Anglo-Boer War Blockhouses: A Military Engineer's Perspective

Anglo-Boer War Blockhouses is a fresh analytical look at how the construction of over 9,000 small fortifications during the Anglo-Boer War sought to change its course. The author examines all aspects of the South African blockhouses during the war: how the initial concept of protecting key bridges morphed into mass-produced, low-cost, pre-fabricated forts deployed in long lines across the veld; how they were built, manned and operated in a system designed to defeat roving Boer commandos. The evolution of the 'blockhouse strategy' used by Lord Kitchener during the guerrilla phase of the war is examined as part of the wider strategy used to bring the war to its conclusion. Detailed analysis through the lens of a military expert finally answers the question 'Did the blockhouses win the war, or were they - in the words of the British Army's nemesis, General Christiaan de Wet - merely he strategy of a blockhead?' From tracing the use of blockhouses prior to the war, to describing the conditions enjoyed by the average 'Tommy' living and fighting in these structures, to recording their post-war dismantling or preservation, this is a deep dive into a topic previously little explored.

About the Author :
Simon C Green was born in Jersey and educated at Welbeck College. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Technology from The Open University and a Master's Degree in Information Systems from Cranfield University. Commissioned at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1978 into the Royal Corps of Signals, he served for nearly 30 years in military appointments in Europe, Brunei, and South Africa. He worked extensively in major military headquarters, giving him a unique insight into the staff who fight wars at a strategic level. He was also involved in training staff officers in operational leadership and war-gaming to develop and hone their war-fighting tactics at lower levels of command. He retired from military service in 2006 and settled in South Africa to pursue his passion for military history and writing.

Review :
Simon Green has produced a real gem, offering us far more than the title suggests! What we get is a good operational overview of the Anglo-Boer War through an examination of the British doctrine of blockhouse construction. Green is no stranger himself to military life and alerts us to the realisation that the tactics and doctrine adopted by both sides still echoes in today's conflicts. Professor Peter Caddick-Adams Author of Sand and Steel: A New History of D-Day Here is a valuable, easy to read, and historically correct resource, great for the history boffins and casual readers alike, on the biggest fortification system ever built in South Africa. This publication pays homage to the men who designed and manned the blockhouses in the Anglo-Boer War and also to those who attacked them. Dr. Johan Hattingh Department of Tourism & Event Management, Central University of Technology This book is an excellent review of the origins and development of the elaborate British blockhouse system and how it was applied during the Anglo-Boer War. On the 120th anniversary of the war, this book is a welcome addition to the historiography. Professor André Wessels Department of History, University of the Free State