he annexation of the Orange was announced on 24th May 1900, and the Transvaal on 1st September. With both capitals captured, many people believed that the war was over, but they had not reckoned on the toughness and determination of the to carry on the fight by other means, particularly by the use of guerrilla warfare. This was typified by their leaders, President Steyn and General Christian DeWet of the and General and J.H. Koos De La Rey of the Transvaal. General de Wet. While the British controlled the railway lines, large areas of the republics were still in Boer hands. DeWet operated in the Orange Free State, Botha in the eastern Transvaal and Koos De La Rey in M.T. Steyn, President of the the western Transvaal. The war Orange Free State. deteriorated into a series of skirmishes, and the British found themselves involved official policy to drive them from their with an elusive foe, fighting a type of war homes.5 Kitchener had 'camps of refuge' with which they had no previous set up for the homeless families and their experience.' The units, black servants. Eventually Boers captured which varied in size from anything to 60 during the fighting were also lodged in men to 3000 men,%ould travel about forty these camps. Large numbers of people miles a day and were always on the move, were grouped together and housed in appearing unexpectedly to sabotage, tents, giving rise to a new phrase in the ambush and harry, the numerically English language - the words 'concentra- superior British forces3 tion camp'. It was, I believe, during the These Boers who continued to fight revolt in Cuba in 1895 that the term General Louis Botha. became known as the 'Bitter enders', first came into use. Cuba was a Spanish while those who handed in their weapons possession, and a large army was sent the camps. Other Boer prisoners were and surrendered were called the 'Hard under the command of General Weyler to sent to British colonies as far away as uppers'. In an attempt to deprive the Boer suppress the rebels. One of the measures India, Ceylon, Bermuda and St. Helena. commandos of information and places to that he adopted was the herding of Other tactics used by General Kitch- shelter, Roberts and Kitchener began a civilians into 'concentration camps', where ener were the building of what became policy of burning the farms and home- many died from the unhygenic conditions known as the 'blockhouse' line system steads of those who continued to fight. and from maln~trition.~The first camps in (see map) and the use of barbed-wire. The British regarded every farmhouse were set up in September Originally the railway lines had been as an enemy food depot, sanctuary and 1900, and during the course of the war protected from sabotage by the digging nest of spies. Most of the farms that were there were 50 such camps7 and manning of trenches near vital points burned were in the Orange Free State. In 1901 the camps in South Africa were such as railway stations, supplemented by Among the reasons given for the destruc- swept by disease - pneumonia, measles mounted patrols between each point. Now tion of properties were: harbouring of and enteritic fever. Due to bad adminis- the British army began building small Boers, abuse of the white flag, hiding tration, inefficiency and lack of sanitary stone forts and corrugated iron block- ammunition, assisting the enemy, and the knowledge, an estimated 20,000 white houses, manned by a full-time garrison of cutting of telegraph lines. The number of people, mainly children, died.8 It is not seven soldiers and some African scouts. Boers still on active service at that period known how many coloured people died in The posts were connected by telegraph was estimated to be just under 10,000 the camps.g Improvements in the running and linked together by barbed-wire men.4 One British soldier called the policy of the camps came about when Miss fencing, while armoured trains patrolled of farm burning 'domestic murder'. Emily Hobhouse visited them in the same the railway lines. At first the blockhouses Meanwhile the Boers who had given year and brought them to the notice of the were built one mile apart, then half a mile, up the fight, and their families, had to be British public. During the course of the and eventually a quarter of a mile apart.1° protected. Boer generals had made it their war about 130,000 people were interned in From July 1901, this system was being SOUTH AFRICA, O'I I

South Africa, 1899-1902, showing places named in the text. constructed across the whole of South buildings when they came across them, Africa. It served several purposes - as a regarding this as reprisal for what the barrier to restrict Boer movements, and it British had done to their farms.13 Cape carved up the countryside into areas of Dutch who took up arms against the more manageable size in which to trap British were also liable to be executed for Boer commando units." The blockhouse rebellion. line system covered an area of 3,700 miles and had 8,000 blockhouses manned by 50,000 troops and 16,000 Africans. Although the blockhouses were bullet- Early in May 1900, the Munsters, now proof, they were not shellproof, but by attached to the 20th Brigade under this time the Boers were fighting a General Paget, left Warrenton, moving guerrilla war and had practically given up back down the railway line to Windsorton using artillery.'" Road Station.14 From there the men began Another drastic measure taken by the what can only be described as a long British was death by execution. General march:- Kitchener used Africans to help in the 'The hardships we have gone through manning of the blockhouse lines. When are not to be forgotten. We had to march the Boers captured non-whites with 127 miles, and some of that was forced weapons, they shot them; British court- marching, on half our food, hard biscuits martials condemned the Boers to death and bully meat and a drink of cold tea. for murder. Another act which drew the This