Bushveldt Carbineers Poster

The Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) were a controversial and infamous Australian irregular military unit that served during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). Originally formed in 1901, the BVC was established as a colonial unit consisting mainly of Australians, with the primary purpose of conducting guerrilla warfare against the Boers, who were fiercely resisting British colonial rule in South Africa. Led by Captain Frederick Carrington and later Captain Alfred Taylor, the Bushveldt Carbineers became known for their ruthless tactics, including the killing of Boer prisoners and the execution of Boer fighters, which earned them a dark reputation during the conflict. One of the most notorious events associated with the Bushveldt Carbineers was the Morosi incident in 1902, in which they were accused of executing captured Boer prisoners and committing other acts of brutality. This event led to the disbandment of the unit and further investigations into their actions. The Bushveldt Carbineers' conduct during the Boer War remains a subject of historical debate and controversy, with their actions condemned by some and viewed as a reflection of the harsh realities of guerrilla warfare by others.