The request by the British for Canadian assistance during the Second Boer War was met with division. English Canadians (including Irish Canadians) were pro-war while French Canadians were anti-war. Pro-war Canadians were pro-Empire and claimed that the war "pitted British Freedom, justice and civilization against Boer backwardness" while anti-war Canadians claimed that the war amounted to "a British colonial venture". The debate over involvement in the war caused a split in the Liberal Party's voter base.Bothwell, Robert (2004). "Back to the Future: Canada and Empires". International Journal. 52 (2): 407–418, page 411.
Deployment to South Africa
In order to appease both pro-war and anti-war Canadians, and under pressure from his pro-war cabinet, Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier sent a force of 1,000 soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry to South Africa, all of whom were volunteers. This would also be the first time that Canadians had been sent overseas since the Mahdist War. The first contingent was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Dillon Otter, a veteran of the Fenian raids and the North-West Rebellion. Later, two additional contingents were sent. The second contingent consisted of 6,000 men from the Royal Canadian Dragoons and units of the Canadian Mounted Rifles. The third contingent consisted of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Regiment. Around 8,600 Canadians volunteered to fight in South Africa. In total, roughly 7,400 soldiers and 12 nurses served in South Africa during the Second Boer War. 270 Canadian soldiers would be killed during the Second Boer War and 252 were wounded.
Equipment Weapons
Canadian soldiers were equipped with Lee Enfield rifles. Officers were equipped with the Colt New Service revolver.
For machine guns, every Canadian unit was initially equipped with two Maxim guns which were mounted on the Dundonald Galloping Carriage. Opinions on the Maxim gun's performance during the war were mixed. Common complaints about the Maxim gun included its weight, tendency to jam, and the water cooling system needing to be continuously filled with water. Later, Canadian units were equipped with the lighter and air cooled M1895 Colt–Browning machine gun which proved to be especially popular with Canadian mounted units despite its lower rate of fire.
Uniform The Canadian military dress in the Second Boer War was a khaki-coloured uniform. The first uniforms were manufactured in a matter of weeks by the W.E. Sandford Manufacturing Company in Hamilton, Ontario. One key difference between Canadian and British uniforms during the Second Boer War was the webbing. Canadian soldiers used the Oliver Pattern Equipment webbing while British soldiers used the British Mark IV pattern webbing. There were two versions of the Oliver Pattern Equipment webbing, a version for infantry and a version for mounted troops. The infantry version consisted of a waistbelt with a brass snake buckle, an eighty-round cartridge pouch, a bayonet frog, a pint water bottle and carrier, a canvas valise knapsack, mess tins, a canvas cover, and a set of braces with shoulder yoke. The version for mounted troops consisted of a belt, a bayonet, a haversack, a holster and a leather ammunition bandolier. Canadian mounted units also wore a type of boot which would come to be known as the Strathcona Boot which was named after the Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment. For headwear, mounted troops wore a Stetson hat while regular infantry wore a Pith helmet. The Stetson hat would go on to become an icon of the Second Boer War and a symbol of Canadian military presence in South Africa.
Units
Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry Royal Canadian Dragoons Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Canadian Scouts 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 3rd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 4th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles 6th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles 10th Canadian Field Hospital
List of engagements involving Canadian forces Battle or siege DateCanadian soldiers presentEstimated number killedEstimated number wounded Opposing forceReferences Bloody Sunday (part of the Battle of Paardeberg) South African Republic Orange Free State Battle of Paardeberg South African Republic Orange Free State Battle of Israel's Poort Orange Free State Battle of Zand River South African Republic Orange Free State Relief of Mafeking South African Republic Orange Free State Battle of Doornkop South African Republic Orange Free State Battle of Faber's Put South African Republic Battle of Diamond Hill South African Republic Orange Free State https://archive.org/details/1901v35i12p35a_0042 Battle of Honing Spruit South African Republic Battle of Witpoort South African Republic BURCH - Lieut. John Edgar - Royal Canadian Dragoons Killed at Reit Vlei. 16 July 1900. Memorial at St. catharine's, Niagara, Canada - "Lieut. J. Edgar Burch, Adjt. 2d Dragoons, attached to 1st Battalion C.M.R., on special duty, killed in action near Pretoria, South Africa, July 16th. 1900." Battle of Elands River (1900) South African Republic Battle of Leliefontein South African Republic Battle of Hart's River South African Republic
Legacy The Second Boer War was the first time that Canadians had been sent overseas since the Mahdist War. It was also the largest deployment of Canadian soldiers prior to World War I. When the war had ended, a wave of celebrations swept the across the country from coast to coast. Many towns erected their first war memorials, which still stand today.
Notes
References