country is no good; I can see nothing death penalty was the burning of public in it since I came out. All the time that I buildings. Cape Colony was put under have travelled there was not one tree to be martial law after a number of raids into the seen only barren land. I will be very glad colony by Boer commando units between to get away from this place, as there is Field Marshal Lord Roberts 1900 and 1901. The Boers burned public nothing but dead horses and cattle lying with his Sikh servant. about. There is sure to be a plague after this war. Our clothes are in rags, and we have none to replace them. We left Warrenton on the 8th of May, after fighting there for seven weeks. We went to Windsorton Road, and from there to Boshof, from Boshof to Hoopstad, from Hoopstad to Bothaville, from Bothaville to , and from Kroonstad to Lindley, and we had some fighting at Lindley with DeWet (a Boer general). He captured 400 of our Imperial Yeomanry (mainly Irish). They were too far ahead; they were acting as scouts. I did not see a paper for the last couple of months. I suppose the war will be over by the time you get this letter. We don't hear much of what is going on in the country, as we are kept in the dark of everything - even we would not be told where we would be going to when on the march"15 Grenadier Guardsmen manning a blockhouse. "We first came across DeWet outside Boshoff, and kept on his track until we before our convoys came, after trying to would fit in a small handkerchiet tobacco came to Lindley. We occupied that town flank us for three weeks, he shelled us cannot be had for love or money. We were for one month. There I suffered the most. right, left, front and rere. If his shells were supposed to have DeWet surrounded We were twelve days besieged; always on good I would not be the writer of this several times but he got away. He is still at the alert from daylight to darkness. We letter. His shells were good but badly large, but it will not be long."l6 had only four guns of the 38th Field timed. He made a desperate rush up the During the fighting at Lindley, a line of Battery, one half of our battalion, half the right flank to capture our convoy, but the outposts extending half-way around the Yorkshire Light Inf., two companies of little garrison fought with all their might, town was manned by the Munsters aid the Scottish Rifles, the other half of the having but very few casualties; they meant other regiments. During the whole month battalion bringing a convoy from Kroon- to defend it, though we were properly of June there was fighting every day, and stad. DeWet you know was the downfall starved. We had to pay 4d. for a loaf of the Boers constantly shelled the area. On of General Gatacre (who returned to black bread. It would barely do a hungry one day alone, over 200 shells were fired England in disgrace). He is the devil after man for his breakfast; 1s. 6d. for a pound at the Munsters positions, seriously convoy and very often succeeds. Two days of sugar; 2s. for as much Indian meal as wounding one man. This led to the supply Lord Kitchener.

of rations running short. On June 26th, the Boers made a determined effort to take the town, but were beaten back on all sides. The next day the attack was renewed, but the timely arrival of reinforcements from Kroonstad forced the Boers to withdraw.17

To avoid being captured by the advancing British forces, President Kruger left Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, in a private railway carriage. While his train was stopped at Machadorph, he was interviewed by a British newspaper reporter, who had crossed into the Transvaal from Portuguese territory: "It is true that British forces have occupied Pretoria," said Kruger, "that however does not mean the end of the war. The Burghers are determined to fight to the last as long as 500 armed men remain in the country." In reference to the capture of the capital, he said: "Capital, what is a capital? The republican capital, the seat of government, is here in this car. There is no magic about any special site. Our country is invaded, but not conquered. I 1914 postcard recalling Irish Nationalist views on the Boer War. shall not leave my country." Mr. Francis Reitz, the State Secretary, surrender of the town. This was refused received orders to force Slabberts Nek, a who was travelling with the President, said by General DeWet. General Paget made a passage-way through the hills. The day that "the war is not yet over. Guerrilla wide turning movement and succeeded in before the attack, July 22nd, there was a warfare will go on over an enormous area. getting hold of the most important severe rainstorm, and when the men went We intend to fight to the bitter end." position covering the town. This was done into action the next day their uniforms President Kruger intervened to say before dark by two companies of the were still wet. The Boers were entrenched that "it is only now that the real struggle Munsters and the Yorkshire Light in the hills on both sides of the Nek. Two has begun."l8 Infantry. During the fighting the Munsters companies of the Munsters were sent On July 2nd, Paget's 20th Brigade, ran out of ammunition and had to take the forward to check out the area and, if joining forces with Major-General Clem- Boer positions at bayonet point. Thirty-two possible, to bring rifle fire to bear on the ents' Brigade, moved out of Lindley Munsters were killed or wounded during Boer artillery. The Boers were so strongly towards the town of Bethlehem and the engagement.lg The following morning entrenched that the men were ordered to Slabberts Nek. On July 6th, a rider with a the fighting continued and by noon the return. The next morning the Boers flag of truce went forward to the Boer town was in British hands. evacuated their positions and retreated positions at Bethlehem and demanded the After a weeks rest, the battalion towards Fouriesburg. Boers in a concentration camp on the island of St. Helena.

