A Forgotten Boer War -The Battle That Started it All (Walking the Ground)

[@philstanton231]

OMG mate - you have just taught me something I didn't know, and I grew up in Durban. Thank you so much - that was VERY interesting

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks a lot.

[@lm_b5080]

also grew up in durban, the heroics of Dick King was part of our history class

[@BoerChris]

So glad you covered this! I was aware of the confrontation when I visited Durban 22 years ago, but I never so any of that. Then again, we didn't have a local guide and we were more worried about getting mugged. When I headed up a small living history organisation called The Heilbron Commando 2002-2009, I pointed out in my talks that what we know as the 'First Boer War' (1880-81) was actually the fourth confrontation between Boers and Brits. I hope you get to cover the other small battles.

[@Slippery_Pickle47.3]

I was thinking just that, he’s wondering around Umbilo, but came back with his camera, so must of had security 😝 PS we’ve renamed it Dirtbin 😉

[@BoerChris]

@@Slippery_Pickle47.3 😆

[@BodyCareSalon]

Thank you very much for giving honest commentary of this event and not "picking" a side like many others do. I, myself, am also a "Boer" and although many Dutch did settle in the Cape in the 1600s, so did many other nationalities like the French, Germans and English. Afrikaans is in most part Dutch and if I speak Afrikaans in the Netherlands today, I would be understood but maybe also misunderstood. The Boers were not soldiers, they were just farmers but from a very young age the males were taught to shoot, and shoot accurately. Dirkie Uys, one of our folk heroes, was just 14 years old when he rode out with his father against the Zulus. The Boers were some of, if not the best mounted irregulars the world has ever seen, and as you correctly stated, we hated siege warfare. During the Second Anglo Boer War, Genl. Piet Cronje's insistence on siege warfare, against Genl. De Wet's advice, and Britain's scorched earth policy is wat cost us the war. At one stage Britain had 500 000 troops stationed is South Africa fighting these Boers who were just farmers. Keep up the good work.

[@petercastles5978]

The Australian contingent of the Boer War were drawn from civilian life here in my country. My Grandfather fought in the NSW Citizen' s Bushmen. He was from Queensland, but snuck over the border and took another blokes place . He was a Carpenter. Our blokes came from every walk of life here, tough hard men. They were more than a match for your fellows. The battle at Sunnyside, fought by Queenslanders, is a good example. Your own men reported to one of your Journalists that" The Australians were formidable opponents, and far more dangerous than any British Soldier".....As I get older and look at the goings on in the world, I wonder who stood to make money from it all, by using our good men, and many others, to get their hooks into your loot. If your good men and ours die, then so be it , it would seem. I am tired of it all, but still salute the valiant men on both sides who fought for what they thought was right.

[@Kavali3r]

Great style, concise, entertaining and most importantly: impartial. As a South African (Boer descent) I never knew of this bit of history. "Dankie" Chris - Subscribed.

[@onetwothreefourfive12345]

As a Brit I think the way our country treated the Voortrekkers is pretty disgusting

[@redcoathistory]

It's actually quite complicated to be fair.

[@FlipFlicks87]

It's really just disgusting though

[@redcoathistory]

@@FlipFlicks87Seems you’ve made up your mind. All the best.

[@peterc4082]

Wow. Good for you. Very humble and sporting of you.

[@lm_b5080]

back in the day nobody treated each other fair..i'm descendent of the voortrekkers and the field marshall in the anglo-boer war. can tell you one thing about our people - they're stubborn as hell (usually to our detriment)

[@calliecooke1817]

Ever since reading James A. Michener's " The Covenant" back in the '80's I have been interested in South African history. But this is one story I'd never heard. Very well put together video. Thanks !!

[@theblackprince1346]

Always love your walking the ground videos Chris, great stuff.

[@hansla8608]

Absolutely. It is always something to walk the ground where these events took place.

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it thanks a lot.

[@stevenmaritz759]

Those red coats must have been terrible in the Durban humidity

[@welshwarrior5263]

Great info mate. Well worth a watch for any budding military historian. Thank you.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

The South Coast of Natal was (and still is in places) an absolute nightmare to trek through. The vegetation just off the beach was very densely overgrown with thorns of all shapes and sizes. So you either hike on the beach, or cut a path through the strip of dense bush along the coast to reach easier terrain. Further inland, the vegetation is not quite as dense, and easier to traverse in comparison. I've hiked most of the Wild Coast a little further south of Natals South Coast, and stayed on the South Coast for a couple of months with family. There are HUGE snails there with shells the size of a mans fist!

