of General MacDonald, which would be greatly appreciated.
@@TheHistoryChap that’s great. There was a lot of politics behind that decision to execute morant and Hancock, which is the reason why no Australians were executed during the First World War even thought general Haig was still pushing for it even in the last months of the war. Keep up the great work. I always love watching your videos.
Please cover the life of Sr Hector MacDonald. He is (was) my 1st Cousin 3x removed on my mother's side of the family who were all from the Black Isle and Beauly (just north of Inverness). I have read various books and pamphlets, some from Dingwall Museum, on his life and sad death and I would like to hear your perspective.
That very slippery "S" happens again. This is an excellent presentation. Because I live in Kimberley and visited the battlefield many times. Time line and distances are inexact. Not materially so but I will help if you need me. Like you presentations.
It amazes me how otherwise good military leaders will try to make decisions with poor recon or intelligence. Every time this is done it results in massive casualties. It reminds me of Custer at the Little Bighorn here in the states. I am also amazed how military leaders always try to use past techniques to defeat a different enemy, and the result is always massive casualties. I almost think that they have very little regard for the men that must carry out their orders.
The British Government built an Empire as cheap as possible and in this case assembled a big army not acclimatised to the South African climate to fight a unique capable brave enemy and they failed to produce and provide military maps despite having many years to have done so, when it goes wrong blame the generals, magazine rifles meant that cavalry recon had difficulty getting the needed intelligence another lesson provided by the Anglo Boar war.
Since you’re producing videos on British history can your videos on workers who strive for rights and the people who broke them apart the strikebreakers I can see history on how the common people lived, it would be interesting to see how socially mobile Victorian British life was like was it better really then the rest of Europe and was there a lot of social mobility in the 19 century where the common people even poor able to get rich?
I am Dutch, 64 years young and remember my father telling me that my grandfather realy hated the Britisch. He lost a lot of relatives in the "boerenoorlog"(boerwar) in battle and concentation camps. Later, i found out that one of the reasons the war started whas that "de boeren"(the boers) wanted to keep slavery and the Britsih did n't. So, as most off the time, things are nt black and white. Because of "de boerenoorlog"(the boerwar) and the the Anglo-Dutch wars, a lot of Dutch people hated the Britisch but this totaly changed after Germany invaded the Netherlands and the Britisch helped to liberate us. Just wanted to say: situations change, people change and nothing is black or white but often some shade of grey.
Hit the send button inadvertently. Anyway after coming home he settled in but received letters from home recounting British atrocities in Ireland. When time of boer and British War he and others contacted and went to fight for Boers against British and believe it or not Boers had modern German artillery pieces which they used effectively. G, G, grand uncle contracted a fever died and was interred near Pretoria and so ended his circuitous life.
"An’ when there wasn’t aught to do but camp and cattle-guards, I’ve fought with ’im the ’ole day through at fifteen ’undred yards; ’Is Mauser for amusement an’ ’is pony for retreat, I’ve known a lot o’ fellers shoot a dam’ sight worse than Piet."
I hope we i.e the Scandinavians made a difference. "Cronje understood the significance of this stand, and said in a subsequent letter to Kruger that "next to God we can thank the Scandinavians for our victory." Even if all of them were all but obliterated. Groete uit Noorweë.
There's a place near Ladysmith and about 80 km from where I live called Fort mistake, it was another huge British error where the British took position on top of a hill where a river flowed near the foot of the hill, so the Boer surrounded the hill and the British cuddnt come down to fetch water and eventually they had to surrender or die of thirst, I don't know if you have anything on that story of the Boer war ?
It is strange that SOME people consider the British waged war against people in the homeland, the Boers were as much imperialists and had stolen other people's land and supressed them even worse that the British, that is what finally led to their racist methods which was condemned by the entire world. This was not a war for right over wrong at all.
What amazes me is the amount of senior ranking officers in Victoria's army that did nt have the very best start in life. Perhaps it has been easier to stereotype the officer class of that day by believing Victorians were absolutely rigid on background.
You don't need to go back to Crimea -- weren't there more single-day losses at the battle of Isandlwana? Notwithstanding, a very good and informative video.
Piper Alexander Mackay 2nd Seaforth Highlanders killed at Magersfontien, my Great Uncle.
Thanks so much for sharing your family connection to my story
Respect.
My Great Uncle Pte Andrew Oddie 2nd Seaforth Highlander was also killed there. I hope they were friends.