Realising that he could be trapped service in South Africa. From the moment earlier in the year and had met Major John behind the hills, DeWet split his forces the money was received until it ran out, McBride, who had formed a pro-Boer Irish and made his way back during the night some of the women were rarely sober, Brigade, reputed at one time to have had through the British forces camped nearby. with the result that their young families 2000 men.2Vn the course of her lecture The remaining Boers elected Marthinus were neglected.23 Miss Gonne said that Major McBride had Prinsloo as leader and continued their Two prominent people in the nation- done more for Ireland in organising the retreat towards Fouriesburg. alist movement visited Limerick in Brigade than any other living man. He On 30th July, Paget's forces reached September and December 1900, and both saved Ireland's honour at a time of great Fouriesburg, where over 100 British of them made reference to the war in need. The English Press, and news soldiers were being held captive. The South Africa. Michael Davitt, a Land agencies all over the world for England, Munsters were present when Prinsloo and League leader and member of the Irish had not neglected her foreign relations, his force of over 4000 men surrendered, Parliamentary Party at Westminster, and were publishing the fact that 16,000 and the captive soldiers were released. resigned his seat when the war started Irishmen were fighting in the Transvaal Two weeks later, on August 13th, the and went to the Transvaal. Afterwards he against the Boers and liberty, while the Munsters travelled by rail to Pretoria, wrote a book called The Boer Fight for world was crying shame on Ireland and where the next day they had the honour, Freedom. He came to Limerick for a saying that Irishmen were miserable serfs. with the 1st West Riding Regiment, of meeting of the United Irish League on On the following night, Thursday, a marching past the commander of the Sunday, 2nd September, and had this to special meeting of the Corporation was British forces in South Africa, General say: 'I have been in South Africa and in the called to confer the freedom of the city on Robert~.~~ Boer trenches, and I can say that the Miss Gonne. The Mayor, John Daly, in bravery was all on one side, and if General announcing the decision to present her Botha had 40,000 men instead of 30,000, with the freedom, remarked that it was a he would have licked General Robert~.'~~ distinction she had earned. At the con- There was much sympathy for the Boer At a meeting of Limerick Corporation clusion of his address, Miss Gonne signed cause in Limerick, and throughout the on Thursday 18th October, Councillor the roll of freedom. country and the world. There were often Whelan proposed that the Queen of the Councillor Whelan then proposed that nights when some poor man, on his way , the youngest monarch in President Kruger be accorded the same home from the pub with a few drinks on Europe, should be thanked for offering honour. Councillor O'Brien wanted Presi- him, would shout "Up the Boers", leading President Kruger the protection of her flag dent Steyn's name included. Councillor to an appearance in court charged with in his hour of distress and having to leave Stokes wanted to know if they were acting being drunk and disorderly. On one his native land. (By this time Kruger had legally in offering the freedom to a man occasion, a man was assaulted for wearing fled into Portuguese Mozambique). Coun- who was at war with England, and pointed a khaki tie.21 But these were minor cillor O'Brien refused to be associated out that Kruger would never be able to incidents compared to some more serious with monarchy, declaring himself to be a exercise the franchise. Councillor Whelan cases. A Munster Fusilier sergeant in republican. He said that he sympathised noted that when Mr. Gladstone was made charge of Strand Barracks was arrested with Kruger, but would not support the a freeman, the Mayor and Town Clerk for tampering with the mail from South motion, which was carried with four votes went to England to get his signature on Africa and taking two sovereigns from a againstz5 the roll book. Finally the proposal was letter.22 Many complaints were also Maude Gonne, a