[@redcoathistory]

Wow snails as big as a fist - that I can't wait to see. Would love to hike that area. . . Any "must see" spots?

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

@redcoathistory Hole in the Wall was spectacular, but the last time I went hiking was in the 1990's, so I don't know what's on offer at all nowadays. Further North, up the coast past Durban, is the Mziki hiking trail and the Mount Tabor hut. (which has one of the most amazing views from a toilet I've ever seen.) The hut is an old radar station that overlooks the St. Lucia Estuary where Catalinas were based during WWII. You could see the tail of one that crashed in the estuary. The ancient sand dunes are very tall and overgrown with trees and grass, and give a good view of the sea there too. The biggest danger while on one of the 3 day trails, are the hippos. It was like being in the army again, hiking along, constantly keeping an eye out for which tree I'd be scaling in the event of a hippo encounter. I'm old and disabled now, so can't even tell you what those areas are like anymore.

[@redcoathistory]

@@robert-trading-as-Bob69 Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge of the area. Appreciate it.

[@dannsgamingfails8899]

@@redcoathistory if you can, get a copy of “Natal and the Zulu country” by TV Bulpin.

[@michaelbuckley8986]

@@robert-trading-as-Bob69 Wonderful

[@mzansime]

Very informative and enjoyable video, thanks. I most especially appreciated the connection and insight into the many British soldiers and sailors who went adventuring after Waterloo. And the effect this would have had on British colonies around the world. ✨❤️

[@maiaallman4635]

Hi there. Just found you! Excellent channel. I'm a Boer myself. My nan was a great-granddaughter of Andries Pretorius.

[@redcoathistory]

Oh wow, an incredible family history. Many thanks for letting me know and I hope we keep in touch.

[@chrisburton8079]

My Great grandad George Burton fought in the Boer war, and I have his diary of every day account from when he sailed from Southampton to Cape Town, and every day he was over there fascinating read

[@Kaboom_3]

That sounds awesome! You have a treasure

[@lm_b5080]

thats very cool..you should type it up & strike a book deal!

[@hanoitripper1809]

Can you publish it or make a KZbin vid of it, sounds really interesting!

[@chrisburton8079]

@ Possibly thank you for your interest

[@craigsmith2808]

The area from Durban to Grahamstown, where Dick King travelled by horseback to get help, has many rivers and deep gorges apart from the thick bush. I must have been an absolute nightmare of a journey.

[@user-mc4sq3fk5d]

Chris-one of your 🇺🇸supporters and a fan. I was just visiting some historic sites recently and then realized how has he not covered this very Redcoat conflict. I am talking about General Braddock’s epic march, major engineering undertaking, and infamous defeat to kick off the French and Indian War. Braddock’s junior officers and some enlisted are a literal whos who of the American War of Independence fought 20 years later. How have you not covered this yet. If you make it over there are dozens of preserved sites to visit!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - definitely one to explore. Hope to see you there one day.

[@FranciscoPreira]

Another great scoop, you nailed it again mate, I rely on you to bring us this pearls about South African military history, thanks for sharing bro.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, brother. Im glad you enjoyed it.

[@johndalton3787]

I hope it's a glitch on my KZbin, but it looks like this video has only got seven views and just one like from myself here! If so that's criminal, it's a very interesting video and it covers a sadly neglected part of fascinating South African history. Great Britain's first clash with the Boers ought to be better remembered. Thank you very much for your hard work lad! It is much appreciated.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks John. . . I haven't released the video yet so you are part of an elite band who have found it buried in a playlist. Will probably be publically available in two or three weeks and then I hope it will get a few more views. Thanks for watching.

