Anglo-Boer War – 1899-1902

May 26, 2015

Many decades of suspicion, mistrust and outbreaks of fighting in South Africa marked relations between the British and the Boers (Dutch Afrikaans word for farmer). In 1842 a detachment of the 27th Inniskillings was involved in an engagement near Durban.

In October 1899, full scale war broke out between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, and the British Empire.

In a pre-emptive strike, Boer armies invaded the British colonies of CapeColony and Natal and laid siege to the towns of Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley. Huge numbers of British reinforcements were sent to South Africa and armies advanced on the BoerRepublics. In Black Week, December 1899, the armies sent to relieve the towns suffered severe defeats.

The 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers arrived in Durban from Ireland in December 1899 to join the army advancing to relieve Ladysmith.  At the river Colenso the British lost over 1100 casualties to minimal Boer losses. The Inniskillings lost 117 men.

On the fourth attempt, in February 1900, the Boer defences were breached on the TugelaHeights and the advance to lift the siege was successful. The Inniskillings achieved great fame for their courageous attack, in spite of heavy casualties, up the hill which became known as Inniskilling Hill.  During this engagement their medical officer, Lt. Inkson, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his rescue of an injured officer at great personal risk.

Winston Churchill, correspondent to The Morning Post, wrote:

“The Inniskillings had almost reached the goal, but they were too few; thus confronted, the Irish perished rather than retire”.

Such were the casualties, a further 250 men killed or wounded, that it was six months before the battalion was back at full strength. Though involved again in some severe fighting, most of the rest of the war was spent in keeping open the lines of communication and on guard duties.

The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons arrived in Cape Town from Ireland in October 1899 and were entrained north to join General French’s Cavalry Division for the invasion of the Orange Free State and the relief of Mafeking.  The regiment had some sharp encounters with the Boers and, in common with the cavalry in general, provided reconnaissance, escorts and despatch riders.   One of its officers was to achieve fame later on Scott’s failed expedition to Antarctica, Lieutenant Lawrence Oates. The regiment’s second in command was Major Edmund Allenby, later to command the British army in Palestine in 1917 – 1918.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers arrived from India in January 1902 and was employed on guarding supply trains and manning the blockhouses erected on the veldt to inhibit the movement of Boer commando units.

A close view of a Blockhouse. Pte John Keown, (2nd Soldier from right), was killed in action on 24 Aug

A close view of a Blockhouse. Pte John Keown, (2nd Soldier from right), was killed in action on 24 Aug

The Inniskilling Fusiliers lost 14 officers and 182 Other Ranks, the Inniskilling Dragoons, 5 Officers and 78 Other Ranks. In the campaign as many men died from diseases like Typhoid, as from enemy action.

An eight page booklet giving more details of the two regiment’s campaign is available for sale from the Books section in our online shop.

Photographs copyright Inniskillings Museum

You might also like…

The Tyrone Militia, 1793-1919

The Tyrone Militia, 1793-1919

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers’ 4th and then 3rd Battalions had their origins in the Tyrone Militia. Introduction In...

“The Globe Trotters”

“The Globe Trotters”

The 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was in 13th Brigade, 5th Division, from 30th November 1939 - 14th...