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Boer Army – Cavalry firing rifle mounted

  • Product Code: CA8
  • Availability: In Stock

£1.18

This product is sold unpainted.


SOME CONSIDERATIONS WHEN WARGAMING THE BOER WAR

·         Armoured Trains. Used for scouting and supply. Armoured truck either side of the train.   

·         Balloons. Used at Ladysmith, Colenso, Modder River and Paardeberg. The Royal Engineer Balloon Corps in 1900 consisted of one section of three officers and 31 other ranks.

·         Barbed Wire. Not extensively used except for farm fencing and linking blockhouses (3,700 miles). The Boers put rolls of barbed wire in the river at a bridge crossing at Modder River.

·         Blockhouses. Twenty experienced men could build three blockhouses in two days. An infantry battalion could garrison up-to 38 (a Subaltern commanding three or four). 8,000 were built.   

·         Field Telegraph. 80 miles of cable in 1899 to over 18,000 miles laid.

·         Signalling. A small heliograph mirror could transmit 30 mile or more at 16 words a minute. Subsidiary use of semaphore flags, signalling lamps and pigeon post.

·         Mounted Infantry. Since about 1888 each British infantry battalion had a mounted detachment. These were increased to companies and often supported by mobile artillery during the war.

·         Photographic Section. A photographic section of and officer and NCO, mounted on bicycles were part of the 1st cavalry Division.

·         Steam Traction Engine. A number were under the command of Lt Col Templer. Used to haul stores but were not used beyond 20 miles of ports or supply depots.   

·         Mapping. Generally Boer mapping was superior to the 1 inch to the mile British version.

·         Trenches. Two types. Well prepared, by Boers at Modder River and Magersfontein (1,000 yards). Hasty, by British forces at Spionkop. Dummy trenches were used to deceive.

 

Source: Wargaming In History, the Second Anglo-Boer War, Edwin Herbert, Argus Books, 1990. Edited by Stuart Asquith, this little gem of a book is a wonderful introduction to any wargamer wanting to build Boer War armies. The three battle scenarios provided are particularly useful.

Jacklex Miniatures Colonial Nineteenth Century 20mm metal wargame figures.