The origins of the Boer military
structure called the commando go back to the 18th Century. At this time, the
Boers needed to be able to raise an army to defend themselves against, attack
the local tribesmen or take part in the frequent military skirmishes of the
time. The problem was that they had insufficient funds to pay for a standing
army. The commando system was devised as the solution. It required that men
between the ages of 16 and 60 make themselves available to fight in times of
need for the benefit of all in their community. All burghers were responsible
for arming themselves and were expected to have access to a rifle and
ammunition. Those in the Free State from farms were also expected to provide
themselves with a horse.
The commando was organised on a regional
basis. The country was divided into districts and districts into wards or wyks.
For example:
District
Wards / Wyks
Potchefstroom
Dorp, Vaal River, Boven Mooi River
Ermelo
Wyk 1, Wyk 2
Each district was required to be able to
muster men for the commando. In populous regions the commando could number
3,000 men whereas much lower numbers were usual in the rural parts of the
country.
The commando had a democratic structure
and hierarchy. A Field Cornet was the elected leader of the ward. If the ward
was large, an Assistant Field Cornet could be elected. The Field Cornets
reported into an elected Commandant who was in charge of the commando. In times
of war, a Commandant General or Chief Commandant would lead and co-ordinate a
large force.
The Commandant attended to the military
aspects of the district and had a civilian counterpart, the Landdrost or
Magistrate, who has responsibility for the civil administration of the district.
The leaders of the fighting units led
them rather than commanded them. They had no executive power and could not give
orders. To retain their leadership, they needed to retain the confidence and
loyalty of the men in their unit.
Both the Transvaal and the Free State
adopted the commando but there were slight differences in their hierarchies:
-
In the Transvaal, the Commandant General was elected for 5
year periods by a general ballot of all burghers. There was no headquarters
staff but a small civilian staff helped to administer the Commandant General’s
duties.
-
In the Free State, the President was head of the military.
In the event of war, a Chief Commandant would be elected by a vote of the
Commandants and Field Cornets.
-
Both countries could also appoint a Vecht General or Combat
General or Assistant Chief Commandant whose role was to command two or more
commandos and thus they would report into the Commandant General or Chief
Commandant and have authority over their commando’s Commandants.
This gave a hierarchy of 6 levels:
Transvaal Free State
Commandant General State President
Assistant General Chief Commandant
Combat General
Assistant Chief Commandant
Commandant Commandant
Field Cornet Field Cornet
Assistant Field Cornet Assistant field Cornet
While this was the structure at the
start of the Boer War, changes were made as the war progressed.
