British logistics in the Second Boer War

"[1] Animals were an important part of the supply load, drawn from across the British Empire as well as Europe and the Americas.

By 30 September 1900, 298,000 water bottles, 41,000 camp kettles, and 384,000 bars of soap had been purchased in Britain and sent to South Africa.

With the collieries of the Transvaal unavailable and those of Natal under enemy occupation, there were limited stocks of coal in South Africa.

[2] With South Africa located 6,000 miles from Britain, the logistics needs of the war put its shipping under strain.

Manufacture was carried out at Salt River in Cape Town, Uitenhage outside Port Elizabeth, and East London.

The supply of meat to the troops at the Cape was contracted out to the South African Cold Storage Company.