The British fought .
The British were defeated by the Boers during the Boer republics during the First Boer War ( 1880 -- 1881 ) but won the Second Boer War ( 1899 -- 1902 ) .
The British fought and were defeated by the Boers during the Boer republics during the First Boer War ( 1880 -- 1881 ) but won the Second Boer War ( 1899 -- 1902 ) .