@@lairyfairy1964 It’s very touching when the descendants of Men who fought - & all too often, suffered & died - in conflicts such as this, are moved to find out more about the turbulent times in which they lived & the fateful path that led them to their final moments…
For better or for worse, all of us stand upon the foundations that were laid by our forebears… some of them laid at a great & terrible cost… & it is a particularly irksome failing of today’s woefully indolent & wilfully ignorant “Post-Millennial” & aptly named “Post-Truth” Generation - who have access to an almost limitless storehouse of readily accessible digital information (that those of us who were schooled many decades ago, could only have dreamed of…) - that they choose NOT to take an *active & discerningly informed* interest in their own rich & varied History & Heritage but, instead, prefer to **blithely, naively & unquestioningly accept** & parrot the shameless Cultural Marxist Propaganda that they are indoctrinated with, by the Political Activists masquerading as School Teachers & University Professors in today’s shameful Education System & similar, revisionist pseudo “Historians” who produce endless “Historical Documentaries” whose sole purpose is to present the ridiculously stilted Marxist view, that all the problems of the world should be laid at the door of the British Empire (as though no other Colonial Empires even existed… ) & more latterly, at America’s interventions upon the World Stage, while every other National, Ideological & Religious influence gets a free pass - because it suits the insidious Political & Cultural indoctrination of our naive & gullible offspring, to present such a patently flawed & wholly one-sided perspective of our History & of the World in which we live today… 😈
Sincere apologies, if that sounds like a rant. It’s not intended to be one… but it’s very difficult not to lament 😔 the almost complete takeover of our sacrosanct Education System - including how our precious History is taught & presented today - by a hardcore nexus of calculating propagandists, who have a very obvious & vested interest in “changing the past so as to shape the present - & control the future” (an especial trademark of Atheistic, Communist Marxist activism), which is why *sober, fair & balanced* History Channels such as this one, have a vital role to play, in remembering & preserving both the worst AND the best of our Ancestors’ achievements, struggles & endeavours upon the World stage… many of which deserve to be treated with respect & held inviolate against the anarchic ravages of an increasingly ignorant & ungrateful Generation, who mindlessly trample upon anything & everything that they don’t understand (which is MUCH…) & which doesn’t fit in with the stilted & patently biased & bigoted false perspectives that their own inexcusable indolence & *wilful* ignorance has thereby ensured that their devious, extremist & Cultish “Educators” & their equally complicit, Political & Cultural Agenda driven Mainstream Media counterparts, are systematically brainwashing them with…..
😈🤞🤥📚📺🗣 😵😵💫🤪🤡
@@the5thmusketeer215 that’s ok. You rant away. I agree with the point you are making. I love our British history and I’m proud of my ancestors role in building our once great and enviable country. I get upset when I hear views that take a dump on my family history. My grandmother who was not rich saved and put a memorial in her local Kirkyard in Orkney for her four brothers all of whom had been killed in various conflicts around the world and whose bodies were never repatriated. Her own father, my great grandfather, was also killed in a Leith dockyard incident. He was a stoker. His body was never recovered. It’s shameful the way they are being demonised. Rule Britannia 🇬🇧
For a small, irregular force, the Boers were incredibly effective - even outnumbered in pitched battles!
They were indeed.
They were fighting for their country, I always respected this, and respect the British soldiers as well, I am ex Black Watch and know of the carnage at this battle, God rest them all
Wait till you hear about what the Afghan tribes managed 😂
The Boers were to a man (and women), excellent Marksmen, and equipped with better rifles. The British SMLEs were still firing Black Powder Cartridges. The War Office hadn't fully adopted smokeless propellants. They quickly did after the Boer Wars.
So not only were the Boers better Marksmen, they had better arms and ammo. That's a huge Force Multiplier.
The same things happened during the Great War. 19th century tactics v modern weaponry. No wonder millions were slaughtered.
At 6am, 32 combat Engineers from the Victorian Scottish Regiment stood to attention as an Air Force Officer asked for volunteers, " life at 6-8 weeks " at most. All 32 stepped forward.
After 2 years in Port Moresby only one was left, Colour Sergeant Earl Kitchener Mcdonald,
22 years old. He was sent to Knill in South Australia where he taught how to defuse a Japanese bomb and stay alive to new engineers. In 2009 at the age of 93 my father passed on, Knowing more about bombs than any one else in the Pacific, I miss him so badly.
Thank you for sharing your poignant story.
Some biltong, some coffee, a horse, and a trusty Mauser rifle that could drop a man at a thousand yards - and the marksmanship to do it. These farmers in the veld were more than a match for a complacent British enemy! Another great one - thank you! And yes please to a video about Hector MacDonald!
Michael, your vote has been counted. Just need to research, script, film and edit :)
I doubt that many, if any, of them could hit a man at 1000 yards.
@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 I have read accounts of Boers being able to hit targets in the war at 1000 yards away and farther. Good old marksmanship and smokeless powder.
@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 wats that 400m?...not so difficult if u own a rifle and use it on a daily basis...using a flat shooting 7x57 makes it easier. In Africa the rifle was a tool used daily unlike Europe and still is
@@therightarmofthefreeworld4703 Indeed, over iron sites it is hard to hit beyond 600 yards.
Thanks again for a wonderfull story on the Boer War. My grandmother was 5 years old when she had to present Paul Kruger with flowers at Aerdenhout station in the Netherlands. She told me she was scared stiff by this man...! Keep those stories coming and have a great Xmas.
Many thanks for that story. Merry Christmas
My great grand uncle was an Irish artillery officer in the English army until leaving Europe and arriving in America 18 months prior to outbreak of Civil War. Having settled in a southern port city on the Gulf he served in the confederate military. Having survived that and after reading some of his letters which are archived it was an experience he never wished to encounter again.
Just seen that your message continues...
New to the country traitor And a traitor to boot. Not surprising for any Irishman serving in the English army
@@TheHistoryChap why do they say the English army when it’s the British army.
He was Irish serving in foreign army. ? Is this how the Anglo Colonial Fantasy was promoted?
12 years after the end of the war we were fighting in Europe in WW1 and the experience was invaluable. My great grandfather fought in the boar war then re joining at the start of WW1 fighting at Gallipoli in 1915. Boar General Jan Smuts fought with the British in WWI & II and was the only man to sign the instruments of surrender in both wars as a member of the War Cabinet.
Andy, thanks for sharing your family story.
Jan Smuts is an interesting man. He is also the only person to sign the documents forming both the League of Nations and the United Nations.
@@TheHistoryChap thanks for that he eventually moved away from apartheid little good that it did anyone
He sounds a lot like Winston Churchill. Participating in the Boer War, both World Wars, and doing a lot in both, including the signings of major documents.
@@nathanappleby5342 better idea of military tactics than WC
@@nathanappleby5342 WC also participated in one of the last Cavalry charges by the British army at the battle of Omdurman 1898. Although of the 4th Hussars he was attached to the 21st Lancers (who’s unofficial given motto in the 19th century was ‘though shalt not kill’ as they saw little action). The regiment charged what they thought was a small force of Dervishes only for a load more to rise from behind a low ridge. The Lancers had to charge through the force and out the other side. WC says he owed his life to a polo injury which meant he could not use a sword so armed himself with the famous German Mauser ‘broom handle’ C96 with a 10 round 7.63m magazine.
Thank you again-Informative, concise, detailed and added to what I already knew and found your presentation, as the Americans would say 'Top Drawer'!
My Afrikaner poem to the Scots in this war.
The blades are high, the lances straight,
Where they sit and wait.
Sharp and clear the bugle blow,
Charge down the foe!
When they gallop back we ask who they are?
That's the Scottish of the third Hussar!
Thanks for sharing that poem.
As humiliating as the Boer was, it taught them valuable lessons for WW1. 1, they needed to learn how to aim a rifle, 2, their rifles at the time were inferior to the Mauser, 3, many of the class-based officers were useless. The British army did indeed revise its thinking between 1902 and 1914, and stopped Germany advancing into France. Without the lessons learned in South Africa it's quite possible that a complacent and outdated British military would have been swept aside in 1914. The Boar War changed the course of world history.
BUT - one of the keys to victory was the close fire and manoeuvre lesson from Majuba forgotten. Monash, didn't go to the Boer War, just, as an engineer, had to think it up along with the battlefield integration of technology, for WW2 to be won.
Thanks for adding those very good points.
"and stopped Germany advancing into France. "
Really? Get a correct description of the battles of Mons and Le Chateau - not the British fairy tale from 1921. The Brits learnt from the Boer war but were still unable to compete. Losing 40-50% more men is not good performance.
All wars have myths and that every Boer was a fine shot and the British had no good shots is one from the Boer war, there are many more.
I play the tune "Highland Brigade at Magersfontein" on the highland bagpipes. Considering the attrition that took place, it's a surprisingly pretty tune, and actually a waltz.
Many thanks for sharing.
Yes to Hector MacDonald. A wonderful historical fiction book (The Pipers Glory by Sam Skinner) has a great account of the battle following this battle. Lots about MacDonald, piping in battle and plenty of true Scottish history during this period. I encourage all to read it that has an interest in history during this period. Very enjoyable read.
Thanks for sharing
Your story telling is unique and very engaging, your enthusiasm for history is obvious. Thank you for making this video.✌️👍
Many thanks for your kind words. ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
As for Stormberg and Magerfontein, the casualties in both battles were opposites. At Stormberg, the British dead and wounded were light in number, but the number of captured was appalling. At Magersfontein, the number of dead and wounded outnumbered the captured at Stormberg, which in itself is appalling. I look forward to watching a video on Hector MacDonald, Scotland has been known to produce some of the world's best fighters.
None better than Hector MacDonald.
What about the South Africans Boers
@@coenraadkruger2498 Their's were extremely light.
@@nathanappleby5342 Good day Nathan , as a n full blood Boer fighting is not in our nature but however to serve and protect our freedom and our families and the God almighty, than we will go to war with no question asked against all odds.
So what’s happened to the current batch of Scots? Me = 75% Scottish DNA 🧬
An excellent, informative and entertaining series on the Boer War, thank you. Yes, please do cover the life (and controversial death) of Major General Sir Hector MacDonald.
Thanks fro your kind words.
MacDonald coming soon.
Yeah fighting Mac
Yes, Hector the Hero!
My great grandfather spent 2 years of his life riding around South Africa in the Imperial Yeomanry, Leicestershire
Keep up the great history stories! Your coverage of Lcpl Jones from 'Dads Army" and his campaign ribbons certainly solved my curiosity about Jonesie's experiences, long held...Thanks again.
My pleasure. Thanks for your support
Macdonald's (McDonald?) story would be great please, real soldiers rising through the ranks are always an interesting tale. Great series Chris, the Boer conflicts are ones I know little about and fill in big gaps in my knowledge.
I second that--didn't he also play a pivotal role at Omdurman?
Thanks for your kind words, more coming your way!
You are correct...but I won't say more as it might spoil my video about him :)
Seems from Crimea on British army poorly led.
