SAMBOURNE

General Sir Redvers BULLER (1839-1908) was an Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross. He served as Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in South Africa during the early months of the Second Boer War and subsequently commanded the army in Natal until his return to England in November 1900. He was a popular public figure and had a triumphal return from South Africa. However, his reputation had been damaged by his early reverses in South Africa, especially within the Unionist government. When public disquiet emerged over the continuing guerrilla activities by the defeated Boers, the Secretary of State for War, St. John Brodrick, and Lord Roberts sought a scapegoat. The opportunity was provided by the numerous attacks in the newspapers on the performance of the British Army. It came to a head when a virulent piece written by The Times journalist Leo Amery was publicly answered by Buller in a speech on 10th October 1901. Brodrick and Roberts saw their opportunity to pounce and, summoning Buller to an interview on 17th October, Brodrick, with Roberts in support, demanded his resignation on the grounds of breaching military discipline. Buller refused and was summarily dismissed on half pay on 22nd October. His request for a court martial was refused, as was his request to appeal to the King.In 1901 Sambourne had taken over from John Tenniel as chief Cartoonist on Punch magazine.