This document provides a summary of the book "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" by E.D. Swinton. The book uses a scenario where a British officer must defend a river crossing from Boer forces in a series of "dreams" or attempts. Each time, the officer learns lessons from his failures and adapts his defensive strategy. Over the course of six dreams, he strengthens his defenses based on lessons like avoiding enfilading fire, using deception and concealment, and positioning troops on high ground. By the sixth dream, he has minimized casualties and successfully held the river crossing against attacks. The document analyzes the lessons learned in each dream and concludes experience and reasoning are important for success in battle

1. THE DEFENCE OF DUFFER DRIFT
A BOOK REVIEW

2. BEFORING GOING TO THE BOOK ???
•DUFFER; Idiot Person
•DRIFT; Area near slow flowing river

3. AIM

4. •1st Published: British United
Service Magazine ,1904
•Published by : Praetorian
Press, LLC, Seatle USA 2012
•Military Small Unit Tactics classic
book
•Lieutenant back sight Foresight
book
•Task to defend Duffers Drift
•Scenario played out six separate
times, in six "dreams.“
•After each defeat, learns lessons
and adapts new strategy

5. Writer: Maj Gen E.D Swinton ,1904
Born : Bangalore, India, in 1868
Education: University College School, Rugby
School, Cheltenham College, Blackhealth
Proprietary School, and the Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich.
Officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers in
1888, serving in India and becoming
Lieutenant in 1891.
Invent Tank , Commandant of Royal
Tank Corps(1934-38)-earning the
rank of Maj. General; Also known as
the Father of Tank Warfare
Battles/Wars: THE
Bore War; nd Boer
War and 1st WW
Awards: Distinguished
Service Order,Knight cdr of
order & companion of the
order of the Bath

6. THE BOER WAR
•BOER, Now Cape Province of south Africa
•Dutch farmers settled in Bore in 1652
•1806 Britian annexed so, Dutch had to fled
•Later British discovered Diamond, Gold and
minerals so clash went on
•Guerrilla warfare

7. BOERS
(DUTCH DECENDANTS
LIVING IN SOUTH
AFRICA)
BRITISH
SOLDIERS
V.S

9. REGREET TABLE MOUNTAIN
Gentle Hill At
NORTH
(SUGAR KOPJE)
1 mile
FARM AREA/
INCIDENTAMBLA
OPEN LEVELLED GROUND
1000m
UNDILUATING
GROUND
2000 M
1000 M
KARAL
WASCHOUT HILL
SILLIAASVOGEL RIVER
EN APPROACH
NON SCALE
ORDER
NOT
TO
ALLOW
BOERS
ENEMY
TO
CROSS
THROU
GH THE
DRIFT
KAFFIRS AND LOCAL
RESIDENTS

10. BRIEF ANALYSIS OF BOOK
New officer given chance of
independent command
No battle experience, defensive measures
reading documents.
Careless in defence;
No defence, measure of defence more
important than comfort of men

11. Assumptions
• Picks, shovels unnecessary
• Rising ground good
• Guard target closely
• Natural obstacle; defence by 3 side
river
• Enemy far away
• Information from locals
valid
• Locals not hostile
• Fires a good idea
Results
• Assault before dawn
• Locals aid Boers in
intelligence
•Brits: 10 killed, 21 wounded
Boers: 1 killed, 2 wounded
• Boer convoy crosses drift

12. Dream 1 Lesson Learnt
1. Do not put off defense
2. Do not trust locals
3. Do not advertise position
4. Do not be in tents
Position of camp
No
movements
of civilian
Sentry
post
Underground trench during
firing

13. Made the defense more stronger
Again , same night lose the battle
Assumptions
• Keeping posts further out gives
more time
• Square Trenches
• sufficient Soldiers only diggers
• Keep locals out, fires out
sufficient
Results
• Brits: 24 killed, 6 wounded
• Boers able to fire from
cover of bushes
• Brit position known
• Brits unable to fire from cover
• Square trenches increase
casulty