Mc Scottish names show Irish heritage, Mac names older Scottish names. I wonder why you thing Macdonald ‘must’ be McDonald? See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_MacDonald (although Mac names are usually not followed by a capital despite what someone has put on Wikipedia!)
Most enjoyable Chris. More please and yes on MacDonald. My grandfather's brother was a piper and member of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was sadly killed in WWI.
Richard, there is so much demand for a video on Hector MacDonald so I will definitely produce one.
Do you know where?
Thanks so much for that interesting, factual and unbiased account. Much enjoyed. I dedicated several chapters in my historical novel, Judge Not, to both Anglo-Boer Wars. This very battle, among many others was included. Yes! I would love to see a video on Gen. Hector McDonald. Every good wish for your success in that worthy venture.
YES ! Good Stuff,for those like myself who are interested. Coming from, and being brought up in Glasgow I can tell those interested that the H L I depot was Maryhill Barracks (famous for Rudolf Hess and The late David Niven who once served there as a young officer) in Glasgow,abandoned by the Army in 1959 and demolished a year or two later. It is now the Wyndford Housing Estate. In nearby Kelvingrove park is to be found a monument to the H L I with reference to the heavy losses sustained in the Boer War. All over Scotland there are relics of the nations martial prowess and connections with the British Army. The H L I, were somtimes known localy as 'The Hairy Legged Irishmen' due to the large number of Irish who crossed the water to serve in their ranks Their were upwards of six Irish regiments in the British Army at the time of the Boer War. It is also a little known fact that Scots served in large numbers in the Royal Navy,which at one time had numerous installations in Scotland also. Hector Macdonald sounds like the stuff of legend,looking forward to the video.
Thanks for that additional info, Philip.
Very grateful for your support. ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
These are fantastic with enthusiastic presentations. Makes history come alive. Yes...a presentation on Hector the Hero would be super indeed.
Thanks, Don.
Your wish is my command :)
Helas as ever highland expendable fodder!
Hi there, I love that you pronounce most of the names very well except for Mager s fontein - Magers Fon (as in the German von) tane (as in bane, sane). 😀😉
Thank you for helping me with how to pronounce. As a good Brit I show my lack of foreign language skills!
actually, the last part "tein" sounds more like TINE (like the tine of a fork)
Fontein is Fountain in Afrikaans
I'd like to add that "Wauchope" is pronounced like "war-hope"
Definitely: video on McDonald, please. Also the story of Methuen and Delarey at Tweebosch near the end of the war.
MacDonald getting lots of votes so it will happen.
Thanks for the idea about Tweebosch.
Whoever wrote this, in regard to the benefit of high ground (4:41) has never read "The defense of Duffers Drift" which goes into all the extremely good reasons to not sit on high ground. Since the book was written to illustrate the failures of different British tactics in the Boer war, it's especially relevant.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
My grerat grandfather was with the british cavalry here and told my father how he'd seen the highlanders carried in after the battle.
Hi Chris, greetings from Australia. We appreciate your excellent presentations. Awesome work mate!
many thanks, John.
Make sure you subscribe to my channel so you don't miss future presentations. I'm planning one about Australian, NZ & Canadian contribution to Boer War.
Thank you for this. I'm from South Africa. My great grandfather received a VC for the Maggersfontein battle.
Thanks for sharing your family story
De la Rey noticed that shooting from a hill the bullets impact at an angle, minimizing probable hits. Shooting horizontal one bullet has probability of multiple hits.
Thank you for adding that very interesting insight.
Hi Cris I have to say that you present these history channels very well ,I have some books on the SA sorties and it may be time to have a reread. Cheers
Thanks for your kind words.
I am currently re-reading Thomas Packham's book.
Funny thing was this was the second time the British fought the Boers yet they completely forgot about their tactics. The British had a bad habit of doing the same thing in every war and it was nearly a disaster in the beginning.
But we do like glorious defeats!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
A story on Macdonald? Yes please Chris !! Great video as always
Thanks for your support, George.
Lots of votes for MacDonald so watch this space!
Great delivery and content , I like how you compare this battle with WW1 ,… soldiers getting tangled on barbed wire and shot with German rifles … and also you have made the comparison with other colonial battles , but the great difference is that the Boers had guns and tactics , whereas other attacking forces had swords and prayers !
Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to comment.
You are correct that the Boers had guns and tactics.
I am sure that if, say, the Sudanese army at Omdurman had been armed with modern weapons and modern tactics things might have turned out differently.
This reminds me of the timeless classic, "The Defense of Duffer's Drift", written by a British officer who fought in the Boer War.
Thanks for sharing.
What an incredibly well informed teller of deeds and disaster’s.
Thank you.
Macbrides brigade, few hundred Irish lads fought with the Boers back in the day, to this day a stone monument is still there.
I talk about them more in another one of my videos - “who captured Churchill”. Check it out.
Very enjoyable and immensely informative, so much so that I have subscribed to the channel!
Thanks for your support.
A video on McDonald please, this series is spot on many thanks.
Thanks for your support.
Great video! I have read on this before, but it's nice to see a video about it. I had my Victorian Age craze when I was much younger, but it's always been of great interest to me. I love your channel!
Really pleased that you are enjoying my channel, in general, and this video, in particular.
