Australians at War
The Boer War
Siege of Elands River (4-16th August 1900) was one of the most significant battles in The Boer War. The Garrison acted as a British supply dump which was stationed at Brakfontein Drift near Elands River. The garrison held 500 Australian, Canadian, Sri Lankan and British soldiers. The Garrison was attacked by about 3000 Boer Soldiers. Each day of the siege was similar with the Boers commencing fire at 6am and ceasing at dusk. This lasted for about 16 days and the base of heavily shelled and when the soldiers were asked to surrender the garrisons soldiers refused. The battle was eventually ended when the base was relieved by a reinforcement column of about 10000 men, led by Lord Kitchener.
Countries Involved- The British, Australia, Nehteralnds, Africans, Canada, America, India, Sri Lanka
What was it over- The first battles stated in 1880-1881 because the Boers which were the settelers in South Africa uprised against the British
When- first wars 1880-1881, 1899 to 1902 is when the major wars broke out with Britan calling other countries to hlep it fight against the Boer Africans.
The Enviromental Features/ Conditions- Tropical, South Africa has its tablelands, forests
Why-The British wanted to keep control. The Boer's wanted to live and govern their own country even though nine years Africa became its own self-governing dominion
When the Boer War broke out in 1899. It was seen as an opportunity for Australia to show its commitment to Britain and to define its identity as a part of the british commonwealth. Australia mainly served as mounted soldiers and were sent to help Britan in late 1899. The British commander in charge there was Lord Kitchener
The Tragedy of Breaker Morant-
Harry Morant and Peter Handcock were lieutenants that led the Bushveldt Carbineers. They were convicted of 20 people, including the Boer commando Visser, a group of eight Boer prisoners of war and Boer civilian adults and children in their last battle, The Battle of North Petoria
They addmitted it but said that they were ordered to by their British General Lord Kitchener to not take any prisoners alive. The case remains as a sybmol of military injustice.
The Boer War still remians as one of the most grueling wars in Australian history in terms of how many deaths there were. 16,000 troops were dispatched and more followed as the war continued but about 600 Australians fell in the Boer War
