by Allan Gordon | Oct 20, 2020 | Anniversaries, Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
The Battle of Talana, which was the first set piece battle of the South African War (1899-1902) was fought just outside Dundee in Natal on 20 October 1899. At dawn Boer Commandos had occupied the hills of Talana and Impati north of Dundee. The British infantry, on...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 16, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Jagersfontein was a small mining town just over 100 km south west of Bloemfontein. In mid October 1900 it was garrisoned by a small detachment of British soldiers under the command of Major King-Hall. During the night of 15 October a small party of Boers ‘crept’ into...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 12, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
The engagement at Kraaipan, on a British armoured train, was the first engagement of the South African War (1899-1902). Kraaipan was a postal station on the railway line between Vryburg and Mafeking. The armoured train, named Mosquito, was carrying heavy artillery,...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 30, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Moedwil was a farm about 25 km west of Rustenburg, and Colonel Kekewich who was scouting for Boers in the area, camped on the farm on 29 September 1901. The camp was not ideally situated as it was visible over miles of flat terrain, and was bordered on the one side by...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 26, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Whilst planning the attack on Itala, General Botha had divided his force into two, with one half attacking Itala and the other half, Fort Prospect. Fort Prospect was about 20 km north west of the town of Melmoth, and about 15 km east of Itala. The attack began in the...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 25, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
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...
