When the Boer Republics invaded Natal in 1899, the invaders could have been driven out with casualties measured in hundreds. Instead Britain was to lose nearly 9,000 men killed in action, more than 13,000 to disease and a further 75,000 wounded and sick were invalided back to Britain. The war ended in 1902 with a very unsatisfactory Peace Treaty.

At the start of the conflict Britain’s Generals were faced with problems new to the military establishment. Shows of force did little to intimidate a determined opposition; infantry charges against a hidden enemy armed with modern rifles resulted in a futile waste of lives. Artillery could now destroy unseen targets at great range. Lack of mobility resulted in more than half the army being besieged in Ladysmith bringing with it concomitant civilian involvement. Some generals learnt quickly – others were slower and yet others still, perhaps through pride and stubbornness, refused to alter their ways and thus their men paid with their lives. The bravery and sacrifice of men during the campaign have been described in many books, as have the faults – real and imagined – of the generals. But little attention has been paid to the greatest blunder of all: a failure to take proper cognizance of local advice, opinion and capability.

From the beginning, locally raised regiments demonstrated how the Boers might be defeated without incurring heavy casualties and, when they were finally given their head, they chased the invaders out of Natal while suffering only nominal casualties.

This deeply researched study of the Boer War includes, for the first time, the experiences of the inhabitants of Natal – soldier and civilian, men, women and children, black and white. Diaries and letters vividly portray the actions at Talana, Elandslaagte, Colenso, Acton Homes and Spion Kop, as well as the siege of Ladysmith in which 15,000 military personnel and 2,500 residents and refugees were incarcerated for four months, slowly but surely dying from starvation and sickness until their relief.

Before, during and after the Boer War many myths were created and facts hidden to suit political ends. The result was that lessons, which should have been learned were never adequately understood or applied. With the West still engaged in foreign wars, these old mistakes should be remembered and not repeated.

Friends and Enemies is the result of years of intensive research undertaken in archives in both South Africa and Britain. It offers an important and scholarly resource to students of nineteenth and twentieth century conflict.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• Glossary
• Maps
• Chapter One: War Imminent
• Chapter Two: The Boer Republics
• Chapter Three: Dissent in the Transvaal
• Chapter Four: The Colony of Natal
• Chapter Five: The Opposing Forces
• Chapter Six: Invasion of Northern Natal
• Chapter Seven: Border Patrol
• Chapter Eight: Battle of Talana Hill
• Chapter Nine: Battle of Elandslaagte
• Chapter Ten: Fall-out from Elandslaagte
• Chapter Eleven: Retreat of Dundee column to Ladysmith
• Chapter Twelve: Situation in Ladysmith
• Chapter Thirteen: Investment of Ladysmith
• Chapter Fourteen: Defence of Natal Midlands
• Chapter Fifteen: Inside Ladysmith
• Chapter Sixteen: Battle of Colenso
• Chapter Seventeen: Boer attack on Ladysmith Defences
• Chapter Eighteen: Maladministration of Dundee by Boers
• Chapter Nineteen: Army moves west and a successful attack on Boer right flank
• Chapter Twenty: Battle of Spion Kop
• Chapter Twenty-One: Battle of Vaalkrantz. Distress of Besieged
• Chapter Twenty-Two: Boer Line breached. Siege Raised
• Chapter Twenty-Three: Relief of Mafeking. Treatment of prisoners by Boers
• Chapter Twenty-Four: Invaders chased out of Natal
• Postscript
• Appendices
• Chapter Notes
• Sources and Select Bibliography