[@johndalton3787]

@@redcoathistory ah good, I was worried there. I'll pat myself on my back for my recce work though 😂

[@DawiePieterse-n7t]

Thank you for covering some history about South Africa. I am n Boer of Boer decend and just want to point out a few things. First al all is the fact that there is a mis conceptiin that we, the Boers, is of Dutch decent. The majority of Boers decended from mainly Germanany. Second in line is Dutch, then French then English, Scotish, Irish and Welsh. We also have ancesters from other European countries like Denmark Finland, Sweden etc. I think the reason why most people think that we are mainly Dutch decent is because that the Cape was first rule by the Duch East company, therefore the language was Dutch in the begining. The second mistake people make is to think or believe that the Boers and Afrikaners are the same group of peoole, we are not..please do not ever call us Afrikaners! Next thing i want to point out is that the Boers bought land legaly from the Zulu king Dingane. The piece of land happen to be also the Durban area where the Brittish settlers lived. Unfortunately the Brittish setlers never bougth any land from the Zulus, therefore that when the Boers bought the land they became citizens of that land. Most of the Brittish welcomed the new republick and the Boers for safety. The teasons why the Brittish goverment in the Cape did not like the idea of the Boers in Natal and especial in Durban is as follows. One. The Brittish never liked the idea of the Boers leaving the Cape because of tax losses and the fact that the moving away out of the Cape would weaken the Eastern border of the Cape, thus leave the Cape exposed to attacks by the Xhozas. By the way,,, the reason why he Boers treked was because of the bad treatment by the Brittish coverment and not as always said, the abolishment of slavery. In fact many "freed slaves" trekked with the Boers in search of freedom. (These so called "slaves" got their own peace of land later. This they called, Nooitverwacght, translatd it mean never expected, because they said that they never expected to be free at last.) Point no 2 why the Brittish coverment did not want the Boers in Natal was that then they will be able to trade freely and not use Brittish controled harbours. They also coud then not stop the Boers from getting gun powder and amunition. When the Boers left the Cape colony, they put a ban on exporting amunition and goods to the Boers. This they thought this would force the Boers to move back to the Cape. Then the most inportant reason for the Brittish to anax Natal and later the Zulu kindom was that there was coal discovered and the time of steamships just starting to came in. That make it convenient to take caol in halfway to India witch leave more spase for cargo. NS. The Boers bought their land leagaly from the Zulus. If they wanted to steal or anaxed the rest of Natal, it was in their power to do so after the battle of Blood river. But they dit not, they respected the Zulu kingdom after the pease. Hope that people find this informasion valuable.

[@nettahunter7058]

@@DawiePieterse-n7t I am an Afrikaner and you are a boer. I have no idea where you get the idea from that Boere/Afrikaners are mostly from German descent. The Germans came much later and then mostly as settlers to the Border area. But then we all have different ancestry, but I think you are a bit confused.

[@DawiePieterse-n7t]

@nettahunter7058 good mornig. Yes i know what you think is what most South Africans think, that we, the Boers, are mostly of Dutch decent. It was a big surprise to me as wel when i found out tha this is not the case. I have made a good study of te Boer people over 4 years an made a lot of discoverys about their ancestry. It is tru that the Dutch East company settle first, but that is where it end. The company made use of many poeple other than the Dutch. For your own recearch you my start and look up the relation in Dutch and German surnames in SA. You wil find that German surnames are the majority. Roughtly the numers ofsetlers who came to the Cape is as follows. German 3500 the first wave. Then later another 3000. The Ducth 3000. The French 350. Late biger number of British setlers arive. My ancestry acording to my surname was Danish. 1742. Like my surname the origenal spelling was changed to a more Dutch spelling. Pederson to Pieterse. There were also the suname Pieterse from Holland and Germany, but mine came from Danish.

[@DawiePieterse-n7t]

@nettahunter7058 onother interesing point is that the name Afrikaner as a people, does not belong to any white person or groep. That name belong to the Afrikanee stam of Jan Jonker Afrikaner.. They were the first tribe that used the name Afrikaner about 150 years before any white group was called that. Google Jan Jonker Afrikaner. In the beginning there re two groups of people in the Cape that spok Dutch. The first group was referred to as the Cape Dutch. The other group was called the Boers ( Boere, grens Boere, trek Boere of imigranten Boere) Most of the Boers treked in 1836 and established their first BOER republick. Mare or les 40 years later the Cape Dutch Leaders in the Cape start caling the Dutch Speaking people in the Cape, Afrikaners. A name they hae stolen from the coullered Afrianer tribe who by this tie lived in Suid wes ( Nanidia). So long before the white Afrikaners existed the Boer people alredy existed and lived in their Boer republicks. During the 2nd Boer (not Afrikaner) war the Cape Afrikaners (Cape Dutch it should be) fougt with the British aganst the Boers.. I have got proof of what i say.

