Thomas Sowell once wrote: ‘People will forgive you for being wrong, but they will never forgive you for being right – especially if events prove you right while proving them wrong’. This quote perfectly sums up why Prof Pretorius, his brainless...
I was recently made aware of an entertaining exchange on one of the various Boer War Facebook groups. The catalyst for this was that someone had dared to offer a copy of ‘Kruger, Kommandos & Kak’ for sale – and at the bargain price of just...
One of the things which I find most interesting about studying the Boer War is how many of the same characters pop up in unexpected places – indeed, it is all rather like a Wilbur Smith novel (without the underage sex). Not content with his...
On 17 March 1900 – ie. St Patrick’s Day, for those who live in a cave – the Irish Guards were formed. The formation of the new regiment was largely inspired by the bravery and sacrifice of the Irish regiments which had fought at...
John Elsegood can always be relied upon to entertain us with his trademark mix of sheer stupidity and complete lack of knowledge about the Boer War, and I was greatly amused when a friend shared a blast-from-the-past from the buffoon with me –...
Barely a month since MC Heunis won the coveted title of the most fanatical True Believer of them all (https://www.chrisash.co.za/2025/01/25/true-believer-world-championships/) a new challenger for the crown has emerged. A clown called Rudie...
I recently came across a remarkable claim in Ben Viljoen’s ‘Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War’ – a book not short on remarkable claims. Viljoen states that, shortly after the Battle of Vaal Krantz, his men captured a 50-strong troop of the 17th...
One will often hear that it took ‘half a million’ British troops to beat the Boers, but I recently read an even more far-fetched and ridiculous claim in a book called ‘The Road to Infamy’, by Owen Coetzer: It is interesting that Coetzer didn’t...
The British army’s complete lack of preparation for the Boer War is contrary to the myths which like to pretend it was a vast, behemoth of the thing, poised and ready on the borders of the republics, eager to invade. In reality, the army...
Throughout the decades of National Party rule, the myths of the Boer War went largely unchallenged in South Africa – but the times, they are a-changing, and the Apartheid-era fairy tales are finally being exposed as the rubbish they are. Seeing...
A very interesting myth-busting article in today’s Sunday Telegraph by Robert Tombs: If Oxfam is right about Empire, then where is my $1 million? Don’t trust the latest report about how the West is to blame for all the world’s ills. It...
Though nothing was officially announced, it would seem some sort of World Championship to find the most fanatical True Believer of them all is underway. The ‘arena’ for this much-anticipated title clash is – of course – Facebook, and the last 48...
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