Chris hi. I’m subscribed. As usual enjoying your vid. Wondering if you have an inclination to devote a presentation on Commonwealth forces in 2nd Boer War? I’m ret’d Canadian Army and 2 of the regiments I served in (Lord Strathcona’s Horse Royal Canadians - known simply as Strathcona’s Horse during the 2nd war and regiment upon retirement and earlier service with the Royal Canadian Dragoons). Both regiments have South Africa emblazoned on their Guidon as a battle honour.
Hi James,
I am planning one on the Commonwealth involvement in Boer War.
Nearly a quarter of the British troops were imperial contingents.
Another brilliant instalment, thank you Chris. I was hoping to see (hear) something about the Norwegian contingent in this battle, whom Koos de la Rey rather ruthlessly used as bait for British artillery. They were placed in the hillside positions where De la Rey knew the British would direct their bombardment. First prize was to save as many Boer lives as possible, of course, but somewhat callous towards the Norwegians.
Looking forward to Spioenkop and Colenso. 😁
Am thinking about doing a video all about the foreign contingents fighting for the Boers.
I have just uploaded the Battle of Colenso.
Brilliant, can’t wait for the next and definitely a video on McDonald, I wonder what the fate of a captured soldier is, are they given back as well?
Maybe I should do a video about prisoners in the Boer War?
Winston Churchill was captured by the boars, and escaped with a price on his head. The boars murdered any African of Colour they caught fighting with the British. Captured boars were often shipped of to St Helena and India. thousands of boar families from the veld were placed in what were termed concentration camps, basically internment camps. To stop them supplying the boar commandos who were conducting an irregular war. Turned into,a major mess as typhus, cholera and dysentery from poor understanding of hygiene swept through the camps killing a great many detainees.
Thank you for your excellent and informative videos. My preferred learning style is by watching and listening rather than reading so, yes please, do cover MacDonald at some point in the future. Please keep up the great work.
Thanks Phillip.
Please make sure that you subscribe so that you don't miss Hector MacDonald.
Excellent stuff Chris! This topic is little covered and your presentation is delivered with much enthusiasm. Keep them coming, I have an insatiable interest in the 2nd Boer war!
Hi Mike, thanks for that kind endorsement.
Plenty more to come, I promise.
Make sure you subscribe to my channel so you don't miss any of them: ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
I really enjoy and look forward to your content as it's always detailed and interesting. Can't wait for the next installment
Thanks, Tim.
Please make sure to subscribe to my channel for next instalment - Saving the Guns at Colenso.
Thank you Sir For Producing another gem in a long line of great mini documentaries. And by all means Sir do produce a video on General Hector Mcdonald. Once again kudos Sir.
Sounds like a lot of people want me to talk about Hector MacDonald. Thanks for the vote.
I very rarely miss your videos. This one was excellent as always.
Thank you.
Thak you. And for your enthusiasm for bringing history to life! , , , and death ~;
SUBBED
Thank you for your support.
Would love to hear more on MG Sir Hector MacDonald.
Okay, Max.
It will coming during the summer.
Please make sure that you subscribe so that you don't miss it.
The Sound of Thunder by Wilbur Smith is a great work of historical fiction that delves into the Second Anglo - Boer War
He does indeed. Ripping yarns.
Mesmerizing and entertaining narrative. Two thumbs up sir.
Thank you for watching and the two thumbs up.
Thank you so much for your videos. some of the best military history content on RUclips!!
I am South African myself and they dont teach Afrikaans history in schools anymore so i truly appreciate this bit of history 😊
Thank you for your kind comment. I wasn’t aware of the situation regarding your second. Paragraph. That’s a shame.
The crossing of the Modder river on the 10th was another British debacle. The Boer forward screening units retreated in good order, but due to communication problems the 50 odd men (out of some 100) of the Scandinavian volonteers were left behind. They held off some 600 highlanders for several hours, inflicting some 200 casualties on them. One contributing factor being that barbed wire had also been placed directly in the river where the attackers were entangled. A final charge killed half the scandinavians, and all suvivors, most severely wounded, were captured. By delaying the British advance, they bought the Boer main force the time to prepare and defeat the British at Magersfontein. I think the story should be included here, as it had a significant impact on the outcome of the main battle. The Scandinavian volonteers were mostly sailors who had taken up gold mining and were sympathetic with the Boer cause. They had very brief military training. An equal number of scandinavian volonteers sided with the Cape colony.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Yes, keen to hear about Hectors story.
Great!
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
McDonald's story? If you don't make it too cheesy I'm Lovin' It.
I will lead myself out.
Seriously, thank you for another good tale of real history.
I bet you used to get sent out of class when you were at school!
Best wishes, Chris
Not all the Boers had Mauser rifles some had the Norwegian Krog-Jorgensen, a rifle that was equally as deadly.
OWS at Steyr had Norwegian inspectors and some crew under the production. These rifles were part of batch that was not deemed 100% perfect for Norwegian demands. As not to run bust ,they were allowed to set up a up sale company via inspectors and sell them commercially. These 300 were part of that.
Interestingly on seek up " Krag Jørgensen prøvegeviær in 7x57". One see a test rifle in 7mm. No data exisit whether ,why for whom it was built,likely a in house test to have some standarized tool for ammo and ranges. This one was on Danish Krag action.
