11/10/2026
Today in 1899: War declared against the Boers in South Africa
In 1899, the British Army found itself once again fighting the Boers. They proved to be very capable adversaries and inflicted a number of defeats on the British forces. This would be the first true test of the newly formed Royal Army Medical Corps that had formed in 1898.
For the soldiers, an efficient system of evacuation had been established, and large base hospitals were opened in the main towns and cities. Relief was additionally provided with nurses from the Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service Reserve and the Army Nursing Service helping to staff the hospitals.
There were improvements in medical provision too, despite the challenges of Boer resistance groups using guerrilla tactics. Most injuries were caused by small fi****ms carried by the Boers and advances in X-Ray meant it could aid in treatment, anaesthesia was also widely practised by this time.
Despite the injuries that high-velocity bullets could cause, wound excision and debridement were not routinely practised. The dry and sandy terrain offered less favourable conditions for infection than those encountered in North-Western Europe during the First World War.
The General Hospitals such as 6 General Hospital in Johannesburg (pictured) featured a Bell Tent design. These single layer cotton canvas tents provided breathability but could become incredibly hot under the strong African sun.
Sickness took its toll on animals as well and the Veterinary Department was hard-pressed to maintain a healthy supply of animals for the army. There were no veterinary hospitals on the establishment, and these had to be provided from India. During the 32 months that the war lasted, the average daily loss of horses was 336. If all the horses lost during the war had been stood side by side, they would have stretched from London to Manchester.
Many of the medical and veterinary personnel who served in the war gained valuable experience, which would be put to good use in another war looming over the horizon.
