Whilst the Boers were attacking the British garrison at Dundee (Battle of Talana), a Boer force under General Johannes Kock occupied the railway station at Elandslaagte cutting the communications between the main British force at Ladysmith and Dundee.
Elandslaagte was a farm 20 km north east of Ladysmith. Lieutenant General White who commanded the garrison in Ladysmith ordered Major General French to recapture the station.
When French arrived at the station he found the Boers were present in strength, and sent for reinforcements, which arrived by train.
Three batteries of British field guns bombarded the Boer position, whilst the British forces mounted a frontal attack.
The left flank of the Boers was also attacked by British mounted infantry. The sky had steadily been growing dark with thunderclouds, and as the British made their assault, the storm burst. In the poor visibility and pouring rain, the British infantry occupied the main part of the Boer position. The Boers retreated.
British losses were 50 killed and 220 wounded
