After the success at Blood River Poort General Louis Botha was planning his next attack in northern Natal before moving back to the Transvaal.
Itala had been a Mission Station before being converted into a British fort and was to be the focus of an attack by the Boers. The Boers moved from their base at Babanango, a mountain on the border between the Transvaal and Natal, to attack Itala. The attack commenced at 2 a.m. when the British outposts, having been warned by Zulu scouts of the advancing Boers, started firing on the advancing Boers. The attack continued for the most part of 25 September but with both sides running short of ammunition, the Boers retired and the British evacuated their position, moving to the nearby post of Nkandla.
British losses were reported to have been 25 killed and 60 wounded. Driver F.G. Bradley was awarded a Victoria Cross for bravery in the action.
