The Anglo - Boer war centenary
In 1999 the Company made the decision to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the last of Queen Victoria’s colonial wars against the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Breaking new ground once again both a composite British infantry unit based on the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and an opposing Boer Commando were researched.
This meant yet again a complete re
equipment into khaki drill, Slade Wallace and Long Lee Enfield rifles and for
the Boers a chance to source items for their highly individual style! This
unique project attracted a number of other groups joining us – wholehearted support
from Alan Larsen’s the Troop who provided both British mounted infantry and a
rag tag B mounted Boer Commando and members of the Great War Society and other
re-enactment groups who donned either the khaki drill of the regulars or faced
us over the sights of a Mauser as Boers.
A number of high profile events over the 4 years of the Centenary saw us battle
against each other at Audley End, Kirby Hall and Detling, Kent.
The commemorations also added to the Company’s long list of overseas ventures
with three members of the Company travelling back to our old friends in Dundee,
South Africa to drill and train around 90 re-enactors as British infantry for the
100th anniversary of the battle of Talana – giving us the opportunity for some
of the group stand next to the
Middlesex memorial at Spion Kop after scaling the mountain in full kit.
Some Boer war photographs (click on image to enlarge)
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2nd Batt. Middlesex
RE Musuem 2007