Australian Boer War Memorial

The Boer War

The site for the Memorial has now been dedicated (Canberra 31 May 2008). Please use the buttons below to view a slide show (inclused photos by Ken Smith and Brian Walters) and video of the dedication.

Photos Ceremony

Video Ceremony

From 10th October 1899 to the end of May 1902 a bitter conflict raged across the South African veldt between Britain and her Empire and the two largely self governing Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The six Australian States (colonies) were quick to make troops available to Britain when a Boer ultimatum to the British expired and its consequential war declaration was enacted by Boer commandos as they streamed across the borders into the British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. The first troops from Ausrtralia, a squadron of the New South Wales Lancers Landed in Capetown on 2 November 1899, less that one month after the British Government made its war declaration.

Up until 1899 for Australians there had been quite fierce fighting in some areas as European settlement expanded across the lands of the Aboriginal peoples, and two minor rebellions on the Australian mainland quickly put down by British garrison troops. Australians had also fought in the Maori wars in New Zealand and, in 1885, New South Wales sent a 700 strong contingent of infantry and artillery, with a small medical detachment, to the Sudan in North Africa. The Boer War was the first full commitment of troops by all the Australian Colonies to a foreign war and with the formation of the Australian Commonwealth on 1st January 1901 it became our country’s first military involvement as a nation.

Australia’s contribution was significant; we suffered casualty numbers which have only been exceeded by those of World Wars 1 and 2. In all, over 16,000 troops were engaged in the Australian contingents and another 7,000 Australians fought in other colonial and irregular units. Possibly 1,000 Australians lost their lives on service in South Africa during the Boer War.

In the beginning there was a preference for infantry units but the value of Australian horsemen was quickly recognised as mounted infantry, due to their capacity to deploy quickly and their ability to match the Boers’ own game. Therefore they were much sought after. With the exception of one field artillery battery and some medical groups (field ambulance, stretcher bearers and some 60 nurses) the Australian forces in South Africa comprised mounted infantry. Along with the New Zealanders, Australian horsemen were unsurpassed as scouts and were greatly valued by column commanders. After Federation the mounted troops which were sent to South Africa included the various Australian Commonwealth Horse units.

Our soldiers, who were truly the first Australian expeditionary force, did Australia proud in the Boer War as they have done in all conflicts since. Informed military commentators saw the magnificent defence of Elands River by Australian and Rhodesian troops as the finest episode of the whole war. The majority of the defenders were Australian Bushmen, mainly men from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria with a few from WA, SA and Tasmania. They manfully defended the post against impossible odds for 12 days.

Australians in irregular units took part in both the epic defence and the relief of the Siege of Mafeking and a number of Australians died during the defence of the town. It was a nine man patrol of the Imperial Light Horse, led by Major Walter Karri Davies, arguably the most famous Australian in South Africa at the time, which entered Mafeking a day ahead of the relief column.

In addition to six Victoria Crosses, Australians won many awards for gallantry in the Boer War and were frequently mentioned in the Commander in Chief’s despatches.

The trial and execution of Australian BVC officers ‘Breaker’ Morant and Peter Handcock without the knowledge of, or any reference to the Australian Government, changed for ever our attitude to the execution of Australian servicemen. Thanks to Morant and Handcock, no Australian serviceman has since suffered the death penalty, regardless of the war-related crime committed.

The sacrifices made by Australia and Australians during the Boer War were enormous. Despite this the National Capital’s principal memorial precinct at ANZAC Parade does not have a Memorial to the Boer War. To redress the long delay, a site has at last been reserved for such a memorial. The Royal Australian Armoured Corps Association has been tasked to design, fund and construct the Memorial and a National Boer War Memorial Committee has been established. The Committee will ensure that those who fought in South Africa are commemorated in a way which will preserve this aspect of our heritage and military history for the education and benefit of future generations of Australians.

The Boer War Memorial Project

Anzac Parade, Canberra stretches from the Australian War Memorial to Lake Burley-Griffin, along a line between the Memorial and Parliament House.  Flanking this grand avenue with a gravel marching surface in the broad median, there are memorials of specific focus.

Australian Hellenic Memorial,
Australian Army National Memorial,
Australian National Korean War Memorial,
Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial,
Desert Mounted Corps Memorial,
New Zealand Memorial,
Rats of Tobruk Memorial,
Royal Australian Air Force Memorial,
Australian Service Nurses National Memorial,
Royal Australian Navy Memorial,
Kemal Ataturk Memorial.

These are beautiful structures commemorating the service of our countrymen and our relations with other nations.  There is even a memorial to our most respected adversary in Kemal Attaturk, the Turkish commander at Gallipoli.  As yet there is no memorial to the 606 who died in South Africa.

On 1 March 2007 the Canberra National Memorials Committee (CNMC) chaired by the Prime Minister approved the proposal by the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Association for Section 41 Reid on Anzac Parade be set aside for the construction of a suitable memorial subject to design approval by the CNMC and progress by 2010.  Click Here to view approval.

The Boer War Memorial Committee now has to raise the funds, organise for a national design competition (details of which will be announced on this site shortly) and have the monument constructed.  This site is designed to give you some details about the War and its legendary place in Australian Military History (details on site launch are scant; you are invited to contribute to its richness), and give you the opportunity to contribute to the cost.

The Committee

                         

South Africa

 

Click Here to download and print our brochure.

Text by John Howells, images courtesy the National Capital Development Commission and the New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum. Soldiers of the Queen was recorded by the 1/15 RNSWL band 1984.