Second Boer war delayed until world war 1
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Orangecar
Banned
Austrlaian and New Zeland forces get sent to South Africa instead of Europe and the middle east in the early stages of the war. Together with Cape and Natal forces as well as a few British regiments they occupy the Boer republics. Huge possibility of South African being formed as a federation instead of a Union after ww1.
British infantry and artillery tactics are also affected as they don't take on the tactical lessons they learnt in war. More losses early on
British infantry and artillery tactics are also affected as they don't take on the tactical lessons they learnt in war. More losses early on
The kid gloves come off in handling Boer civilians as soon as Britain finds itself at war with Germany. It gets nasty very quickly while the international press is focussed on France.
Orangecar
Banned
To be fair the British would be a lot more prepared for an intial attack in 1914 than in 1898. They would probably bolster their defenses and the Cape would have probably been made a Dominion by then and would bolster its own defense force in reaction to a potential invasion. The way I see it is that the Boers attempt the same attack in OTL but are easily beaten back by combined commonwealth forces as opposed to the prolonged sieges we saw in OTL. There would still be an insurgency of course but it would be unlikely to spill into the Cape. Also the Boers in this timeline would probably be reliant on horses which has no place in war by 1914. See the Maritz rebellion in OTL where boer cavalry was easily defeated by cars
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
Depends by what you mean by working so well.
Kitchener's tactics worked so well in ending the fighting earlier than it would have done by ordinary methods.
The civilian death toll and the huge stain on Britain's reputation as a result of the concentration camps - not so good.
Kitchener's tactics worked so well in ending the fighting earlier than it would have done by ordinary methods.
The civilian death toll and the huge stain on Britain's reputation as a result of the concentration camps - not so good.
I wouldn't be so sure - the poor British performance in the early stages of the war served as something of a wakeup call and helped spur reforms to British land forces. Without that conflict, those reforms might be significantly delayed or even nonexistent.
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How would this pod impact the Haldane reforms?
Those were learning's from the Boer war that made a serious difference to Britain's ability to raise a Continental force through the very sensible reorganisation of the then OTL eclectic 'reserve' organisations.
Edit: And what Alamo said!
Those were learning's from the Boer war that made a serious difference to Britain's ability to raise a Continental force through the very sensible reorganisation of the then OTL eclectic 'reserve' organisations.
Edit: And what Alamo said!
Coulsdon Eagle
Monthly Donor
One outcome was the discovery of level of unfitness and malnourishment shown in those of the working class volunteering at Army recruiting centres.
Political butterflies: -
No "methods of barbarism" speech, which really cemented Campbell-Bannerman as Liberal leader.
David Lloyd George doesn't grab the public spotlight with his speech in Birmingham where he nearly got lynched; no "Chinese slavery" speech in the Commons either.
The Education Act of 1902 is more successful; Sir Robert Morant informed Joseph Chamberlain that "your war" prevented rolling it out to cover voluntary schools - now there would be the budget to achieve that.
Tariff reform - does the political & financial background obviate the need for Chamberlain's campaign that split the Unionist Party?
No landslide general election victory for the Liberals. Do the Unionists hold on?
Not sure if the attack would fail or not. A lot of WW1 tactics equipment and such (in GB) was a result of the Boar War so that all goes away. And if the attack comes after the war starts in Europe the GB may pull troops out of Africa (or not depending on how the war goes up to that point).
If GB uses the same tactics in Africa that they did in OTL then Germany has some propaganda to use against GB.
This could (probably not but could) if used properly result in the US being a lot less pro GB. Kind of a GB is nasty and is butchering those poor folks.
Remember that the averag Joe in the US was not really gung-ho on the war and the US and GB were not the great buddies they would be after WW2.
So I think it goes worse for GB for several reasons. Not horribly worse (but you could make a case for that) but worse non the less
If GB uses the same tactics in Africa that they did in OTL then Germany has some propaganda to use against GB.
This could (probably not but could) if used properly result in the US being a lot less pro GB. Kind of a GB is nasty and is butchering those poor folks.
Remember that the averag Joe in the US was not really gung-ho on the war and the US and GB were not the great buddies they would be after WW2.
So I think it goes worse for GB for several reasons. Not horribly worse (but you could make a case for that) but worse non the less
One thing that I think has to be addressed is the original reasons for the 2nd Boer war seems to have not happened here
That was mainly (no solely) the erosion of the Boer ethnic control of their lands as they were becoming outnumbered by the 'Uitlanders' (Foreigners - mainly British) who were arriving en mass due to the Diamond and gold rush's of that period and would lose control of their lands if the 'Uitlanders' were given full rights as demanded by the British and this would effectively cede control of the nations to the British.
Had this not come to a head one way or another in 1899/1900 then another decade or so of immigration is going to see the Boers even more out numbered effectively by the British.
This going to make an 'uprising' far more difficult for the Boers if it takes place 14 years later.
Also it caused friction between the British and Germans OTL which was one of several things that resulted in the subsequent distrust between the 2 nations.
That was mainly (no solely) the erosion of the Boer ethnic control of their lands as they were becoming outnumbered by the 'Uitlanders' (Foreigners - mainly British) who were arriving en mass due to the Diamond and gold rush's of that period and would lose control of their lands if the 'Uitlanders' were given full rights as demanded by the British and this would effectively cede control of the nations to the British.
Had this not come to a head one way or another in 1899/1900 then another decade or so of immigration is going to see the Boers even more out numbered effectively by the British.
This going to make an 'uprising' far more difficult for the Boers if it takes place 14 years later.
Also it caused friction between the British and Germans OTL which was one of several things that resulted in the subsequent distrust between the 2 nations.
It would also mean that the British might well have not taken steps to restrict the rights of "Cape Coloureds" or if they have it might mean this being reversed and the Boers being the ones discriminted against as an Enemy fifth column.