14. Dream 2 Lesson Learnt
• With modern weapons:
a. Don’t sit on top of drift
b. Make positions away from
concealed ground
c. Make defences concealed
and bullet-proof
d. Square trenches not effective
• Spread disinformation, deception
• Force labor
Lesson
learnt
Defensive position at spot
may not arise problem
Dignity of
labour
Let strange men
cannot be let off

15. Send out two patrols to bring all male villagers for diggings.
Prepared every thing for the night except attack from the air.
Women betrayed and finally forced to surrender.
Assumptions
• Position outside horseshoe
better cover
• Straight trench w/single
break sufficient
• Sufficient to guard male
population
• Enemy has same arms as
you
Results
• Shelled from a distance
• Trenches useless (a target)
against indirect fire
• Location given away by other
locals

16. Dream 3 Lesson Learnt
• Gather all possible locals Against shelling, scatter in hostile
environment
• gather troops; against direct fire,
• Narrow, steep, trapezoidal trenches necessary
Surprise Packet
Shallow trench with a
low parapet against
gun, donot conjust
your defence
Lesson

17. Patrols sent to bring all human and animals in use for enemy shot at.
EN stalked, find unusual, gun from top of hill
Assumptions
• Dead animals won’t be noticed
• Solid parapet sufficient for
return fire
• Obvious front: North
• No cover for trench necessary
Results
• Position detected
• Trench enfiladed
• Position surrounded
• Brits incapable of returning
effective fire
• Brits: 25 killed, 17 wounded

18. DREAM 4 LESSON LEARNT
• The front is everywhere
• Watch your rear
• Beware of being enfiladed
a) Rifle fire
b) Long-range guns
• Do not put your trench behind
rising ground
• Do not huddle your men
• Cover from sight worth more
than from bullets
• Surprise a great advantage
• Conceal your position
• Look from the enemy’s view
Lesson
Not keep all
man in a small
trench
Checkback
concealment
frm en point of
view
For
Surprise,obtai
n concealment
No trench
near the rising
ground
“Head
cover"
and
"loophole
s"

19. With lessons in all, the defence was strengthen
Attack began , caused a heavy blow,25 enemies killed but the remaining escaped
Serious damages to the enemies but the mission failed
Assumptions
• High ground is sufficient
• Guarding ground is a solely
defensive operation
• Cover is the main criterion
when choosing positions
Results
• Deception useful
– Boer scouts caught off-guard
– Sandbags provided false
target
• Ground made up for numbers
• “Dead ground” made road safe for
Boers to pass under covering fire

20. Dream 5 Lesson Learnt
Beware of dead
ground
A hill has
"command," the
best place to hold.
“Bluff" trench to waste much ammunition,
and draw fire away from the actual defences
LESSON

21. Force Deployment
• Good ground:
– Highest points
– Close to objectives
– Be aware of dead ground
– Can direct fire to multiple areas
• Internal lines:
– Capable of quick reinforcement
– Troops don’t waste energy

22. Twenty two lessons, conclusion to hold the river bed
Around 20 or 30 enemy killed
The total losses- 11 killed and 15 wounded
The troops were able to hold the drift
The next day suddenly reinforcement had come and
were relieved.

23. SIXTH DREAM
STRATEGY IN SIXTH DREAM
• Trenches to cover dead ground
• Decentralized command
• Use of natural cover
• Extensive deception
RESULT IN SIXTH DREAM
• Brits: 11 killed, 15 wounded
• Boers: 25+ killed
• Drift held

24. Strength and Weakness
Deliver message in the form of lessons
Good commander make work until surely safe from any enemy
View the whole defense area from the enemy's point of view
Decision of BF to imprison locals is doubtful

25. Conclusion
EXPERIENCE AND THE REASONING POWER
COUNTS LOT IN BATTLEFIELD.
LESSONS AND TACTICS REQUIRES DURING
THE PERIOD OF WAR
UNSUCCESS CAN DRIVE YOU TO THE WAY OF SUCCESS

26. RECCOMENDATIONS
•Written principles may not be always correct
•judge on basic of situation and capability
•Must Develop self learning and self correcting habit