Duffer's Drift Analysis
The Defence of Duffer's Drift
Introduction -1st Dream - 2nd Dream - 3rd Dream - 4th Dream - 5th Dream - 6th Dream
By Captain E.D. Swinton, D.S.O., R.E.
Later
Major General Sir Ernest Swinton,
K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O.
A classic in small unit tactics in the British and Canadian Armies. I recommend this small book, without qualification, to the modern Infantry soldier.
What would you do?
Lieutenant Backsight Forethought (BF to his friends) has been left in command of a 50 man reinforced platoon to hold Duffer's Drift, the only ford on the Silliasvogel River available to wheeled traffic. Here is his chance for fame and glory. He has passed his officers courses and special qualifications.
"Now if they had given me a job," says BF, "like fighting the Battle of Waterloo, I knew all about that, as I had crammed it up..."
While BF's task appears simple enough, the Boer enemy causes a multitude of problems, but you, smart …show more content…
After Great Britain annexed this territory in 1806, many of the Boers departed on the "Great Trek" and created the Republic of Natal, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal. Gradual commercial control by the British and discovery of gold and diamonds, among other things, served to create hostility between the Boers and British, resulting in the South African War or Boer War from 1899 to 1902. The Boers initially outnumbered the British and were well equipped, scoring impressive victories in the areas adjacent to their territories. Even though the Boer armies finally surrendered, apparent victory for the British was retarded by extensive and coordinated guerilla warfare. The war was finally ended by the systematic destruction of the Boer guerrilla units and hostilities were terminated by the Treaty of Vereeniging in May 1902. The Boer territories were annexed by Great Britain and were organized into the Union of South Africa eight years
Introduction -1st Dream - 2nd Dream - 3rd Dream - 4th Dream - 5th Dream - 6th Dream
By Captain E.D. Swinton, D.S.O., R.E.
Later
Major General Sir Ernest Swinton,
K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O.
A classic in small unit tactics in the British and Canadian Armies. I recommend this small book, without qualification, to the modern Infantry soldier.
What would you do?
Lieutenant Backsight Forethought (BF to his friends) has been left in command of a 50 man reinforced platoon to hold Duffer's Drift, the only ford on the Silliasvogel River available to wheeled traffic. Here is his chance for fame and glory. He has passed his officers courses and special qualifications.
"Now if they had given me a job," says BF, "like fighting the Battle of Waterloo, I knew all about that, as I had crammed it up..."
While BF's task appears simple enough, the Boer enemy causes a multitude of problems, but you, smart …show more content…
After Great Britain annexed this territory in 1806, many of the Boers departed on the "Great Trek" and created the Republic of Natal, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal. Gradual commercial control by the British and discovery of gold and diamonds, among other things, served to create hostility between the Boers and British, resulting in the South African War or Boer War from 1899 to 1902. The Boers initially outnumbered the British and were well equipped, scoring impressive victories in the areas adjacent to their territories. Even though the Boer armies finally surrendered, apparent victory for the British was retarded by extensive and coordinated guerilla warfare. The war was finally ended by the systematic destruction of the Boer guerrilla units and hostilities were terminated by the Treaty of Vereeniging in May 1902. The Boer territories were annexed by Great Britain and were organized into the Union of South Africa eight years