Anyone know anything about the Boer War?

[fsn]

Gentlemen.

I was talking to a colleague who had in his family a story of a great (great) grandfather who was awarded a silver bugle/trumpet for alerting the troops of a sneak attack. He also said that the same family member was garrisoned in Carlisle Castle. 

Looking back, I can see that the 1st Borderers were in Carlisle and were sent to South Africa.

Does anyone know of the story? Or can point me to a source? I'm afraid I don't find colonials of interest and so my bookshelves are silent on the matter.

Sorry it's very thin, but I know this forum is a great hive-mind.

[Leman]

Have you tried to find the regimental history of the 1st Borderers on line. My son always says to me that if you don't have information to hand try google or wikipedia.

[Leman]

Not sure how many regiments contained the title Borderers. The King's Own Scottish Borderers were based in Berwick in 1900 and the 1st Batallion served in South Africa 1900-1902. Several awards for bravery were awarded, but only a VC to Lt GHB Coulson is mentioned by name. The regiment's museum in Berwick might be a good place to start.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

There are several written histories. Beware thewre are 2 Boer Wars, one in the 1880's? and the 1899 one.

[Ithoriel]

The Public Records Office at Kew have a lot of documents, available online, relating to Regimental histories. Might be worth a rummage there?

[FierceKitty]

I once wrote to a regiment's PR people with an historical inquiry. They were very helpful.

[Last Hussar]

Anyone know anything about the Boer War?

Yes.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Informative answer there Hussar

[Last Hussar]

Accurate, and fully answers the thread title. What more do people want?

[steve_holmes_11]

I find that Wikipedia is a fairly good primer for questions like these.

Most gamers who do Boer War play the second Boer War (Baden Powell, Mafeking, Mauser's 'alf mile 'ail, Spion Kop, Guerilla War, scorched earth, bitter enders and concentration camps).
The earlier battle phases generally provide jollier games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War


Significance of the war - always a big driver of my interest in a historic period.
* Militia force goes toe to toe with a first class imperial army (for a while).
* "Taking the high ground", is contrasted with "Don't expose yourself on the skyline" perhaps the first time.
* British army's lessons led  directly to the "Old Contemptible" army of 1914, and the ongoing special skills associated with the Enfiend 303 rifle family.
* Traditional charging cavalry once again shows its limitations, not that the slow wits at Horse Guards are at all interested.
* By contrast, mobile marksmen operating in known territory prove their value.