Boers wanted the M94 made in 7mm,but that was not possible.
@@MrPh30 I don't think that the Krag-Jørgensens that some the Boars had, were issue.They were a mix of Norwegian made and Austrian made parts and a number of the Steyr were built from part made by Kongsberg and Steyr. However the 6,5*55 standard Swedish cartridge was no match for the 7mm Mauser but, even with the 6.5 it was a very effective weapon and as infantry rifles they were closely related.
The Swedish-Norwegian Rifle Commission started its work in 1891. One of their first tasks was to find the best possible calibre for the new weapon. After extensive ballistic tests where different calibres were tested (8 mm, 7.5 mm, 7 mm, 6.5 mm etc.), the optimal calibre was determined to be 6.5 mm (0.256 in). Following this decision, a joint Norwegian-Swedish commission was established in December 1893.[2] This commission worked through a series of meetings to decide on the different measurements for the cartridge case. A rimless cartridge case of 55 mm length was approved, and each possible measurement (diameter at base, diameter at neck, angle of case, angle of shoulder etc.) was decided upon.[2] The corresponding dimensions of the cartridge chamber to be used in a future service rifle was also determined.[2] The cartridge became what is later known as 6.5×55mm. The round of ammunition is also known as 6.5×55 Krag, 6.5×55 Scan(dinavia), 6.5×55 Mauser, 6.5×55 Swedish, and 6.5×55 Nor(wegian), but they all referred to the same cartridge.
The Danish Krag's were chambered for an 8 mm projectile.
Thanks for adding and starting a conversation.
@@michaelmayo3127 Besides the Mauser rifle, boers, in the later stages of the war, used British Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles, both a match for the Mauser. During the War, Some Boers were armed with 30 year old British Martini-Henry rifles, a weapon inferior to the other rifles.
@@nathanappleby5342
Well the Boers carried arms, not only in the service of the state, but generally.Of course the Boers would use war trophies taken for the British because ammunition would be really available. Whether the one make of rifle was better that the other, was irreverent. However it should me mentioned the the trajectory of the 7mm Mauser and the 6.5 mm Krag were very similar and more flat that their British counter part. And that both the Krag and the Mauser were magazine rifles. All the rifles were constructed on different variations of the Mauser bolt action principal.
What mattered was, that the man using the weapon, knew what the businesses end of the rifle in his hands was all about and it was here that the Boers excelled, they were marksmen, one and all. And as far as I know, the Boer States purchased sufficient numbers of Mauser to issue to their defence troops.
MacDonald, for sure.A common man doing better than the elite.Please do a video about him.
Will do.
Thanks for your support.
Great video once again Chris. It's a pity that changes in military tactics tend to come on the heels of military blundering and huge casualties.
Thanks, Rob.
I guess we only learn from our mistakes, but unfortunately military mistakes cost lives.
Maybe more to do with penny pinching Governments not producing maps for its army when it goes wrong pin it on the Generals works every time, among his many skills Wellington could survey ground.
It's quite likely that my two Great-grandfathers fought against each other at Magersfontein.
On the Annandale side of the family they rode with de la Rey, and on the Nicholl side, fought as an officer with the Black Watch.
Two families, one Scots, the other descended from a Scots emigrant to South Africa.
Brought together by the marriage of my grandparents, Isabelle Nicholl and George Annandale.
The Afrikaans side of the family still doesn't like talking to the English-speaking side because of this marriage, and it's over 120 years since the war!
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting family story.
I definitely think a video on hector Macdonald would be appreciated
Ok. Thanks for your vote.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
I like this "History Chap". He knows what he's talking about.
Many thanks.
My Grandfather, Andrew Meachen Rankin, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, fought in and survived this debacle (obviously!). In loving memory of a proud Scot.
Thank you for sharing.
Love your videos, keep up the good work. 👍 thanks
Many thank, Bob.
Here is my latest one on the Battle of Colenso and how the British managed to lose 10 field guns to the Boers:
ruclips.net/video/OL9EVULR5bg/видео.html
Fantastic history, thankyou once again. My granmothers brither was in the Boer War as a private. Ill have to see if I can find out more. One of the 1st movies I saw when I emigrated to Oz, wasn't meant to stay here, plan was to go back to thre Uk after I had made my fortune, how many British have done that over the centuries. Left in 81 am still in Sydney, ties to the UK gradually being briken and ones in OZ growing eg MUM & Dad in the UK dead now and grandkids in Sydney etc. One of the first movies I saw was Brraker Morant in 1982, about some Australian Light Horsemen who were executed as political pawns in the Boar War for alleged attrocities they were supposed to have commited. Bit rusty on the details now, sorry, will have to read the book again, it is somewhere in my garage in some obscure spot now. Maybe just check it out on the web via say Wikki.