[@thefriendlychap4132]

@@DawiePieterse-n7t Het jy geweet die eerste persoon wat homself ge-identifiseer het as 'n "Afrikander", nie Hollands was nie, maar 'n vrygebore kind van 'n Maleise slaaf? Ek het al gehoor ons is afstammelinge wan die Duitse. Maar snaaks genoeg, het nog net die kakstorie gehoor by AWB lede. Sal glo jy praat nie kak nie, as jy kan vetroude bronne wys.

[@thefriendlychap4132]

@@nettahunter7058 I do. It's a rather old yarn I've heard from the AWB.

[@99IronDuke]

Good stuff, hopefully you will cover the battle of Boomplaats near the Orange River in 1848.

[@davidmacnab5213]

Fantastic video. Many thanks! So many of those plaques and memorials are forgotten, even to residents of Durban.

[@yaaseenabrahams5847]

As a South African listening to your very non-bias commentary is so refreshing. Really enjoyed the way you told the story and left no detail floating around and taught me a thing or two. I've subscribed... Obviously

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot. Appreciate the feedback.

[@hsmedsvik]

There is a great book by John Laband called the Land Wars for those interested in the history from the first Portuguese landed in Southern Africa until the Boer wars. The original settlers were as you say of Dutch descent, but over the decade's mercenaries, sailors etc. settled and one important group was the Huguenots, the French Protestants that was driven out of France, many of whom ended up cultivating grapes in the Cape Colony. The Huguenots easily adapted to the Afrikaans language and culture but more importantly increased the female population of the colony, causing it to prosper in population. Another interesting part of the book is how the British struggled to protect the borders of the ever-expanding colony and the farmers along it, which was part of the reason of the eventual Great Trek and the need to rule and protect themselves. I think it is also easy to forget the likely influence and inspiration that American Pioneers and the American Revolutionary War had around this time. There was many nationalities fighting for the Boer`s in both Boer Wars in was at the time considered a David against Goliat battle against the British Empire, similar to the American one and gained even more popularity after the Boer`s successful First Boer War.

[@redcoathistory]

Any book by John Laband is worht reading - an incredible historian.

[@EricLouw-dx5hw]

Have you thought of make a video (or videos) on the Block Houses built in South Africa as part of Britain's counter-insurgency war

[@georgeedwards4807]

Fantastic as usual Chris! Never heard of this story before, thanks for sharing

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@thatcouncilestatekid1832]

Great content Chris never knew any of this before today

[@ric6383]

Great work Redcoat History!

[@krokodilpil8335]

Afrikaanse Boer here. Grew up in Natal and Durban. In Johannesburg now. Actually always drove past that spot and never went in. Probably before I really got into history. They need to teach this South Africa-specific history in schools in more detail.

[@61lekker]

Excellent doco…you have just taught me something interesting.

[@neilblunt1926]

Right next to the Congella memorial / battlefield is the Umbilo / Congella Sports Club at which I played many a football match. Not sure if that team still exists as the bowling green next door is a shambles as the Bowling club has closed. My wife actally came from Umbilo.

[@jonathantaylor3643]

Brilliant content , accurate and detailed ...thank you for your amazing research ...new subscriber!

[@redcoathistory]

Many thanks, Sir. I hope you enjoy some of the other videos also.

[@Lion_Heart_Zimbabwe]

As a Zimbabwean of British stock, I love your videos on the history of British Southern Africa and the various historical events that happened in that time. On my maternal side, some of my ancestors ( the Forresters ) were part of the 1820 British settlers and lived through several notable events described by your channel. Great videos and entertaining channel. Thank you! 👏🏻👏🏻💯💯🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@redcoathistory]

Many thanks for the feedback and also for sharing your brilliant family history.

[@Lion_Heart_Zimbabwe]

@redcoathistory My Pleasure 😇🙏🏻🕊

[@daverankin2246]

Re your comparing MOTH with British Legion. Almost but not quite😊 The British Empire Services League (BESL) was founded in Cape Town in 1921 to assist WW1 veterans. In the same year Vic Clapham and mates in Durban ran the first Comrades Marathon in memory of their fallen comrades. The BESL went through a series of changes that ended with separation into South African Legion and British Legion. MOTH (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) began in Durban in 1927. The essential difference between MOTH and Legion is that Legion is constituted as an association to assist veterans while MOTH is constituted as a fraternal order for those who have actually been on active service. Both serve very similar purpose and cooperate in pursuit of common purpose.

