Anglo-Boer War Blockhouses: A Military Engineer's Perspective

by Simon C. Green

Anglo-Boer War Blockhouses is a fresh analytical look at how the construction of over 9,000 small fortifications during the Anglo-Boer War sought to change its course. The author examines all aspects of the South African blockhouses during the how the initial concept of protecting key bridges morphed into mass-produced, low-cost, pre-fabricated forts deployed in long lines across the veld; how they were built, manned and operated in a system designed to defeat roving Boer commandos. The evolution of the ‘blockhouse strategy’ used by Lord Kitchener during the guerrilla phase of the war is examined as part of the wider strategy used to bring the war to its conclusion. Detailed analysis through the lens of a military expert finally answers the question ‘Did the blockhouses win the war, or were they – in the words of the British Army’s nemesis, General Christiaan de Wet – merely he strategy of a blockhead?’ From tracing the use of blockhouses prior to the war, to describing the conditions enjoyed by the average ‘Tommy’ living and fighting in these structures, to recording their post-war dismantling or preservation, this is a deep dive into a topic previously little explored.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 22, 2021

Reviews

[Robin W]

To the best of my knowledge this is the only book on this subject in English. (There is another written by the late Johan Hattingh in Afrikaans). Blockhouses, both the early stone and the later corrugated iron versions are examined and described in great detail. There are excellent maps and diagrams. The defensive aspects of the stone blockhouses which appeared early in the war to protect railway river crossings are looked at in some detail. Later in the war the much simpler (and cheaper) Rice-pattern corrugated iron versions are shown in pictures and drawings. There are hardly any of these still left. There is one in the grounds of the Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein. Some replicas have been built by Anglo Boer war enthusiasts in a number of places. The reasons for the British blockhouse and wire strategy is covered too. There is a short account of the war too. This is better covered in any number of other Boer War books. The great value of this book is the blockhouse data. Apparently a guide book to the various sites is under preparation. This book is highly recommended.