Boer War 1899 to 1902

[Tervid03]

I have a small book with an account of the 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment of their part in the Boer War, I also have a list of clasps to which my Grandfather was entitled for the Queen's South Africa Medal.

I would like to find a map which covers the Boer War so that I can understand where he was at a given date, I am looking for one with a reasonable scale and of course, price. A reproduction one would be fine.

I have looked at many websites and am utterly confused by it all!

Any help will be appreciated
Terry

[km1971]

Hi Terry

Here is a good link to a site explaining the clasp entitlement - http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/boer_war.htm.

If you say which clasps he has we can help with interpreting where he was and maybe when.

Ken

[Tervid03]

Yep, Paardeberg, Driefontein, R O Kimberley, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast & South Africa 1901, He was with the Ist Essex Battalion which left from Southampton Nov 1899. I have a copy of the Medal Roll, I have a list  of dates/locations to qualify for each of the clasps
Thanks 
Terry

[ladysmith]

Terry - 1/Essex were particularly heavily engaged at the battle of Driefontein where, with the Welsh Regiment, they bayonet charged the Boer position. They lost about 16 officers and men killed and about 72 wounded.

Any decent current map of South Africa should show the historical battle sites and certainly, of course, the cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg. Paardeberg and Driefontein are in the Orange Free State and Diamond Hill and Belfast are east of Pretoria in Transvaal.

David

[km1971]

Hi Terry

A nice set of 'battle' clasps. The best maps for the Boer War came with the official History of the War in South Africa, by Sir Frederick Maurice. There are 81 in the set, including one for each major battle. Buying even a modern reprint of the eight volumes can cost £200-300, but someone is selling a CD on Ebay of more than 70 maps for a few pounds. These are probably from the same set, and would be worth looking at. Just search for 'boer war maps'.

Modern maps are likely to cover too great an area to be of any use, and most of the names have changed.

Ken

[scrimnet]

These are handy Battlefield guides...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b/202-2330021-1725423?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=%22battleground+south+africa%22&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

I have used the int from them for lectures of my own...

The publishers Leo Cooper have a number of decent Boer War titles...

And a number of rare books can be found here...

http://www.naval-military-press.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1

BTW my granddad (6th DG) was at most of the actions mentioned 

[Tervid03]

Thanks, all your suggestions have been really helpful and I can concur with Ken about the name changes to places.

I found this website which although Australian has many images of the British Army included

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/1266/historical-Boerwaratrensburg1.htm

Thanks
Terry

[Christopher]

George Ives (1881 – 1993) was the last living survivor of the Boer War. His record as the oldest British veteran of any war was broken on November 1, 2007 by First World War veteran Henry Allingham. http://expertgenealogy.com/videos/historic.htm