I think the HIstory Chap if he hasn't read it yet would love Paul Ham's recent book, 1914 The Year The World Ended. A superb rendition of the lead up to WW1. The British experience in the boaer War looms large in the intiial response by the British Expeditionary Force and stopping the German's advance on Paris. I'm not a fan of jingoistic stuff and having lived in Oz now for 35 years I can see that lots that the British Emoire di was simply attroscious and I am totally ashamed (when I was a 14 yr old kid playing war games based on the movie Zulu in a NW London 1930s suburban house with mates I was very jingositic and proud of being British. not so much now, now that I have come across so much of what it really meant. One of the worst egs is the Peterloo Masacre in 1819 by the Dragoons on British people. However, the actions of the British as described int he Paul Hams book are not what we have learned via urban myths. WW1 starting was not the fault of a mad and stupid British ruling class (some were), many of those elites were smart and I can honestly say I am proud of how they conducted themselvs, they were not war mongers at all. Plus the Expiditionary Force was amazing and that was born of experiences like the Boaer war and saved the allies. They were true heros and were decimated for the efforts, totally and totally professional. A video on this may be a good to do.
Yes I would like a video on that Scottish General who was the son of a crofter. Don't foget Cook was the son of a farm labourer and Nelson the 2nd ( I think) son of a vicar. And those industrialists were often only one step away from being the workers themesleves, eg the guy who started the Welsh coal mining industry. Funny how quickly their beginnings are forgotten when their offspring go to Eaton and Haroow etc. Even Churchill the result of a US industrialist looking for legitimacy and so marries into British aristocracy. The British aristocracy being regarded as largely spent and genetically degenerate at the time. As Alxis Sayles says, "its a funny old world".
Thanks
Hi Chris,great presentation again. Any chance of a video on 'Breaker Morant' one of those forgotten characters from the Boer war?
Several others have requested. Just need to research more to try to give a fair balance.
Another great very interesting you obviously have a very genuine interest in history
Thank you
Thank you very much. If you haven’t already, please make sure you subscribe to my channel here on RUclips
Proud to be Dutch Boer ,we gave them heaps.
A war that had a lot of implications
Thanks for the “ripping yarn “. I shall now be on the internet for a Mauser, and crossed leather cartridge belts.
Enjoy your shopping trip :)
Thank you as always my friend 👍 may GOD bless you
My pleasure, Gary.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this account. In 1999, on the exact anniversary of the battle, I was privileged to accompany the RSM and Pipe-Major on a Battlefield Tour there. We joined a large number of fellow pilgrims in re-enacting the march of the Highland Brigade that fateful night. We halted where the Bde was halted, and a volley of blank rounds rang out from the hill. A poignant salute to the dead of both sides. Later in the morning I shared the conduct of a Memorial Service with an Afrikaans-speaking Chaplain from the SADF. A powerful moment of reconciliation. The Chaplain of the Highland Brigade in December 1899 was Revd James Robertson, who was beside General Wauchope when he was shot. Padre Robertson's portrait still hangs in one of the staircases of the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, just across the road from the Black Watch Anglo-Boer War Memorial, and he is quoted in this link: www.angloboerwar.com/books/93-sellers-from-aldershot-to-pretoria/1898-sellers-chapter-vi-magersfontein
Thanks for all your contributions. It would be great to keep in touch. If you would like to, please drop me a line via my website www.thehistorychap.com
Love your videos, History is truly fascinating and full of many interesting facts.
Thanks for your support.
Yes please do a film on the officer mentioned for us to comment. I love all things history especially battles and individuals.
Here it is:
ruclips.net/video/Sx178vz8p7U/видео.html
@@TheHistoryChap thank you
I enjoyed this programme and as a former Gordon Highlander, I wept from my fallen brothers of the Highland Brigade..Ok please show us the story of General MacDonald, which would be greatly appreciated.
The music is top notch. Great job!
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
Love to hear your take on breaker morant
Hi Dale,
I am planning to do a video about the Australian, NZ and Canadian involvement so Breaker Morant will make an appearance.
@@TheHistoryChap that’s great. There was a lot of politics behind that decision to execute morant and Hancock, which is the reason why no Australians were executed during the First World War even thought general Haig was still pushing for it even in the last months of the war.
Keep up the great work. I always love watching your videos.
Please cover the life of Sr Hector MacDonald. He is (was) my 1st Cousin 3x removed on my mother's side of the family who were all from the Black Isle and Beauly (just north of Inverness). I have read various books and pamphlets, some from Dingwall Museum, on his life and sad death and I would like to hear your perspective.
Ian, your wish is my command. Here it is: ruclips.net/video/Sx178vz8p7U/видео.html
...a bio on Hector McDonald? You bet! Should be interesting....
I will look forward to doing it.
Thanks for your vote.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
absolutely brilliant summary
Many thanks.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Been to the site, and picked up a relic close to my hart.
Thanks for posting, Marius.
Need to know more about Boer war. British vs Dutch?
Thanks to the Chap!
Lots more to come
Thanks a lot.Hector MacDonald would be a great subject.especially his time in India.
Your wish is my command.
Here is my video about Hector MacDonald:
ruclips.net/video/Sx178vz8p7U/видео.html
That very slippery "S" happens again.
This is an excellent presentation. Because I live in Kimberley and visited the battlefield many times. Time line and distances are inexact. Not materially so but I will help if you need me. Like you presentations.
Thanks for offer of help. Please drop me a line via my website (www.thehistorychap.com)
What an excellent little lecture.
Many thanks
Very well done. Thank you.
Thank you Don.
Have you seen the next one in this series?
