The Boer War Generals: Peter Trew

Peter Trew was one of the most successful Boer generals of the Boer War. He was a skilled tactician and a charismatic leader, and his victories helped to prolong the war for several years.

The Boer War Generals

by Peter Trew

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	13701 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	302 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Trew was born in 1854 in the Cape Colony. He was the son of a Dutch farmer and a British mother. He grew up on his family's farm and received a basic education. In 1879, he joined the Transvaal Police Force. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a captain in 1881.

In 1899, the Boer War broke out. Trew was one of the first Boer generals to take the field. He commanded the Transvaal Republican Army at the Battle of Colenso, where he defeated a British force twice the size of his own. He also led the Boers to victory at the Battle of Spion Kop and the Battle of Vaal Krantz.

Trew's victories made him a hero to the Boers. He was known for his courage, his determination, and his tactical skill. He was also a skilled propagandist, and he used his victories to rally support for the Boer cause.

However, Trew's success did not last forever. In 1900, the British launched a massive offensive against the Boers. Trew was defeated at the Battle of Paardeberg, and he was captured by the British. He was imprisoned in Bermuda until the end of the war.

After the war, Trew returned to South Africa. He became a farmer and a politician. He served in the Union Parliament and was a member of the Afrikaner Bond. He died in 1931.

Trew was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant military commander, but he was also a ruthless and ambitious man. He was a hero to the Boers, but he was also a hated enemy of the British. His legacy is still debated today.

Early life and career

Peter Trew was born on 18 February 1854 on the farm "Zandheuvel" in the Cradock district of the Cape Colony. His father, also named Peter Trew, was a Dutch farmer from the Eastern Cape, and his mother, Sarah Ann Wood, was a British woman from the Midlands. Trew had two brothers and three sisters.

Trew's father died when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, James Wood. Trew received a basic education at a local school, and then worked as a farmer and a storekeeper. In 1879, he joined the Transvaal Police Force. He quickly rose through the ranks, and became a captain in 1881.

The Boer War

In 1899, the Boer War broke out. Trew was one of the first Boer generals to take the field. He commanded the Transvaal Republican Army at the Battle of Colenso, where he defeated a British force twice the size of his own. He also led the Boers to victory at the Battle of Spion Kop and the Battle of Vaal Krantz.

Trew's victories made him a hero to the Boers. He was known for his courage, his determination, and his tactical skill. He was also a skilled propagandist, and he used his victories to rally support for the Boer cause.

However, Trew's success did not last forever. In 1900, the British launched a massive offensive against the Boers. Trew was defeated at the Battle of Paardeberg, and he was captured by the British. He was imprisoned in Bermuda until the end of the war.

Later life and legacy

After the war, Trew returned to South Africa. He became a farmer and a politician. He served in the Union Parliament and was a member of the Afrikaner Bond. He died in 1931.

Trew was a complex and controversial figure. He was a brilliant military commander, but he was also a ruthless and ambitious man. He was a hero to the Boers, but he was also a hated enemy of the British. His legacy is still debated today.

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The Boer War Generals

by Peter Trew

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	13701 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	302 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE