Boer War Australian Engagements and Events

Events by Time Line

Events by Location

The Boer war was noted for a number of innovations. It was the first war where accurate to 2,000 metres Mauser rifles (Boer side only), with smokeless ammunition and antiseptic surgery were employed.  Combatants could be taken out at long range without their enemies working out where the shots came from, soldiers had a much better chance of surviving wounds.  With one side, the British, having force size definitely on their side, the war soon transitioned from a series of set piece battles to a guerrilla fight across a wide country.  The barbed wire and entrenchments that would stifle mobility were 15 years in the future; the combat was one of mobility by a large force (the British) against a better armed (7.92 mm 98K Mauser (Boers) vs .303 Lee Metford (Brits)) and skilful enemy (the Boers).  Horse mounted soldiers who used their horses for mobility but fought on foot were the most combat capable arm.  Cavalry units still carried their shock weapons, but for the most part left their lances and swords with their horses, and fought on foot with their rifles; infantry units were quickly mounted. Australian soldiers with their horsemanship and shooting skills honed from infancy in a wide land where shooting was both a sport and a profession were very effective.

This page lists the engagements and other events Australians were involved in by time line, and shows an interactive map to help site visitors understand where the events took place.  Thanks very much to Major John Baines RFD, the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Historian and Robin Droogleever for their work in providing the information.  This work has been edited and assembled by the National Boer War Memorial Association Inc Webmaster; John Howells.

Events by Time Line

Events by Location

11 October 1899 Boers Advance into Natal and Cape Colony 21 October 1899 Elandslaagte 2 November 1899 Australians Arrive SA 23 November 1899 Belmont 28 November 1899 Modder River 1 January 1900 Sunnyside 16 January 1900 Slingersfontein 9-28 February 1900 Colesberg 11 February 1900 Kimberley 17 - 27 February 1900 Paardeberg 13 March 1900 Bloemfontein 22 April - 4 May 1900 Escape from Waterval 3 May 1900 Bloemfontein to Pretoria 5 May 1900 Coetzee’s Drift 16 May 1900 Mafeking 28 May 1900 Johannesburg 6 June 1900 Pretoria 12 June 1900 Diamond Hill 19 July 1900 Palmietfontein 21 July 1900 Koster River 24 July 1900 Stinkhoutboom 4 August 1900 Elands River 29 November 1901 Rhenosterkop 11 to 27 February 1901 Hunt for De Wet in the Cape 18 February 1901 Hartebeestfontein 29 March 1901 Rhenosterkop 8 April 1901 Pietersburg 15 April 1901 Middelburg 10 May 1901 Korannafontein 12 June 1901 Wilmansrust Incident 16 September 1901 Spelonken Incident 4 January 1902 Onverwacht 10 March 1902 ACH arrives in South Africa 1 April 1902 Newcastle 19 April 1902 Klerksdorp 7 May 1902 Vryburg 31 May 1902 Peace of Vereeniging

 

Events by Location

Events by Time Line

Mouse over the yellow site label to find out what happened there, then click to be taken to a description of the event.

South Africa as it was in 1899

The red shading shows the border of the current Republic of South Africa