History
AS Level
Essays -
Bella du Plessis
,Bella du Plessis – AS Level History Essay Compila9on
These essays are the original and intellectual
property of Isabella du Plessis. They are not open
to being copied, distributed, or sold in any shape or
form without my permission.
I do not assume any responsibility to the user
concerning their results on account of any errors or
omissions in my work.
The pages herein are intended to supplement, not
replace, the purchaser’s own work.
Good luck with your studies!
- Bella
, Bella du Plessis – AS Level History Essay Compila9on
Explain why the Bri9sh experienced difficulty in defea9ng the Boers in the period from 1880-1902.
[20) (Term 1)
Defea9ng the Boers and placing the Transvaal and Orange Free State firmly under their control was
not an easy task for the Bri9sh. This difficulty was aRributed to the ini9al ill-prepara9on of the Bri9sh,
the overambi9ous and hasty decisions of Bri9sh leaders (especially Major-General Colley and Dr
Leander Starr Jameson), long communica9on lines, the harsh & unfamiliar terrain, and the mainly
defensive guerrilla Boers who fought with incredibly strong morale.
The ini9al Boer reac9on to Bri9sh claims over the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1877 was one
of passive resistance. However, when the Bri9sh government made their plans to uphold the
annexa9on of the two seRlements into the Bri9sh Empire very clear, the Boers turned to armed
resistance. In early December 1880, the Boers reinstated the republic - led by triumvirate with Vice
President Kruger. On the 1st of December, the first Boer War broke out. The onset is characterized by
a skirmish in Potchefstroom between a Bri9sh garrison and a commando under General Conjé.
The Boer figh9ng opera9on was unique. The 'commando' system evolved from the early defence
prac9ce at the Cape. In short, each commando was aRached to a town. Each town was responsible
for a district, which was divided into mul9ple wards. A veldkornet commanded the wards, arid a
kommandant took control of the en9re district. The leaders in these posi9ons were elected by the
townsfolk: who, when mobilized, assembled to form "commandos". These small groups of solitary
fighters had the upper hand over the Bri9sh platoons (large groups of over 50 soldiers moving in
single, densely packed columns). The Bri9sh command was unimagina9ve, and the Boers were able
to dash undetected in solo packs from one piece of cover to another – they were invisible to the
enemy. This difference in tac9cs increased the Bri9sh struggle, as they could not carryout preplanned
forma9ons. Once in correct concealed placement, the Boers were able to snipe at Bri9sh infantry, and
then withdraw, This way, the Boers avoided any set-piece confronta9on from the Bri9sh.
The Boers of the republics (virtually the en9re male popula9on aged 16 to 60) were adept marksmen.
Having grown up on farms with a rifle in their hands provided them with the ability to judge distance
correctly. They were adept in fieldcrai and quite familiar with life on the high veldt terrain. This was
an extremely tormen9ng for the Bri9sh troops.
The Bri9sh also struggled to compete with the Boers because they relied so heavily on their
commanding officers. Communica9on from leader to soldier was delayed/hindered as transmission
links were long. The individualis9c Boer system, on the other hand, relied on ini9a9ve and self-
reliance: essen9al quali9es of the Boer v Bri9sh conflicts which were epitomized/typified by irregular
warfare.
Before the Boer Wars, the late Victorian army been engaged in colonial campaigns. These baRles were
against na9ons who were, in comparison to the Bri9sh military, inferior in armaments, organiza9on
and discipline. The situa9on with the Boers then, was an unexpected surprise. The Boers were armed
with Bri9sh-manufactured firearms – their most popular weapon [.450 Westley Richards] was alike
the ones carried by the Bri9sh troops [Mar9ni-Henry Mark II]. Not only were the Boers more
advanced in equipment than the Bri9sh presumed, but they were quite literally surprising in warfare
too. The Boers did not wear uniforms (dissimilar to the visible colour-coordinated serge frocks and
dark blue trousers with red detailing of the Bri9sh – with such colours exposing them on the veld, the
life expectancy of a Bri9sh soldier was short) and made up a classic civilian mili9a. This gave them the
AS Level
Essays -
Bella du Plessis
,Bella du Plessis – AS Level History Essay Compila9on
These essays are the original and intellectual
property of Isabella du Plessis. They are not open
to being copied, distributed, or sold in any shape or
form without my permission.