[@NicoJansevanrensburg-uf3mp]

And till this day the Brits never paid for what they did to the woman and children

[@noahgibsonspeninsularwarsa1134]

Very cool, I never knew of this. I do know about the Boer Treks.

[@garethcollocott6310]

This is very interesting. Thank you for making these, these are the treasures that most do not even know about.

[@PeterAdlard]

Very cool. Having just returned to SA from Ireland where they know nothing at all of their African history this was very interesting. I have also lived in Grahamstown where Dick King travelled to, and recently (about 2010) that journey was re-enacted by two adventurers/doccie makers who found it very tough! I'm sure the events of the time were innocuous enough, and of gold and diamonds hadn't attracted the real attention of the Empire things would have been a lot more mellow (and SA might not have learnt to play rugby and cricket!).

[@godfreyberry1599]

Your presentation is super excellent . You would definitely have plenty more material at hand covering the conflict between Boer and Brit in SA going forward from this well researched and detailed point.

[@CBD-LIFE]

Nope 1st fight was in a Town called Klawer. 190km north of Cape Town. The battle took place in a valley called War Valley in Afrikaans, Oorlogsvalei in Afrikaans. I stay 2km from the site, and even have access to the dumpsite used since that war. The family owning the property wil never alow anybody on the site, thus the reason why no documentary about it exists. The valley is part of a mountain with 2 local names adding to confusion in finding the exact site. The mountains are next to each other 10km apart. 1 is Poison Mountain Afrikaans name is Gifberg, and the other Maskam Mountain. The battle took part on Maskam mountain in Oorlogs Valley. The same family own the farm since befire that battle, the Mouton Family and like I said, they prevent access to the battlefield

[@OBCBTTB]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@CBD-LIFE]

@@OBCBTTB my pleasure. Few people know about the very 1st battle, infact I only found out about It by accident. The klawer battle was the 1st one where Boer and Brittish Clashed. It was part of the railway towns that the brittish conquered on their way to the diamond fields and Kimberly etc and everything north of there in the republics. I've been attempting to get the owners to allow guided tours onto the site, but they stand firm, nobody since the battle has been allowed, and nobody to come.

[@OBCBTTB]

@CBD-LIFE Never say never. But let's respect their wishes. The current regime isn't interested in white man's history anyway. By them saying nothing, they preserve an intact legacy.

[@joelharris6158]

Epic coverage of some important history! Our family is directly descended from Dick King (my gran was a King) I have a photo of his statue at the unveiling. The frame of the photo is made from the timber of the HMS Southhampton after it was decommissioned.

[@garyhowell8607]

Exceptional documentary …..

[@neilblunt1926]

I've lived in Durban all my life. Know the history of your talk and it's correct. Had my wedding photo's taken at the Old Fort, across the road of Kingsmead cricket ground, which I've been to many, many times. My late great uncle "Galloping" Jack Royston's uniform is in the MOTH history museum. At 16 he ran away from home twice to fight in the Anglo Zulu war. Was at the siege of Ladysmith and took part in a raid to demolish a Boer gun. He also fought for the Australian Light Horse in WW1.

[@redcoathistory]

Nice. I think my mate Cam Simpson wrote about your great uncle on his substack - camsimpson.substack.com/p/galloping-jack-royston-an-adopted?

[@craigsmith2808]

Very interesting indeed. I grew up in Durban but was not aware of this. Well done for this video.

[@gerhardbekker7798]

Loved it, thank you for all the hard work!!!

[@redcoathistory]

Dankie, Sir.

[@keithagn]

Super interesting story. I was not aware of this; I thought the conflict was mostly the two big wars in the late 19th century. Thanks, Chris! Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

[@hansla8608]

Excellent history. Not only of the British soldiers holding out in the fort but their brothers in the Royal Navy who brought in their rescuers.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Very interesting indeed Chris. I loved that diorama

[@redcoathistory]

Cheers mate - yes, if only it had a better home and was looked after.

[@janvanaardt3773]

My grandfather fought against the British

[@BillsWargameWorld]

Awesome like always

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, Bill.

[@hanoitripper1809]

Great vid, there seems to be a lot of effort put into it

[@kielgardoll3278]

Can your next video please be Scwartkoppies? Buck Adams' The Red Dragoon is one of the best accounts of a private soldier during the 1840s though somewhat at odds with official accounts (the 7th DG amazingly went into action with their heavy dragoon helmets which were dropped for forage caps for the war of the axe). I am working on a miniature display of the action of Harry Darell, who saw action in both SA and with the 18th Foot in China. Love your work😊

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks - I don't know too much about and have't read the Red Dragoon - will look it up. Thanks.

