THE siege of Elands river
When did the battle take place?
The Siege began on the 4th of August 1900 and lasted 13 days ending on the 17th of August that same year.
A brief description.
Australia is a part of the British commonwealth and during the Boer Wars in the early around the 1900s. The relationship with the South African Forces and the Boers had always been uneasy but when gold and oil was discovered war broke out. It had been ordered for the encampment to be abandoned and “left to its fate” by Roberts. Majority of the force of 500 were Australians with the rest being Rhodesian, Canadian and British. This small force held off nearly 3000 Boer troops and heavy artillery for 2 weeks before the siege being lifted by British Lord Kitchener and his army of 10000.
The win at Elands River established a strong foothold in the western Transvaal that helped the British win the Boer War.
The Siege began on the 4th of August 1900 and lasted 13 days ending on the 17th of August that same year.
A brief description.
Australia is a part of the British commonwealth and during the Boer Wars in the early around the 1900s. The relationship with the South African Forces and the Boers had always been uneasy but when gold and oil was discovered war broke out. It had been ordered for the encampment to be abandoned and “left to its fate” by Roberts. Majority of the force of 500 were Australians with the rest being Rhodesian, Canadian and British. This small force held off nearly 3000 Boer troops and heavy artillery for 2 weeks before the siege being lifted by British Lord Kitchener and his army of 10000.
Significance to Australia.
- The siege of Elands River during the second Boer War demonstrates the might of the Australians and their ability, against all odds, to hold their own against a force nearly 6 times larger.
- Shows that have courage and don’t back down.
The win at Elands River established a strong foothold in the western Transvaal that helped the British win the Boer War.
Breaker Morant
When did the events take place?
Breaker Morant was sent over to South Africa in 1899 to fight in the Boer War, he became Lance Corporal of his regiment on the 27th of February 1900 the pivotal event took place on the 5 August 1901, he was trialed 16th of January 1902 and was executed 27th of February that same year.
A brief description.
During the Boer War Australia, being a part of the commonwealth, was obliged to assist British forces in their war with the Boers in South Africa. To get away from Australia, Edwin Henry Murrant decided to volunteer for the Australian army. He was a skilled horseman and his skills were admired by his comrades. After months of service as Lance Corporal of his regiment, Morant was drafted into guerrilla operations under the command of Lord Kitchener.
He spent several more months carrying out guerrilla operations against the Boers. The pivotal event that sparked controversy occurred on the night of August 5th 1901. Morant and his comrades were officially instructed to invade a Boer farm and take the owner as prisoner. The exact details or the events proceeding this are not known, but during his trial, Morant had admitted to murdering nearly a dozen innocent Boers. After being arrested for murder, Morant was trialled in secret with no jury and was sentenced to death for his crimes.
Over the years after Morant’s death many experts have looked into the case and have speculated that Morant was innocent and it was in fact Lord Kitchener who had given the orders to murder those farmers. Many people believe that Morant was treated as a scapegoat (as seen in Wittons book “scapegoats of the empire”) and should not have been convicted and executed and instead he should be retrialled under normal circumstance.
Significance to Australia.
Breaker Morant was sent over to South Africa in 1899 to fight in the Boer War, he became Lance Corporal of his regiment on the 27th of February 1900 the pivotal event took place on the 5 August 1901, he was trialed 16th of January 1902 and was executed 27th of February that same year.
A brief description.
During the Boer War Australia, being a part of the commonwealth, was obliged to assist British forces in their war with the Boers in South Africa. To get away from Australia, Edwin Henry Murrant decided to volunteer for the Australian army. He was a skilled horseman and his skills were admired by his comrades. After months of service as Lance Corporal of his regiment, Morant was drafted into guerrilla operations under the command of Lord Kitchener.
He spent several more months carrying out guerrilla operations against the Boers. The pivotal event that sparked controversy occurred on the night of August 5th 1901. Morant and his comrades were officially instructed to invade a Boer farm and take the owner as prisoner. The exact details or the events proceeding this are not known, but during his trial, Morant had admitted to murdering nearly a dozen innocent Boers. After being arrested for murder, Morant was trialled in secret with no jury and was sentenced to death for his crimes.
Over the years after Morant’s death many experts have looked into the case and have speculated that Morant was innocent and it was in fact Lord Kitchener who had given the orders to murder those farmers. Many people believe that Morant was treated as a scapegoat (as seen in Wittons book “scapegoats of the empire”) and should not have been convicted and executed and instead he should be retrialled under normal circumstance.
Significance to Australia.
- Morant was a scapegoat who had been treated unfairly by the British empire and government. Lord Kitchener had blamed him for his murder of the innocent farmers.
- The Breaker, like other infamous criminals such as Ned Kelly, became painted as a hero as his death spread throughout Australia.
- Shows that if an Australian is not treated right, other Australians will join together and fight for justice.
- Was a major injustice at the time.
- Demonstrates the lengths English will go to, to cover themselves of crime.