The Northern Natal Offensive (12 October 1899 - 10 June 1900) was a military invasion of the Northern region of Natal by the Boers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State during the Second Boer War.[1] It was part of a larger offensive by the Boers into the British colonies, with other invasions occurring in Bechuanaland and the Cape Colony. The Boers invaded on 12 October,[2] after Paul Kruger had declared war a day earlier. The Boers initially had success with this offensive, besieging Ladysmith,[3] and reaching as far south as Estcourt in November 1899.[4] However, with Redvers Buller's reinforcements arriving that same month, the Boers retreated to the Tugela River. Multiple attempts were made by Buller to relieve Ladysmith, but to no avail.[5] However, the fourth attempt in February 1900 expelled the Boers from their position at the Battle of the Pieters.[6] Scattered fighting from March-May 1900 continued, with the Boers being expelled from Natal completely at the Battle of Laing's Nek.[7] With the Boers out of Natal, the offensive ended.
| Northern Natal Offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second Boer War | |||||||
 The Siege of Ladysmith, a key engagement in the offensive | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
 South African Republic Orange Free State | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Joseph ChamberlainLord RobertsRedvers BullerGeorge WhiteWilliam Penn SymonsIan HamiltonWalter Kitchener |
Paul KrugerPiet JoubertLouis BothaChristiaan de Wet | ||||||
Background
The British and the Boers had been building up troops at the border between their two domains.[8] The Natal Field Force, under the command of Sir George White, had been dispatched to Ladysmith at the behest of Joseph Chamberlain, if conflict broke between the Boers and the British. A garrison Force had been dispatched to Dundee under the command of Major-General Penn Symons in order to secure the railway lines.[2] Kruger moved his commandos to the border. The position of Northern Natal was defined by a series of passes and hills, which would make easy for the Boers to invade, and throw up defensive positions, as they had done in the First Boer War.[8]
The British forces in Natal numbered ~22,000, whilst the Boers held around 33,000 from both republics. De-escalation attempts were unsuccessful, and on 9 October, Kruger had sent an ultimatum to the British Government, asking them to remove all troops from Natal. The ultimatum arrived late, on 11 October, and was met with general ridicule. That same day, Kruger declared war, and President Steyn of the Orange Free State followed suit. [8][1]
| Artillery | Infantry | Cavalry |
|---|---|---|
| 21st Battery | 2nd Battalion Berkshire Regiment | 5th Dragoon Guards |
| 42nd Battery | 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers | 9th Lancers |
| 53rd Battery | 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment | 19th Hussars |
| No. 10 Mountain Battery | 2nd Battalion Dublin Fusiliers | Imperial Light Horse |
| 13th Battery | 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment | 18th Hussars |
| 67th Battery | 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps | 5th Hussars |
| 69th Battery | 1st Battalion Gloucester Regiment | |
| 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders | ||
| 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers | ||
| 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment | ||
| 1st Battalion Leicester Regiment | ||
| Natal Mounted Police |
Early Offensive
"If Mr. Chamberlain was really playing a game of bluff, it must be confessed that he was bluffing from a very weak hand."
The Boers, under the command of Piet Joubert, crossed the Buffalo River at Volksrust on 12 October, officially beginning the Offensive. By nightfall, they had reached a position outside of Newcastle.[9] The British were concentrated at two positions. 4000 troops under William Penn-Symons were at Dundee, whilst the rest of the force was concentrated at Ladysmith. General White send out limited reconnaissance, but did not find the Boers. The Boers occupied Newcastle on 15 October, and they split into three main forces.[2] The first Boer column headed towards Utrecht, the second column headed south along the railway, and the third headed for Dundee. On 18 October, General White's cavalry spotted the Boers on patrol, and on the night of 19 October, they were seen approaching Dundee.
Battle of Talana Hill
Battle of Elandslaagte
Battle of Rietfontein
Besieging of Ladysmith
Battle of Ladysmith
Siege of Ladysmith
Skirmish of Colenso
Battle of Chieveley
Battle of Willow Grange
Buller's Reinforcements Arrive
Defense of the Tugela
Battle of Colenso
Battle of Wagon Hill
Battle of Spion Kop
Battle of Vaal Krantz
Repulse from Ladysmith
Battle of Pieters Hill
Clearing of Natal
Aftermath
References
- ^ a b "Boer War | National Army Museum". www.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ a b c d Conan Doyle, Arthur (September 1902). "The Great Boer War - Chapter 5". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Spencer Churchill, Winston (May 5, 1900). "London to Ladysmith via Pretoria - Chapter 2". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Conan Doyle, Arthur (September 1902). "The Great Boer War - Chapter 13". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "Siege of Ladysmith". www.britishbattles.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Spencer Churchill, Winston. "London to Ladysmith via Pretoria - Chapter 25". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Conan Doyle, Arthur. "The Great Boer War - Chapter 25". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ a b c d Conan Doyle, Arthur. "The Great Boer War - Chapter 4". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ Reitz, Deneys (1929). "Commando - Chapter 4 "We Invade Natal"". www.angloboerwar.com. Retrieved 2024-11-19.