[@kielgardoll3278]

It's published in the Leonaur Eyewitness to history range, just had my copy arrive here in Oz and am ploughing through it. He lived till 1910 apparently and wrote it some 40 years after Gwanga River. Mike Snooks Cape Warriors book has an illustration of him by the Perrys during the Gwanga River charge

[@kielgardoll3278]

Some great titles in that range like a Norfolk Soldier in the Sikh War, has inspired me to spend a small fortune on Empress (formerly Iron Duke) miniatures Sikh Wars and South Africa in the 1840s 50s range!

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

Redcoat history, you should do a video on Operation Epsom WW2 where British forces faced the densest concentration of German Armour in Normandy. Eight Panzer Divisions ( 5 of which were Waffen SS) it was a hell of a fight.

[@jeanpierreroux5087]

Ja, die verraaier... as daar maar net nie verraaiers was nie...

[@janvanaardt3773]

South Africa would have been a better country if the Brits never came here

[@skankyscout]

If they didnt, we probably would never have taken up rugby and gone on to dominate the world.

[@zolanidingaan2511]

Lol, better if only brits arrived from the sea and dutch never came

[@neilblunt1926]

@@zolanidingaan2511 Read my reply to onetwothreefourfive

[@PhilipCoetsee]

@@zolanidingaan2511 I'm afrikaans and i agree with you Zolani! Can the ANC please send me back to the Netherlands and you guys can have this place? We don't want to fight anymore (We never did, it's why we left Holland in the first place and kept moving across SA everytime there was a conflict)

[@insidiousantimason2025]

@@zolanidingaan2511 note that the Anglo-Zulu war was conveniently not mentioned here. It only happened a year prior. But then again they pander to tools like you for a reason.

[@Odin62100]

I am feverishly hoping that one of you Brit historians would cover the voyage, initial experiences and subsequent actions of Dick King's persuasion, the 1820 British Settlers to South Africa. I am descended from them on my father's side, and Afrikaner on my mother's. They had a deep sense of gratitude towards the Boers at first, when they landed and had to be taken to their allotments, and a sense of cameraderie during Xhosa raids thereafter. They fought together during the Sixth Frontier War, and the bible on which Sarel Cilliers swore the Covenant prior to Blood River was a gift from the 1820 Settlers.

[@onetwothreefourfive12345]

Incredible vid mate

[@henningvisser1108]

In 1842 the British was introduced to "guerilla warfare" by the Boers and got their first bloodied nose. Towards the end of the nineteenth century a couple of skirmishes between Brit and Boer took place all over Natal and Transvaal provinces, some won and some lost on both sides. Eventually, at the end of the Anglo Boer war in the early nineteen hundreds, the Afrikaner had to succumb when Britain imported some four hundred thousand soldiers, thus turning the tables on a handful of Boers. Thank you for an interesting video. South Africa was colonized by the British, got independence in the early nineteen sixties and was re colonized by the ANC in 1994.

[@Kitiwake]

The Enniskillens got ragged by the Boers. Just showing. You can't do wrong in this life and think that it won't come back.

[@grahamdominy8309]

Hi, I am hoping to publish, within the next month or so, an article called "The Women of the Mazeppa". Like most commentators you have omitted the fact that the women of the garrison (white legally married women and their children) were allowed by Andries Pretorius to board a small schooner at anchor in the bay. Two sailors were hiding on it (one of whom had helped Dick KIng escape across the bay). The women industriously washed every iten of clothing, bedding, mattresses etc, and when the wind and tide were right, they sailed right out across the bay, with the Boers banging awat at the mattresses and sheets. The women helped sail the ship and they headed up to Mozambique looking for a British warship on the anti-slavery patrol. There mission failed, but as they sailed south they saw HMS Southampton off the Bluff. Dick King had reached Grahamstown and the reinforcements had been landed. The women were reunited with their menfolk and sailed out of Natal history. My mission is to bring their courageous, but forgotten story back to life.

[@user-tp1bi6of3v]

Well done learned a great deal. Appears that N.B. Forrest of the American Civil War would have fit right in with the Boer tactics. Forrest once captured Col. Abel Straight's much larger calvary forece at Cedar Bluff Alabama in 1863. Good thing the Brits didn't have that commander to go up against.