nationalist and suffra- carried by 22 votes to 2 against.2' received about the conduct of several gette, arrived in Limerick on Wednesday On August 15th, General Paget's women who were receiving separation 12th December to give a lecture in the column left Pretoria, moving northwards allowances from the British War Office Athenaeum on 'Ireland and her Foreign along the railway line, on their way to while their husbands were on active Relations'. She had been in the Transvaal Warmbath. A few days later they clashed Queen's South Africa medal awarded to Pte. J. Barry, Royal Munster Fusiliers. Limerick Museum. with De La Rey's men and were involved soon in progress. All along the whole Powell, J.P.: The Spanish American in some skirmishes at the town of Haman- seven mile front the contending forces War of 1898, in Ireland's Eye, March skraal. When they reached Warmbath, were in contact for some considerable 1998 where they remained for two weeks, they time, and the fire was terrific. General The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, were under constant rifle and artillery fire. Paget initiated a counterattack in the McDonald & Jane's, 1978 Some of the men were on duty on a shape of an attempt by the British right to History of the 20th Century, No. 1, nearby hill, but escaped uninjured. On turn the Boer left flank. In this movement Purnell & Son, 1968 September 3rd, a Boer guerrilla unit tore the Munster Fusiliers and the West Riding The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, up 6 or 7 miles of the railway line behind Regiment bore the brunt of the fighting, McDonald & Jane's, 1978 Paget's forces. To avoid being cut off or and twice they advanced with a view to Barthorp, op. cit. isolated, Paget withdrew his men to charging with the bayonet30 ibid. Pienaars River station. On September But it was impossible to make headway ibid. 27th, the station was attacked from three against the overwhelming fire. The men Purnell's History, op. cit. sides. A company of the Munsters who were pinned down and tired, but they held McGance, S.: History of the Royal were guarding it beat off the attack. their positions on the ridge. Some of the Munster Fusiliers, Vol2., Gale & In mid-October, four companies of the men had to crawl through the grass to Polden, 1922 Munsters were sent to the Marico Valley, bring up supplies of ammunition and Munster News, 14 July 1900 near the town of Rustenburg, from which water. As soon as it got dark the men were ibid. 12 September 1900 they returned on the 25th to their head- ordered to dig-in. At the same time, McGance, op. cit. quarters at Pienaars River.2n Viljoen and his men, also using the cover Munster News 9 June 1900 Meanwhile Paget's reconnaissance of darkness, withdrew from the area. The ibid. 18 July 1900 units reported a build-up of General next day Rhenoster Kop was fortified and McGance, op. cit. Botha's commando units, under the held as an outpost for the protection of the Munster News 18August 1900 command of Commandants Viljoen and railway against raids from De La Rey or ibid. 25 July 1900 Erasmus, near the Wilge River. By B~tha.~' ibid. 25 August 1900 November 25th, Paget had concentrated The Munsters remained in this area ibid. 5 September 1900 his forces at Eerestefabrieken, which was during Christmas 1900. ibid. 20 October 1900 on the main railway line from Pretoria. Limerick Leader 15 December 1899 The Boers had five artillery pieces, which REFERENCES Munster News 5 December 1900 included two Pom-Poms and a Maxim.2q l. The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, McGance, op. cit. After three days fighting the Boers fell McDonald & Jane's, 1978 Munster News 5 December 1900 back on their main position at Rhenoster 2. Barthorp, M: The Anglo-Boer Wan, ibid. 8 December 1900 Kop (hill), about forty miles east of Blandford Press, 1987 McGance, op. cit. Pretoria, and eighteen miles from the 3. The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Barthorp, op. cit. railway line. Paget's forces met with a McDonald & Jane's, 1978 McGance, op. cit. stubborn resistance and a fierce battle, the 4. Limerick Chronicle, 14 May 1901 Limerick Chronicle 26 November 1901 front of which extended seven miles, was 5. Pakenham, T.: The Boer War McGance, op. cit.