National Scouts

The National Scouts were a military unit in South Africa created by the British authorities in 1900 during the Second Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902).

[1] They were recruited in significant numbers towards the end of the war from Afrikaner prisoners and defectors, and were commonly known as hensoppers (Afrikaans for Hands-uppers) or joiners among the Boers.

[4] In most cases, they were initially employed as "cattle guards" (Afrikaans: beeswagters) to collect and protect the livestock of farms against seizure by roaming Boer commandos.

[5] The joiners on the other hand were Boers who offered their services to the enemy by acting as National Scouts or guides to the British troops in the field.

The hostility ran high among the Boer population against those joiners,[7] which was summed up in a poem sent to the National Scouts' membership during the war: (Afrikaans original:) Verraders!

Frédéric de Haenen: "Surrendered Boers at Belfast anxious to join the National Scouts after being addressed by Lord Kitchener ." Drawing after a photograph of a scene in the aftermath of the Battle of Belfast , 21 - 27 August 1900, lost by the Boers.
Boer general Pieter Daniel de Wet.
Boer general Andries Cronjé with ammunition.