Welcome to Ladysmith in the Zulu Kingdom of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa!

Ladysmith's Battlefields

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The Siege of Ladysmith (2 Nov. 1899 to 28 Feb. 1900)

Ladysmith was plunged into newspaper headlines worldwide during 1899 when the town was besieged by the Boers for 118 days.

Leading up to the siege, in an effort to halt the Boer offensive of October 1899, Lt. General George White undertook a night march on the 30th October. Troops led by Colonel Carleton were ambushed and 800 PoWs were taken at Nicholson's Nek. Encounters at Tchrengula and Modderspruit, also known as the Battle of Farquhars Farm, followed. The British were also defeated in this battle. As a result on the "31st, White finally withdrew" to Ladysmith. The Boers were led by General Louis Botha.

The Boers then proceeded to surround Ladysmith and 'cut' the railway link to Durban. The town was then besieged for nearly 4 months - 118 days. General White, in command of the British forces in Ladysmith, defended the town but soon the water supply was cut off. Shortage of food and water became acute, resulting in rapid deterioration of general health conditions. This caused many deaths, mainly as a result of enteric fever. Attacks from both sides, in bids to break through each other's lines, claimed the lives of many men. The siege was finally raised on 28 February 1900 after the British forces under General Sir Redvers Buller succeeded in breaking through.

Wagon Hill (Platrand and Caesars Camp - 6 January 1900)

It was on Platrand that the Boers made their most determined effort to capture Ladysmith. They needed to release troops to counter the British forces that were moving in from the south.

The British, however fought heroically and managed to drive the Boers away from the strategic heights of 'Platrand'.

A self-guide brochure available from the Information Office will assist you to discover the historical sites in the area, including a sculpted memorial to fallen Boers, various monuments to the British forces, gun emplacements and a military cemetery. Splendid view of the entire Siege area.

Spioenkop Battlesite (24 January 1900)

General Bullers second offensive to relieve Ladysmith commenced on 20 January 1900. The plan was to relieve Ladysmith on two fronts. General Sir Charles Warren was given command of 15 000 men and ordered to cross the Thukela River, 32km from Colenso and attempt to outflank the Boer defence line . Buller intended to break through the hills 8km lower down. They would then come together to relieve Ladysmith.

General Warren failed to penertrate the Boer defences on iNtabamnyama - the Rangeworthy Hills- and as a result decided to capture the highest hill in the area Spioenkop. He felt that this was the key to the Boer defence line.

Warren sent a column under General Woodgate to storm Spioenkop at night. They found that this rocky spur was almost undefended, but they failed to entrench properly. At sunrise they realised they were overlooked by Boer marksmen and 'artillery' on adjacent peaks. A fierce battle ensued, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

At nightfall both parties believed that the other was in control and as result both withdrew from Spioenkop. However, the Boers eventually realised that the British had abandoned the hill and decided to reoccupy it.

The site offers a self-guided trail (with brochure) which winds past graves, monuments and trenches. Open daily from 6h00 - 18h00.Tel: (036) 4881578 or Ladysmith Siege Museum at (036) 6372992. Entrance fee.

Battle of Colenso (15 December 1899)

On 15 December 1899 the calm was shattered by gun fire and screams of man and beast. On this fateful day, Lord Robert??s son, Freddy Roberts was mortally wounded. Although the British far outnumbered the Boers, they suffered a shocking defeat. Of the 12 guns brought forward during the battle, 10 were lost to the Boers. Today the gun sites can still be seen and are indicated by markers.

Battle of Tugela Heights (12 - 27 February 1900)

A series of smaller battles, collectively known as the Battle of Tugela Heights, were fought a short distance from Colenso towards Ladysmith. Here General Buller led his troops through numerous attempts to relieve Ladysmith. These battlefields can be seen on the Ezakheni/Newcastle road. They include Hart??s Hill, Wynne?? s Hill and Pieters?? Hill. Up until the Second World War the Battle of Tugela Heights was the biggest battle ever fought by the British Army and until the Falklands War it is said to have been the biggest battle fought by the British Army in the Southern Hemisphere!

For more information on the above contact Ladysmith Tourism.

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