BOER WAR
The Boer War took place between 1899 and 1902 and was fought by Great Britain and the two Boer Republics, South African Republic and the Orange Free State.
In South Africa in 1899 Britain had rule over all but two areas, the Orange Free State and the South African Republic. It was Britain's intention that these two republics would also come under British rule, thus making a united South Africa under British authority.
The two republics wished to keep their independence and in 1899 war began. The war raged for three years until April 1902 when the representatives of the republican governments met with Kitchener for negotiations. In May of the same year a treaty was established and the parties signed the peace treaty of Vereeniging and agreed to British rule, giving up their independence. The two republics agreed to this under a number of conditions, which included some economic safeguards, the maintenance of property rights, and the promise of eventual self-government.
Useful Resources
Family Record - Kitchener
ATAVUS Article - Emily Hobhouse - Emily Hobhouse in 1900 set up the South African Women and Children’s Distress fund in aid of those deprived by the Boer War.
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