[@rextroop1941]

You should do a video on East India Company Officer Frederick Young, founder of the British Gurkha regiments.

[@tobiasgriffin]

Can you do a series on pual von lettow-vorbeck ww1 campaign

[@paulmcmenamin205]

The second ship was De Goede Hoop. My mistake below.

[@doug6500]

Seems mad that you're a bloke born and raised in some urban area of Britain, then to find yourself in an utterly alien environment like this. Talk about trippy.

[@BOATSkeepcoming]

King Shaka my hat! Tribal warlord who defeated the native Xhosa . Zulu invaded SA ,they are not indigenous.

[@rextroop1941]

I didn’t know the boers and Brits fought this much. I just thought they fought in the Boer wars in 1899 and 1900

[@WHKCCP]

We are still fighting

[@paulakanfer800]

Especially in rugby 😂

[@petes9524]

Here is some text as quoted by great men surrounding the south African Afrikaners or BOERS "Give me 20 divisions American soldiers and I will breach Europe. Give me 15 consisting of Englishmen, and I will advance to the borders of Berlin. Give me two divisions of those marvellous fighting Boers (Meaning Farmer, originating from the Boer War) and I will remove Germany from the face of the earth." Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the Allled forces during WWII. "The Americans fight for a free world, the English mostly for honour and glory and medals, the French and Canadians decide too late that they have to participate. The Italians are too scared to fight; the Russians have no choice. The Germans for the Fatherland. The Boers? Those sons of bitches fight for the hell of it." American General, George "Guts and Glory" Patton "Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots, who gave up their name and left their country forever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon the face of the earth. Take these formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances in which no weakling could survive; place them so that they acquire skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman and the rider. Then, finally, put a fine temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual and you have the modern Boer." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[@vernongoldstone1956]

Would like to know more about the colored contingent. As a Durban colored. Who were these coloreds?

[@redcoathistory]

Hi - Cape Mounted rifles - raised in the Cape. Fought a lot during this period. There are books online about them. . .Keep in touch as there are many great stories of coloured units during the era and up to the world wars.

[@DerekAbdinor]

nice one!

[@bluesky521]

Grahamstown is not 900 km from Durban

[@redcoathistory]

Even via the modern N2 its 847km.

[@brianford8493]

Brilliant as per usual chap....then home for tea and crumpets.✌️

[@DuneSurfer]

The Voortrekkers, specifically Piet Retief who was murdered by the Zulu Dingaan, was a Freemason. So was Andries Pretorius, who later avenged his death and that of the women and children massacred a year earlier. The Voortekker monument in Pretoria, was also designed by a Freemason. The Voortekkers had a good standing with English settlers before they left the Cape. With the settlers giving a Bible as fellow Christians.

[@loritabarber-iw3fy]

Best forgotten exposed the state of the intelligence of the British officer class,and how they bought their commisions,not the brightest!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheHistoricalDocumentary]

great video

[@anskritzinger7802]

Thomas Packinham the best true written book about it I did it gave me clear views

[@paulmcmenamin205]

Dutch first, French and Germans and then the rest. Drommedaris, Cape of Good Hope and Reijger were all 3 Dutch ships. Van Riebeeck founded the Cape Colony and he was Dutch 1652.

[@paulmcmenamin205]

Apologies. The second ship was "De Goede Hoop".

[@esterveldman4983]

I don’t blame Andries Pretorius for being angry,with the battle off blood river the Boers had to face the Zulus alone,the Brittish was hiding out on a boat ,so these boers off just 365 just defeated an army off 16 000 Zulus alone ,now these Brits comes and throw their weight around and demand submission

[@raymondstone9636]

Why didnt the British learn about Boer Tactics from this battle.

[@robinkoenjer1030]

Alright lets go!

[@jameswilson2569]

And that's how the irishguards were formed in 1900 for the bravery of the irish by queen vitoria

[@seanharmse2893]

Ther NEVER was a Boer War!! The Boer's never went to england to fight the English. The English came to South Africa to fight the Boers. So it was an English War.

[@DudeBoerGaming]

The english had so many wars, it is easier to state their enemy instead! haha

[@JohnSmith-tz8gj]

thats when the British took over the Gold and Diamond mines, i wonder if the soldiers who actually did the fighting actually got any of the booty, probably not.

[@grumpygamer5163]

Im a Afrikaner im still here , where you at ???? lol ....