I do not assume any responsibility to the user
concerning their results on account of any errors or
omissions in my work.
The pages herein are intended to supplement, not
replace, the purchaser’s own work.
Good luck with your studies!
- Bella
, Bella du Plessis – AS Level History Essay Compila9on
Explain why the Bri9sh experienced difficulty in defea9ng the Boers in the period from 1880-1902.
[20) (Term 1)
Defea9ng the Boers and placing the Transvaal and Orange Free State firmly under their control was
not an easy task for the Bri9sh. This difficulty was aRributed to the ini9al ill-prepara9on of the Bri9sh,
the overambi9ous and hasty decisions of Bri9sh leaders (especially Major-General Colley and Dr
Leander Starr Jameson), long communica9on lines, the harsh & unfamiliar terrain, and the mainly
defensive guerrilla Boers who fought with incredibly strong morale.
The ini9al Boer reac9on to Bri9sh claims over the Transvaal and Orange Free State in 1877 was one
of passive resistance. However, when the Bri9sh government made their plans to uphold the
annexa9on of the two seRlements into the Bri9sh Empire very clear, the Boers turned to armed
resistance. In early December 1880, the Boers reinstated the republic - led by triumvirate with Vice
President Kruger. On the 1st of December, the first Boer War broke out. The onset is characterized by
a skirmish in Potchefstroom between a Bri9sh garrison and a commando under General Conjé.
The Boer figh9ng opera9on was unique. The 'commando' system evolved from the early defence
prac9ce at the Cape. In short, each commando was aRached to a town. Each town was responsible
for a district, which was divided into mul9ple wards. A veldkornet commanded the wards, arid a
kommandant took control of the en9re district. The leaders in these posi9ons were elected by the
townsfolk: who, when mobilized, assembled to form "commandos". These small groups of solitary
fighters had the upper hand over the Bri9sh platoons (large groups of over 50 soldiers moving in
single, densely packed columns). The Bri9sh command was unimagina9ve, and the Boers were able
to dash undetected in solo packs from one piece of cover to another – they were invisible to the
enemy. This difference in tac9cs increased the Bri9sh struggle, as they could not carryout preplanned
forma9ons. Once in correct concealed placement, the Boers were able to snipe at Bri9sh infantry, and
then withdraw, This way, the Boers avoided any set-piece confronta9on from the Bri9sh.
The Boers of the republics (virtually the en9re male popula9on aged 16 to 60) were adept marksmen.
Having grown up on farms with a rifle in their hands provided them with the ability to judge distance
correctly. They were adept in fieldcrai and quite familiar with life on the high veldt terrain. This was
an extremely tormen9ng for the Bri9sh troops.
The Bri9sh also struggled to compete with the Boers because they relied so heavily on their
commanding officers. Communica9on from leader to soldier was delayed/hindered as transmission
links were long. The individualis9c Boer system, on the other hand, relied on ini9a9ve and self-
reliance: essen9al quali9es of the Boer v Bri9sh conflicts which were epitomized/typified by irregular
warfare.
Before the Boer Wars, the late Victorian army been engaged in colonial campaigns. These baRles were
against na9ons who were, in comparison to the Bri9sh military, inferior in armaments, organiza9on
and discipline. The situa9on with the Boers then, was an unexpected surprise. The Boers were armed
with Bri9sh-manufactured firearms – their most popular weapon [.450 Westley Richards] was alike
the ones carried by the Bri9sh troops [Mar9ni-Henry Mark II]. Not only were the Boers more
advanced in equipment than the Bri9sh presumed, but they were quite literally surprising in warfare
too. The Boers did not wear uniforms (dissimilar to the visible colour-coordinated serge frocks and
dark blue trousers with red detailing of the Bri9sh – with such colours exposing them on the veld, the
life expectancy of a Bri9sh soldier was short) and made up a classic civilian mili9a. This gave them the
