ADARAND

The Boer War was a different war for many reasons. Seldom has a war been waged with the white-hot patriotism displayed by the Boers. It was an intensely personal war, with a David and Goliath appeal seldom seen in warfare, and one that scarred the soul of many combatants, with the effects lasting in some cases to this very day. The Boer Republics neither maintained nor supported a national army. There were just militia or commandos under their own commando leader. The Boers from the Republics of the ZAR and the OFS were notified by the Commando Law to hold themselves ready for active service at the shortest possible notice. Every burgher between the age of 16 and 60 had to be ready to fight for his country at any moment. He was to provide himself with a horse, saddle and bridle, rifle with 30 cartridges, and provisions for 8 days. All without pay, just for the love of country and a determination to protect it. There was no military medical service to support the Boers. In the British army the situation was different because a Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) was allocated to each brigade. When war broke out, all European countries and the United States of America declared neutrality. Many people of the countries, however, were often not neutral and formed Boer relief committees and organizations such as National Red Cross societies. The International Red Cross asked if help was required and Britain refused but the two Boer republics accepted and received help from several National Red Cross Societies, including German, Netherlands, French, Russian and Scandinavian.