[@insidiousantimason2025]

The British sure know how to lie to themselves 🇿🇦🍉✌🏻. “Zulu land” Despite what you may believe, the Zulu Kingdom is a 200 year old Victorian creation. No Zulu existed before King Shaka. The Catholic Church crowns every Zulu king. They created it from West African Bantu war tribes right on top of what use to be Khoi land. History is written by the victor, some bubbles are dense but the British and American bubbles are the worst.

[@seanmitchell504]

Welcome to Durban.

[@malcolmrobertson2017]

Die Boer end sy Roer

[@dn822]

Ons kan darem nog skiet

[@christopher-ke9nj]

Kongela as you do

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

Or even uKhangela.

[@CurtisWebb-en5kh]

This rules..

[@meadervanwyk4722]

Red coats got their asse kicked

[@johanlabuschagne1061]

The British were totally destroyed by the South Africans. They had very little experience in the kind of war against SA

[@brendanwood5213]

960 km horse ride 😎

[@basicallywellfed3453]

The Brits were Brits when they use miles yards and feet, not a foreign and enemy system.

[@janlindtner305]

👍👍👍

[@TomasFunes-rt8rd]

"The 23rd of May 1842…Ring a bell? Probably not…unless you are a massive military history geek like me." Well that was the year that Britain TOTALLY kneed China in the nads in the Opium War, savoured the lyrical quality of their bleatings about "UNEQUAL Treaties!!!!" (who the f*** ever said treaties have to be between EQUALS ?! When had China ever held back from treating others as inferiors when the going was good ??!!) , AND began one of the better ideas anyone ever had, the founding of Hong Kong !!

[@V.B.Squire]

7:00 sounds like the American revolution all over again except this time the guerrilla/marksman mythology was actually true

[@redcoathistory]

Yes, to be fair the Boers were terrific marksmen and incredible natural soldiers.

[@RoelofMalan]

DON'T RECOMMEND CHANNEL THUMBS DOWN, creator and narrator biasto the english and he doesn't mention or point out 5he HORRORS britain did all around the globe,. Pity, as many videos quite intresting but one sided

[@GifAppel]

About the only time the English ever prevailed against the Boers was by using overwhelming numbers or committing egregious war crimes like Kitchener's scorched earth policy.

[@gerhardsteenkamp8759]

Ek hou van di mothes. Hulle is grait mense!!!

[@derwolf3006]

Dick King? Jo dosent matter what you tell me he supposedly did. Id certanly believe you.

[@hiramabiff2017]

Easy to portray British Imperial armed forces as incompetent, but the reality a global empire achieved what many can only dream of is undeniable reality.

[@redcoathistory]

Who is portraying them as incompetant? That certainly isn't my intention.

[@janusroos4492]

Except against the boere. When they struggled to win the second boer war, they target the women and children.

[@peterc4082]

Achieved because had by luck had an advantage at the time. Had Napoleon won, and sadly he didn't, the situation would have looked different. And you're correct that many the Brits achieved a lot but unfortunately this glory will never return and Britain will only become less important as other countries overtake it given that the genie of science/technology has been released to the world.

[@Kitiwake]

Did they do it by force of arms?

[@hiramabiff2017]

@@Kitiwake How else could the British Empire be the only one to ever seek out and destroy the slave industry to end global slavery ?. By using tea cakes .

[@foucher77]

I,was always very anry that the British took Natal from us.But,More and more Afrikaaners seeking the always on Vacation dream house by the Sea have resettled to the Coast and are a Afrilaner Comunity between the Souties as we call The English salties.Especially round Margate but even some in Durban.Natal is a,very beautifull place.Ofcourse Dick King saved to British but without him the garrison would have surrendered unfortunate to us if we had a,Sea port open to,our Allies Netherlands,Germany,France,just imagine as look in what a short time we had to build a New Country out of ash.And before the second Boer war the ZAR had a railway service power generator telephone lines to forts in Pretoria,without the 2 nd Boer war The Zar was becoming a small Belgium of prosperityso its like every time the British just came in to ruin everything again.Because want everything control everything for selfish imperialist needs.But we live in Peace in modern SA different Europeans but yeah one part British one part Western European descent but all South African.Though culturally well still have own heritage and delicacies melktert,koeksusters and Boerewors which the Brits are crazy about and our Braai,s meat Bbqs and the English took all of those things and agree that they are splendid Boer food,delicacies.

[@christiangerhardt2408]

Bokke!