The Defence of Duffer's Drift

The Boers, Dutch for farmer, first settled what is
now Cape Province, Republic of South Africa in
1652. After Great Britain annexed this territory in
1806, many of the Boer-s departed on the “Great
Trek’“and created the Republic of Natal, the Orange
Free State, and the Transvaal. Gradual commercial
control by the British and discovery of gold and
diamonds, among other things, served to create
hostility between the Boers and British, resulting
in the South African War or Boer War from 1899 to
1902.
The Boers initially outnumbered the British and
were welt equipped, scoring impressive victories in
the areas adjacent to their territories. Even though
the Boer armies finally surrendered, apparent victory
for the British was retarded by extensive and
coordinated guerilla warfare. The war was finally
ended by the systematic destruction of the Boer
guerrilla units and hostilities were terminated by the
Treaty of Vereeniging in May 1902. The Boer territories
were annexed by Great Britain and were organized
into the Union of South Africa eight years
later.