The Australians at the Boer War

Description

Over a century has passed since the Australians faced Mauser and pom pom fire and suffered the ravages of disease in South Africa. Sadly the story of the Australian contribution in the Boer War is not well known. This is surprising because no less than 16,175 enlisted men embarked to fight in South Africa. It was the first significant force to leave Australia. There were also many who either worked or paid a passage to the front. The South African regiments raised in Natal and Cape Colony all contained them. Many Australian refugees from Paul Kruger's Republic also served in the colonial regiments. Altogether the number of fighting Australians must have been 20,000 or more. In fact Australians seem to have taken part in almost every major engagement, for some fought with British regular units. From the manner in which Australians bore themselves in a highly mobile campaign, in a country similar to their own, they earned a reputation second to none as mounted infantry and scouts. After such a lapse of time, any worthwhile account of their record in the campaign over the best part of three years would hardly be possible but for the preservation in the newspapers of the day of soldiers' letters from the front. The exploits and comments told in the words of the men who were there, on veldt and kopje, fitted into the story of a moving campaign, form the basis of this history.