Any recommendations on the Second Boer War?

[Pancho Villa]

I'm a history geek, and at least once a year I get an itch that can only be scratched by learning everything I possibly can about a topic. Before its been Mormons, the Templars and a handful of other topics.

Well, this time the Second Boer War has caught my attention and I need to devour a half dozen books on it, at least, before I can concentrate on anything else in my free time. I know a little about the conflict - it gave the english language the term 'commando,' which was just a Boer militia unit, and the modern concentration camp, which the British used to finally win the conflict. But I'd like to know a lot more about that tragedy.

Anyone have any recommendations?

[Rucker61]

Bet on the British.


I've found The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham to be a pretty good source. I believe that the word "laager" also entered the English lexicon from that conflict.

[ruthabagah]

There is a good article on Wikipedia. From there you can have a good list of book used for references. One interesting fact: this was the first time Canadian troop were send overseas.
http://www.warmuseum.ca/education/online-educational-resources/dispatches/for-queen-and-country-canadians-and-the-south-african-war-1899-1902/

[ChunkyMonkey]

Which book on the topic have you read? Winston Churchill's memoir on the war is interesting.

[Jackrabbit]

The movie Breaker Morant is awesome. Think I spelled it right.

[Pancho Villa]

Just started Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Great Boer War." Yes, the same guy who did Sherlock Holmes. Apparently he did a bit of nonfiction as well, and his writing style so far is engaging and interesting.


Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country forever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer - the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles.

Okay, you got my attention.

[flan7211]

Kipling had a few good stories on the war. It was truly England's Vietnam. I have a few decent reads on it. I'll PM you with the names.