Canadians in the Second Boer War.

Canadians were always well known for their fierceness and integrity in both World War I and World War II, yet the first time Canuck boots would hit foreign soil was 1899, in South Africa. Canadians served alongside the British troops against Dutch settlers named Boers. Approximately seven thousand Canadians volunteered for the service, including twelve nurses and three contingents of the Canadian Army, many others would even serve in British units. The Canadians would play an important role in the British war effort, taking part in the three biggest battles of the war.

Siege of the Paardeberg Drift.

After multiple minor firefights following the Canadian’s arrival in Africa, they would merge with a British brigade to surround the enemy at the Modder River. February 18th, 1900 would mark the first major battle Canadian soldiers would take part in. Canada saw its highest casualty rate of the entire war with eighteen soldiers killed, and another sixty wounded. As a result of the casualties, British high command decided to change their tactics and draw back to wait the enemy out while still having them surrounded. In the early morning of February 27th, 1900, Canadian forces would lead a sneak attack which appeared to be promising in the early stages, that is until a tripwire was hit, alerting enemy forces. A fire fight between the two forces would ensue almost immediately, Canadian soldiers in the rear would start digging trenches in the hard ground while those on the front line would do their best to give covering fire.

During the chaos of battle, someone yelled “Retire!” Causing many men to retreat. Most Canadians returned to their starting positions while companies “G” and “H” mainly made up of men from the East coast held their own on the front lines. After the dust settled, the attack was more than enough to convince Boer commanding officers that they would not be able to hold their positions as they had sustained a whopping four thousand casualties, which was around ten percent of the army itself. In the later morning of February 27th, the Boers would surrender to the British, marking the first major British victory of the war.

Battle of Leliefontein.

On November 7th, 1900, the British would head out in attempt to find a group of Boer commandos believed to have made camp on the banks of the Komati river. The British would succeed in making the Boers cross the river in retreat, but chose not to follow. Camp would be set up near a farm named Leliefontein, Afrikaans for “lily fountain.” The resistance of the Boers had been stronger than the British anticipated, leading to the British commander’s return to Belfast, South Africa. The orders of the commander were for a unit of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and some artillery men to be tasked with holding the line while the British withdrew.

The Canadians were severely outnumbered, only having 100 men throughout the line while the Boers had just received reinforcements. The Boers figured the British would not quit and expected another offensive, once they realized the British were retreating, Boer foot soldiers would attack the rear defensive positions of the Canadians harshly, spending the majority of the morning attacking at various points throughout the frontline. The Dragoons would prevail, showing great bravery and grit all while allowing the British to withdraw safely from their position. Many men would receive rewards for their valor, but three men would receive the Victoria Cross.

•H.Z.C Cockburn.

•R.E.W Turner.

•E.J Holland.

Battle of Harts River.

March 3rd, 1902 would mark another rather grim day for Canada as losses from this battle would be just lower than Paardeberg with thirteen Canadians killed, and another forty wounded. Canada was apart of a column of soldiers tracking Boers through the Brakspruit river, which was nearly dry. They eventually found a trail of what was believed to be a small group of Boers, the British thought it would be a simple victory and charged forward down the trail, Canadians were ordered to stay behind and protect the horse drawn buggies that held supplies.

As the British discovered the Boers, they soon found out that they were outnumbered, British forces quickly set camp around a farm named Boschbult. Upon the arrival of the Canadians, the Boers were attacking and driving back the British defences. This attack would last hours, aside from the heavy shelling and gunfire that sounded like fireworks on the Fourth of July, the Boers would send cavalry charges regularly. One of these charges would see a large group of Boer soldiers separating twenty-one Canadians from the British unit.

the Canadians would not surrender or retreat, the men fought until they were out of ammunition and resulted to hand-to-hand combat where it was applicable. Eventually, the position would be overrun, leading to eighteen of the twenty-one Canadians meeting their fate. Although, the losses suffered by the Canadian army would be to no avail as the Battle of Harts River would end in a British defeat.

Conclusion.

The outcome of the war would bring the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging on May 31st, 1902. The treaty allowed the British to establish control over all the Boer Republics. Although it was not all glory, Britain’s harsh military tactics would result in commanding British and Canadian soldiers to burn down the houses and farms of Boer families. These actions led to many civilians being put in concentration camps, where approximately 28,000 women, children, and black workers died of disease due to the conditions of the camps.

After the Second Boer War, Canada would bear 270 casualties, approximately 135 due to disease. This article is meant to commemorate those who served in the Canadian Forces during this time, wearing the maple leaf proudly on their shoulder, as there is a lack of information on the men, and even the events that took place throughout the entirety of the conflict. Many of the young men who saw battle in South Africa would be deployed again to Europe in the First World War on August 4th, 1914.

**Jacob Newson 2025

Resources.

Canada and the South African War (Boer War) | the Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/south-african-war.

Canada, Veterans Affairs. “National War Memorial.” Veterans Affairs Canada, 7 Feb. 2025, www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/national-war-memorial.

Cinnamontoast. “Canadians and the South African War.” Canadian War Museum, 23 Oct. 2024, www.warmuseum.ca/articles/for-queen-and-country-canadians-and-the-south-african-war-1899-1902.