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Military History – South Africa – Europe – England 19th Century
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guessing at his intentions before releasing the cavalry under Lieutenant-general Sir John French
in a dramatic movement outflanking Magersfontein by the east to relieve Kimberley. Cronjé attempted
to withdraw eastwards but was caught at Paardeberg where, while Roberts was suffering from a mild
illness, Kitchener tried to overcome the Boers with a frontal assault. It failed, and Roberts resumed
command to impose a more prudent course in besieging and shelling Cronjé into surrender.
Bloemfontein fell soon after, and Roberts completed his work by taking the remaining towns of
importance, concluding with the Transvaal capital, Pretoria. His weakness was that of the British
command system in general, poor staff work. Orders were, though written, often vague or incomplete.
In particular, the co-ordination of complex troop movements was too frequently inept. He also agreed
with Kitchener to a restructuring of the transport system in mid-campaign, resulting in considerable
confusion and numerous breakdowns in communications.
The British lines of supply from seaports to the front were long and vulnerable, offering the
Boers opportunities they did not miss. Chief-commandant Christiaan De Wet seized ammunition and
supplies at Roodewal on 7 June 1900, as a result of which Lord Roberts issued a proclamation saying
that buildings harbouring the enemy would be burnt. These reprisals were undertaken with
enthusiasm, although also with some misgivings, by the British. As irregulars, for they were still not
seen as guerrilla commandos, tormented the British, Roberts instituted measures to deny the Boers
sources of supply and, in September 1900, ordered the gathering up of people living on farms in
troubled areas into camps. Both these policies would be pursued with increased vigour by Kitchener.
As 1900 drew to a close it appeared that the war was almost over, and Roberts returned to England.
He died in 1914 as a result of a chill caught when visiting Indian troops in France.
See also:
Buller, Sir Redvers; Concentration Camps; Farm Burning; Kimberley, Siege of; Kitchener,
Viscount; Paardeberg, Battle of; Roodewal, Battle of.
Reference:
Hall, Darrell, ed. Fransjohan Pretorius and Gilbert Torlage, The Hall Handbook of the Anglo-Boer
War (Pietermaritzburg, University of Natal Press, 1999).
Roodewal, Battle of,
7 June 1900
The British vulnerability to Boer attacks on their lines of communication and supply was
demonstrated by Chief-commandant Christiaan De Wet early in June 1900. The garrison at Roodewal
Station, on the Bloemfontein to Vereeniging line, was overcome and the mail and supplies stored
there looted. De Wet had considerable difficulty in diverting his men’s attention from the booty in
order to carry away the large quantities of .303 ammunition suited for use in captured Lee-Enfield
rifles.
Although the British had taken Pre-
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