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I have had a keen interest in the Boer Wars , and Spionkop in particular ever since I was a boy ( many years ago )my fascination and admiration of how , although better equiped for guerilla warfare , a relatively small army of farmers and townsfolk held at bay and beat the greatest power on the planet really does inspire me .

Welcome to the forum, Moocherlen. We look forward to sharing knowledge with you.

Are you a researcher and/or collector?

Best wishes
David

Welcome Moocherlen......

Hope you enjoy yourself here.....

Makes you also think of North Viet Nam against the US as well....

Mike

Hello and welcome,
I too have had a long term interest in both the Transvaal War and the Anglo Boer War, Spion Kop was tragic and it could and should have been avoided.
I share your admiration for the Boer Commando in general too.
In the case of the ABW, it was a new kind of war for new century, if you start number crunching, the Boer forces are tiny when compared to those of the British Empire.
Great Britain was smashed, it reputation in tatters, on the global diplomatic stage, moreover, there are those who will tell you that this war was a factor that started to bring about the end of the empire, this I can understand.
However, with both the capitals, of both republics taken, the small standing armies destoryed, the Boer way of life gone forever having been concerntrated into camps, where in excess of 26,000, mainly women and children died and the later creation of the union government, I do not think that Great Britain was beat.
The government achieved some of its aims, but, at very huge and tragic cost.
Regards Frank

moocherlen wrote: I have had a keen interest in the Boer Wars , and Spionkop in particular ever since I was a boy ( many years ago )my fascination and admiration of how , although better equiped for guerilla warfare , a relatively small army of farmers and townsfolk held at bay and beat the greatest power on the planet really does inspire me .