Episode 60 - The heroic Canadians of Lieliefontein and Boer hero General Fourie falls

Episode 60 - The heroic Canadians of Lieliefontein and Boer hero General Fourie falls

We’re still riding with the Canadians in the area around Belfast in the Eastern Transvaal, which is a short distance away from South Africa’s all important coal mines. Last week we heard how the icy rain had lashed Smith-Dorrien’s 1200 strong column as it tried to rid the region of a large Boer commando based at the nearby town of Carolina. That was a column of various English, Scots and Canadian units. He’d been forced to retreat after the effects of weather and Boer firepower at Witkloof and buried one of his top officers called Chalmers, but that didn’t deter Smith-Dorrien. A few days after his men arrived back in Belfast, bedraggled and ragged, he was planning a new offensive against the Boers. The first tragic expedition was merely a dress rehearsal for the battle of Liliefontein. The purpose of the second expedition was identical to the first. To destroy all the farms suspected of harbouring the Boer commandos who had been blowing up railway lines and committing other acts of sabotage. The British also wanted to lure the large Boer Carolina commando out of their lair along the Komati River and into battle. On the 6th November Smith-Dorrien once again set out under cover of darkness as he did last week but unlike the first expedition, there was no icy rain, no fog, no mist. It was in perfect weather that his column set off with temperatures even in the early evening in the mid-20s centigrade. There was one important difference this week. Smith-Dorrien had learned his lesson when it came to splitting up his force and the 1200 men moved as one unit.

Episoder(143)

Episode 135 - General de la Rey’s Mom turns 84 & the commandos run out of pap and vleis

Episode 135 - General de la Rey’s Mom turns 84 & the commandos run out of pap and vleis

While the Boer political and military leadership were huddled around a table in Lord Kitchener’s office, far off in the Northern Cape General Smuts and his commando had defeated the British at three s...

19 Apr 202018min

Episode 134 - Commandant Potgieter’s charge at the last battle of the Boer War, as Peace Talks begin

Episode 134 - Commandant Potgieter’s charge at the last battle of the Boer War, as Peace Talks begin

This is episode 134 and its April 1902. The Boer military and political leadership has been permitted by the British to travel to Pretoria by train and will meet with Lord Kitchener to talk peace. Al...

12 Apr 202019min

Episode 133 - Cecil John Rhodes dies and the Boers agree to Peace Talks

Episode 133 - Cecil John Rhodes dies and the Boers agree to Peace Talks

As we heard last week, the Netherlands government had decided by January 1902 that the South Africa war was no longer viable for the Boers. Even the latest successes in March where General De la Rey a...

5 Apr 202019min

Episode 132 -The Canadians last stand at Boschbult aka Harts River & the Hague suggests peace

Episode 132 -The Canadians last stand at Boschbult aka Harts River & the Hague suggests peace

There are a few more skirmishes and one more big battle after this period with its frustrations for the British and determination by the Boer die-hards or Bitter einders to continue their war against ...

29 Mar 202018min

Episode 131 -The Boers blow up a blockhouse & Lord Kitchener steams into Klerksdorp

Episode 131 -The Boers blow up a blockhouse & Lord Kitchener steams into Klerksdorp

General Jan Smuts and his commando have seized the small town of Springbok in the far northern Cape. As we heard last week, the town fell after a few hours of fighting and the surrender of the three ...

22 Mar 202019min

Episode 130 - Sniping and hand grenades in Springbok

Episode 130 - Sniping and hand grenades in Springbok

After the blood and guts we heard about last week, there is more of the same this time in the Northern Cape where General Smuts and his commando are sowing a certain degree of angst as he took control...

15 Mar 202023min

Episode 129 - Lord Methuen breaks a leg before Koos de la Rey executes soldiers

Episode 129 - Lord Methuen breaks a leg before Koos de la Rey executes soldiers

In this episode we will hear how General Koos de la Rey captures Lord Methuen in an act that will push Lord Kitchener over a psychological precipice. Remember when we ended last week I explained how ...

8 Mar 202025min

Episode 128 -The Leliefontein Massacre & de Wet runs into British trenches

Episode 128 -The Leliefontein Massacre & de Wet runs into British trenches

Episode 128 -The Leliefontein Massacre & de Wet runs into British trenches by Desmond Latham

1 Mar 202022min

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