Episode 45 - De Wet drinks a cup of bitterness while Lord Roberts’ wife upsets Queen Victoria

That’s 45 weeks since the start of the war in October 1899. And this podcast series is following the weeks, so to speak. Right now, we’re in an interregnum. Not a dormant period and definitely not an hiatus. Boer General Christiaan de Wet still appears to have the initiative in the Free State, although only because he’s still free. But appearances can be deceptive because de Wet has a paltry 2500 men riding with him across the veld, while he’s being pursued by Lieutenant General Hunter with over 20 000. But Hunter is squaring off against a highly motivated and skilled enemy. The Boers regard the large British force as an illegal army, their families are adrift as refugees moving from place. Historically armies like this are notoriously difficult to overcome quickly, unless the invading force resorts to extreme tactics, such as those used by Genghis Khan. This is not possible in the modern era for obvious reasons. De Wet had retreated into the range of hills called the Rhenosterpoort dominated by a large Boer farm, which lies 35 kilometers away from the town of Potchefstroom. He had rested there for a few days while the English reinforcements marched steadily towards his lair. Meanwhile, Lord Roberts' wife, Nora, has arrived in Pretoria with their two children which was not what Queen Victoria had expected when she let it be known she preferred no "camp followers"...