The Boer War

The Second Boer War, commonly called the Boer War (1899-1902), was fought between the British and the descendants of the mainly Dutch settlers (the Boers) in the Transvaal. The Boers did not wish to be deprived of independence by the British Empire and disliked British colonial policy in their country.

Although the British won the war, it was at a very high cost. At least 25,000 Boers died in the war, including women and children, and many of these deaths occurred in concentration camps. Of the British who fought, around 22,000 lives were lost, and 12,000 native Africans also died.