I released it on Sunday evening:
ruclips.net/video/OL9EVULR5bg/видео.html
Fascinating and wonderful post! 👍 yes please to something on Hector McDonald. 🙏
Thanks, Justin.
Lots of votes for Hector MacDonald so watch this space.
PS. please subscribe so you don't miss it.
Sounds like the japanese defense of Iwo Jima when they had the defensive lines at the bottom of the hills rather than the top.
Good observation, Michael.
It amazes me how otherwise good military leaders will try to make decisions with poor recon or intelligence. Every time this is done it results in massive casualties. It reminds me of Custer at the Little Bighorn here in the states. I am also amazed how military leaders always try to use past techniques to defeat a different enemy, and the result is always massive casualties. I almost think that they have very little regard for the men that must carry out their orders.
Thanks for commenting Joe. Sometimes they didn’t seem to learn lessons from the past.
The British Government built an Empire as cheap as possible and in this case assembled a big army not acclimatised to the South African climate to fight a unique capable brave enemy and they failed to produce and provide military maps despite having many years to have done so, when it goes wrong blame the generals, magazine rifles meant that cavalry recon had difficulty getting the needed intelligence another lesson provided by the Anglo Boar war.
Another good one Chap
Glad you enjoyed it.
ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
Since you’re producing videos on British history can your videos on workers who strive for rights and the people who broke them apart the strikebreakers I can see history on how the common people lived, it would be interesting to see how socially mobile Victorian British life was like was it better really then the rest of Europe and was there a lot of social mobility in the 19 century where the common people even poor able to get rich?
I am Dutch, 64 years young and remember my father telling me that my grandfather realy hated the Britisch. He lost a lot of relatives in the "boerenoorlog"(boerwar) in battle and concentation camps. Later, i found out that one of the reasons the war started whas that "de boeren"(the boers) wanted to keep slavery and the Britsih did n't. So, as most off the time, things are nt black and white. Because of "de boerenoorlog"(the boerwar) and the the Anglo-Dutch wars, a lot of Dutch people hated the Britisch but this totaly changed after Germany invaded the Netherlands and the Britisch helped to liberate us. Just wanted to say: situations change, people change and nothing is black or white but often some shade of grey.
Peter, thanks for sharing that perspective. You are right most things are shades of grey.
Hit the send button inadvertently. Anyway after coming home he settled in but received letters from home recounting British atrocities in Ireland. When time of boer and British War he and others contacted and went to fight for Boers against British and believe it or not Boers had modern German artillery pieces which they used effectively. G, G, grand uncle contracted a fever died and was interred near Pretoria and so ended his circuitous life.
Joseph, thank you for sharing. Your G. G. grand uncle's life is like history itself - full of twists, turns, contradictions and great stories.
"An’ when there wasn’t aught to do but camp and cattle-guards, I’ve fought with ’im the ’ole day through at fifteen ’undred yards;
’Is Mauser for amusement an’ ’is pony for retreat, I’ve known a lot o’ fellers shoot a dam’ sight worse than Piet."
Thank you for sharing
there's a museum about Hector MacDonald in the town of Dingwall,Scotland ..
Thanks for sharing.
Pity is is so far north. I will need to convince the other half that we are simply going on holiday to the Highlands :)
Yes make the video yes make the video I always like to hear stories about people that came from humble beginnings and Rose to the top 👍👍
Will do.
Make sure to subscribe to my channel so you don't miss it. ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
I hope we i.e the Scandinavians made a difference. "Cronje understood the significance of this stand, and said in a subsequent letter to Kruger that "next to God we can thank the Scandinavians for our victory." Even if all of them were all but obliterated. Groete uit Noorweë.
Thanks for sharing.
There's a place near Ladysmith and about 80 km from where I live called Fort mistake, it was another huge British error where the British took position on top of a hill where a river flowed near the foot of the hill, so the Boer surrounded the hill and the British cuddnt come down to fetch water and eventually they had to surrender or die of thirst, I don't know if you have anything on that story of the Boer war ?
I don't but will research.
It is strange that SOME people consider the British waged war against people in the homeland, the Boers were as much imperialists and had stolen other people's land and supressed them even worse that the British, that is what finally led to their racist methods which was condemned by the entire world. This was not a war for right over wrong at all.
I guess local tribes would not have considered as victims.
@@TheHistoryChap There weren't too many local tribes , the Zulu's kind of wiped them out.
What amazes me is the amount of senior ranking officers in Victoria's army that did nt have the very best start in life. Perhaps it has been easier to stereotype the officer class of that day by believing Victorians were absolutely rigid on background.
That’s a great point of view. Thanks for sharing
Definitely a video on MacDonald
Okay, it will be coming soon.
Please make sure to subscribe to my channel so you don't miss it. ruclips.net/user/TheHistoryChap
keep it up bud excellent episodes-USA
Thanks for your support. Have a great weekend.
Chris's specialty seems to be British colonial campaigns.
Thank you for watching
You don't need to go back to Crimea -- weren't there more single-day losses at the battle of Isandlwana? Notwithstanding, a very good and informative video.
Thanks, I'm glad you found it informative.
Think I said that it was "one" of the biggest defeats.
Liked and subbed. Please keep them coming.
Thanks for your support.
Have you seen my latest one?
ruclips.net/video/OL9EVULR5bg/видео.html