by Allan Gordon | Feb 22, 2020 | Anniversaries, South African War 1899 - 1902
Lord Baden-Powell, better known as the founder of the Boy Scouts movement, was born on 22 February 1857. Baden–Powell saw service in Southern Africa in the Anglo-Zulu War and in the Matabeleland Campaign. He is best known for his role in the Defence of...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 20, 2020 | Anniversaries, South African War 1899 - 1902
Colonel Henry Seymour Rawlinson was born on 20 February 1864. He saw service in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. He was involved in the final battle of the war – the Battle of Rooiwal on 11 April 1902.
by Allan Gordon | Feb 18, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Monte Cristo and the less impressive Green Hill were now the final of the ring of hills before Hlangwane could be attacked. Green Hill on the west was occupied by Colonel Norcott whilst Colonel Dundonald attacked the eastern side of the ridge. After a preliminary...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 17, 2020 | Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
The events leading up to the Battle of Paardeberg and the capture of Boer General Piet Cronje started on this day. Cronje was retreating with his forces and a large convoy of wagons from the Northern Cape towards Bloemfontein. On 17 February 1900 he reached the...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 17, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Following on from the success at Hussars Hill, General Buller’s next objective was Cingolo Hill. On the morning of 17 February 1900 Major-General Lyttleton attacked Cingolo Nek, whilst Colonel Dundonald and General Hildyard attacked Cingolo Hill. By that evening, both...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 16, 2020 | Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
After the Battle of Modder River, Commandant-General Piet Cronje laagered his force at Brown’s Drift, a drift which crosses the Modder River near the western border of the Orange Free State. He stayed there until 14 February 1900, when, because of the advancing...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 16, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Dronfield is a station just north of Kimberley, on the line to Mafeking. To the east of the station is a ridge – Dronfield Ridge, which was occupied by the Boers at the beginning of the siege of Kimberley. On 24 October 1899, the Boers were driven off the lodge by a...
by Allan Gordon | Feb 15, 2020 | On This Day, South African War 1899 - 1902
The last Long Tom shells were fired into Kimberley on the morning of 15 February 1901. At about 3pm relief troops were sent to the southeast of Kimberley. By late afternoon the first relief troops entered the town.
by Allan Gordon | Feb 15, 2020 | Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 15 February 1900, Brigadier-General J.R.P. Gordon led his Brigade across this drift which crosses the Modder River. This drift was strategic in the Relief of Kimberley as it outflanked the Boer position and facilitated the British advance.
by Allan Gordon | Feb 14, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 12 February 1900 General Buller decided on a new approach to relieve Ladysmith. He would concentrate his efforts on a ring of hills east of Colenso and south of the Tugela River with the objective of taking Hlangwane. The attack of Colonel Dundonald’s cavalry and...
