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Hi there, folks.

Recently, I've been wondering one thing: is the concept of tour of duty and rotation a thing during the boer war? If servicemen were to serve in the war zone of South Africa, how long do they have to stay there? Do they ever get something like an R&R?

MountedRifleman

I have only ever seen instances of certain officers, notably senior officers and serving members of the peerage ever returning home from the war on leave. My understanding is that once serving in a campaign everyone remained with their battalion until the end of hostilities or until ‘time done’ affording the only reason to leave. By this I mean an end of engagement/retirement.

Jesus….. Staying in the war zone for the duration of the conflict sounds irritating.

However considering that all those entering army for their military service need to stay in the Regular Army and Reserve for 12 years combined(either 8 years in the regular army or as they call ‘colours’ back then plus 4 years in the reserve or 4 years with the regular and 8 years with the reserve), I guess those that were to enlist in the army are mentally prepared.

What’s worse is that as I found in the The British Army by a Army lieutenant colonel in 1899(foreword written by General John Fredrick Maurice), that those who were to retire from the regular army would have to serve an additional year in the army if they were stationed abroad(which is the case for boer war), but would get a year’s deduction in reserve service respectively.

Long service time sure is irritating. Even though Cardwell reform as well as Childers reform managed to reduce the time man had to spend in service, 12 years(including 8 years in the Regular Army) is still extremely long compared to that of today.

MountedRifleman

Yes you are correct, there was no respite in those days but one should also consider the social aspects of the time. In this era war was still considered to be an exciting ‘must not miss’ opportunity and for example hardly any reservists failed to step up, so I don’t believe many men would have wished to leave their mates and even seriously consider going home early.

Very true. Maybe for some the war is just an opportunity to see the world ( and turned into a nightmarish experience eventually).

MountedRifleman

There are a number of instances where men have served in one of the first contingent units that Canada sent to the war that came home and returned to South Africa in a second unit...... Also there were a number that stayed behind when their contingents returned and joined SA units....... One of the most famous units that was made up mostly of men who did not want to go home was The Canadian Scouts which is classified as a British unit..... Oh yes and there is the South African Constabulary, Commanded by Col Baden-Powell and the 2ic Colonel Sam Steele (ex-CO of Strathcona's Horse who went home and came back)......

Mike

Mike