Black Week facts for kids

Black Week was a tough time for the British Army during the Second Boer War. It happened from Sunday, December 10, to Sunday, December 17, 1899. During this week, the British suffered three big defeats against the Boer Republics.

These battles were:

• Stormberg on December 10
• Magersfontein on December 11
• Colenso on December 15

In total, 2,776 British soldiers were killed, hurt, or captured. This week was a huge shock. The British government and its soldiers had thought the war would be easy to win.

The British had modern rifles like the Lee–Enfield and Lee–Metford. They also had good artillery. The Boers used Mauser rifles and German-made artillery. The British were used to fighting tribal wars with old tactics. They didn't know how to fight an enemy who also had modern weapons. This caused them many problems.

After Black Week, the British learned fast. They brought in new troops and new ways of fighting. For example, their cavalry started using fast-firing rifles instead of lances. They also began using artillery to defend their positions. Machine guns also became more important.

These new volunteers helped bring hope back. They were not affected by the earlier defeats. The British also called up more army reserves. They created a force of mounted infantry for better movement. Most importantly, over 100,000 volunteers from home joined the war.

Government's Reaction

During Black Week, the War Office (which managed the army) took charge. The Colonial Secretary, who handled colonies, stepped back. The defeats hit the government in London very hard.

Arthur Balfour was acting as Prime Minister. Lord Lansdowne was the Secretary for War. The Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, was grieving and not able to work. After the British started winning again in 1900, Joseph Chamberlain became known as a great leader. He wanted a fair and kind British Empire. He also wanted to rebuild South Africa well.

Battles and Challenges

The British faced many problems during Black Week.

Stormberg Battle

On Monday, December 11, General Gatacre tried a night attack at Stormberg. The Boers had strong defenses. They had modern rifles, accurate artillery, and skilled horsemen. Gatacre's attack failed. He lost two guns and 700 men. About 500 of his men were taken prisoner. The Boers did not chase them.

Magersfontein Battle

Lord Methuen was marching to Kimberley. His troops ran into Boers who were dug in at Magersfontein Heights. The British artillery fire warned the Boers. The Highland Brigade led the attack in the dark and rain. At dawn, the British were caught in heavy cross-fire. Major-General Wauchope was killed. The British lost 1,000 men, while the Boers lost 250. This defeat delayed the rescue of Kimberley.

Colenso Battle

In Natal, Redvers Buller was not confident about the upcoming battle. On Friday, December 15, he tried to cross the river. The British lost 1,100 men and ten artillery guns. Buller ordered a retreat at nightfall. This was very embarrassing. Lord Roberts' son was killed in this battle. Buller even told Sir George White in Ladysmith to surrender. But White promised to keep fighting.

What Happened Next

After Black Week, the British government realized the war would not be easy. They made many changes to their military. They brought in new soldiers, improved how they moved troops, and updated their weapons. They wanted to match and then beat the Boer forces.

Many people in the United Kingdom had different ideas. Some criticized the war. But most people were patriots. They volunteered to fight and eventually helped win the war. The government asked for strong men to leave their homes and risk their lives. Many still volunteered for the army.

Buller's decisions at Ladysmith led to him being removed from his command. Lord Roberts took his place. Buller's career was over.

Another important result was that many new troops joined from other parts of the British Empire. Within months, 30,863 soldiers came from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For example, 8,400 Canadians volunteered. Many Australians and New Zealanders also joined. These soldiers, especially the Canadians, were good horsemen. This showed the British how important cavalry was.