Episode 38 - Roberts marches into Pretoria but de Wet assaults Roodewal
The Anglo-Boer War10 Kesä 2018

Episode 38 - Roberts marches into Pretoria but de Wet assaults Roodewal

For those who’ve followed this story from our start in October you know that we’re tracking the weeks of the war itself, and it’s now the first week of June 1900. This moment is what Lord Roberts has been waiting for - the triumphant march into the Transvaal Capital Pretoriathus putting an end to the uppity Boers. But there’s more bad news mixed with the good for the British. Christian de Wet, Koos de la Rey and Louis Botha along with other Boer leaders, are going to make the English lives a misery over the next 24 months, so Roberts and his men may as well enjoy the Indian Summer while they can. In the traditional mode of warfare in Europe, the army arrives at the capital, destroys the opposing army, the generals hand over their swords, the monarchy or political leadership kow tows and the war is over. Reparations and various modes of punishment follow. As Napoleon found out when he ransacked and burnt Moscow, its not that simple. And in Africa, things are far more complex. Often there’s no capital, there’s no proper army, there’s just an vague hint of force - then its gone. Its like a myth, a legend and momentarily it appears to cut your throat or knock your commander from his horse at a distance of 2 kilometers. For proper soldiers brought up on dignified marches and saluting, parade ground discipline, stratified leadership, court martials and empire states, the war in Africa is still infuriating and mysterious. General Christian de Wet was about to attack Roodewal Station in the Free State, way behind British lines, in an incident which shook the British and caused the loss of half a million pounds of goods - which in 1900 was a real fortune.

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Episode 111 - Lord Kitchener and the Brat hunt a starling while de Wet broods at Blijdskap

Episode 111 - Lord Kitchener and the Brat hunt a starling while de Wet broods at Blijdskap

The scenes have shifted recently between the war in South Africa and the effect of the war in England. The press has begun to turn against the government with vitriolic attacks on war hero Sir Redver...

3 Marras 201920min

Episode 110 - General Buller flayed by the press as Botha pulverises Benson at Bakenlaagte.

Episode 110 - General Buller flayed by the press as Botha pulverises Benson at Bakenlaagte.

It’s time for reflection - and to talk about General Louis Botha who’s invasion into Natal fizzled out leading to his commando being forced to flee Lord Kitchener’s columns back to the Eastern Transva...

27 Loka 201920min

Episode 109 - Borrius loses an eye and Smuts is forced to split his force

Episode 109 - Borrius loses an eye and Smuts is forced to split his force

This week we pick up where we left General Jan Smuts and his commando as they writhed about in pain having eaten from a plant that they failed to prepare properly and had poisoned about half the 250 m...

20 Loka 201919min

Episode 108 - The Commando laid low by "Hottentots Bread" within striking distance of Port Elizabeth

Episode 108 - The Commando laid low by "Hottentots Bread" within striking distance of Port Elizabeth

This is an important week - it is the 120 anniversary of the start of the Boer War - which formally began on 12th October 1899. This week saw the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein host a conferenc...

13 Loka 201918min

Episode 107 - Churchill doubts Kitchener & Colonel Scobell butchers Lotter in a sheep shed

Episode 107 - Churchill doubts Kitchener & Colonel Scobell butchers Lotter in a sheep shed

It's early Spring 1901 and in England there are now serious doubts about how the British Army is going about its campaign in South Africa. Winston Churchill had been elected as an MP for Oldham partly...

6 Loka 201920min

Episode 106 - The 17th Lancers survived the Charge of the Light Brigade but not the Rijk Section

Episode 106 - The 17th Lancers survived the Charge of the Light Brigade but not the Rijk Section

This is September 1901 and it's been a wet Spring so far. The weather has caused trouble for both Jan Smuts and Louis Botha - but things are about to improve for Smuts after his daring raid into the C...

29 Syys 201919min

Episode 105 - General Louis Botha stumbles & sleet causes chaos for Jan Smuts

Episode 105 - General Louis Botha stumbles & sleet causes chaos for Jan Smuts

An incredible turn of events was taking place after a few icy months of winter - the Boers were waking up like hibernating bears and there would be a sudden escalation in incidents across south Africa...

22 Syys 201919min

Episode 104 - A hunchback leads Smuts to safety & Captain Gough's fatal cavalry charge

Episode 104 - A hunchback leads Smuts to safety & Captain Gough's fatal cavalry charge

It’s mid September 1901 and Jan Smuts is about to face one of the most challenging moments in his illustrious career. He was only 28 at this point, yet was to achieve so much in the next few weeks a...

15 Syys 201920min

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