Boer Guerrilla vs British Mounted Soldier

South Africa 1880–1902

Boer Guerrilla vs British Mounted Soldier cover

Boer Guerrilla vs British Mounted Soldier

South Africa 1880–1902

Description

Waged across an inhospitable terrain which varied from open African savannah to broken mountain country and arid semi-desert, the Anglo-Boer wars of 1880–81 and 1899–1902 pitted the British Army and its allies against the Boers' commandos.

The nature of warfare across these campaigns was shaped by the realities of the terrain and by Boer fighting techniques. Independent and individualistic, the Boers were not professional soldiers but a civilian militia who were bound by the terms of the 'Commando system' to come together to protect their community against an outside threat. By contrast the British Army was a full-time professional body with an established military ethos, but its over-dependence on conventional infantry tactics led to a string of Boer victories.

This fully illustrated study examines the evolving nature of Boer military techniques, and contrasts them with the British experience, charting the development of effective British mounted tactics from the first faltering steps of 1881 through to the final successes of 1902.

Product details

Published Jul 18 2017
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472818294
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 21 col
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Combat
Short code CBT 26
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Ian Knight

Ian Knight is widely acknowledged as a leading aut…

Illustrator

Johnny Shumate

Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator li…

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