Boer Forces in the Anglo-Boer War South Africa stands on the eve of a frightful bloodbath out of which our

volk shall come...either as...hewers of wood and drawers of water for a hated race, or as victors, founders of a United South Africa, of one of the great empires of the world...an Afrikaner republic in South Africa stretching from Table Bay to the Zambezi Secret Memorandum for the Transvaal Executive from Jan Smuts 4 September 1899. REPUBLICAN MILITARY STRUCTURE The Commando System In order to understand the organisation of the Boer forces, one needs to revisit the era of the Voortrekkers. With the frequent wars and skirmishes in the border areas, it was necessary for all able-bodied men to stand together in times of conflict to fend off the 'enemy' (my quotation marks) for the benefit of the whole community. There simply wasn't enough capital for a regular army, yet the need for some type of military organisation was obvious. To satisfy this need a Commando system evolved. In essence it meant that every able-bodied male who could handle a firearm had to be prepared to render assistance in times of war. Laws were passed to regulate these citizen-soldiers. Officers were elected to organise and administer the system, and by the time of the War the Commandos, though seemingly quite disorderly, were in fact reasonably well-organised. The Commando laws of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State were generally very similar. In the Z.A.R. all European males between the ages of 16 and 60 were eligible for military service. Persons of colour who were able to do duty could also be called up. The rest of the population was required to assist in any way they could. The Orange Free State also required that all males between the ages of 16 and 60, who had no valid excuse, be prepared to do duty. Every burgher was expected to be ready to go to war at any time, and at all times had to be in possession of, amongst other things, a serviceable rifle plus 30 rounds of ammunition. Furthermore, Free State citizens who lived on farms were required to have a horse, complete with saddle and bridle. Key personnel in both Republics were exempted from military duties. From the days of the Voortrekkers and early years of the Republics, all burghers were responsible for arming themselves. However, later on, the governments of the two Boer Republics made rifles available to their citizens at very reasonable prices and assisted those persons who were financially unable to purchase their own firearms. They were either issued with rifles, which remained the property of the State, or they could purchase a rifle from the State by instalments. Each Republic was divided into Districts. Each District had a Landdrost (Magistrate) who attended to the civil administration of his area and a Commandant who attended to military matters. Districts were divided into Wyke (Wards) with a Field-cornet in charge of each Wyk. In the Z.A.R. some Wards had an Assistant Field-cornet while in the Free State all Wards had Assistant Field-cornet. Major towns in the Free State also had a Field-cornet. Parallels can be drawn with the British army: a Commandant is roughly similar to a Colonel and a Commando similar to a Regiment. A Field-cornetcy with a Field-cornet in charge would correspond to a Company. The Field-cornet approximates a Captain, and an Assistant Field-cornet, a Lieutenant. The list below illustrates how the Republics were divided into Commando Districts. Z.A.R. Commandos 1st line = Commando 2nd line = Ward (Wyk) Bethal Wyk 1, Wyk 2. Bloemhof Bovenwyk, Vaal River, Onderwyk Vaal River, Harts River. Carolina Wyk1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3, Wyk 4. Ermelo Wyk 1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3. Heidelburg Suikerboschrand, Roodekoppen, Klip River, Hoogveld. Krugersdorp Wyk 1 (delwery), Wyk 2, Wyk 3. Lichtenburg Wyk 1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3. Lydenburg Dorp, Krokodil River, Steenkampsberg, Ohrigstad River. Marico Klein Marico, Groot Marico, Boschveld, Malopo. Middelburg Dorp, Olifants River, Steenkoolspruit, Seylons River, Mapoch's Gronden. Piet Retief Wyk 1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3. Potchefstroom Dorp, Vaal River, Boven Mooi River. Potchefstroom Gatsrand Onderwyk Schoonspruit, Bovenwyk Schoonspruit. Pretoria Dorp, Elands River, Bronkhorstspruit, Krokodil River, Witwatersrand, Aapjes River. Rustenburg Elands River, Swartruggens, Hoogeveld, Hex River.

Standerton Waterval, Blesbokspruit, Klip River. Utrecht Wyk 1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3. Vryheid Wyk 1, Wyk 2, Wyk 3, Wyk 4. Waterberg Nylstroom, Zwagershoek, Piet Potgeitersrus. Wolmaransstad Wyk 1, Wyk 2. Zoutpansberg Dorp Pietersburg, Marabastad, Renosterpoort, Houtboschberg, Onderveld, Spelonken. There was also a special Commandant for Johannesburg and Field-cornets for the diggings at Barberton, Johannesburg, Lydenburg and Heidelburg, as well as one for Swaziland. Orange Free State Commandos 1st line = Commando 2nd line = Ward (Wyk) Bethlehem Wittenberg, Midden-Liebenbergvlei. Bethulie Groot River, Bojesspruit, Midden-Modder River. Bleomfontein Boven-Modder River, Kaalspruit, Kaffer River, Maroko. Boshof Modder River, Middenveld. Caledon Slikspruit, Wilgeboomspruit. Fauresmith Middenveld, Van Zylspruit, Boven-Riet River, Midden-Riet River, Groot River. Heilbron Vechtkop, Kromellenbogen. Hoopstad Hoopstad, Onder-Vet-en-Vaal River. Kroonstad Midden-Valsch River, Onder-Valsch River, Onder-Rhenoster River. Ladybrand Ladybrand, Korannaberg. Philippolis Dwars River, Knapzak River. Rouxville Vechtkop, Onder-Caledon River. Vrede Wilge River, Klip River. Winburg Winburg, Taaiboschspruit, Zand River, Vet River and Onder Wittenberg. Ficksburg, Harrismith, Jacobsdal and Wepener all had one ward each. All officers in the Boer Forces were democratically elected. Even though the officers were backed-up by law to enforce discipline, etc., their rank and election lay in the hands of the men they had to lead. Consequently the men of a Ward elected their own Field-cornet and those of a District their own Commandant. If an officer did not meet the expectations of his men, he could be replaced in a democratic manner.