..           

The topographical map model in the Museum on which the defence and relief of Ladysmith in 1899/1900 are described has been completely refurbished. The model has been repainted so that the principal features – rivers, roads, railways and high ground – are more prominent. New explanatory text panels have been added with blue arrows highlighting the movements of General Buller’s relief force. The model is a great improvement on its tired predecessor.

Background

The South African War began on 11 October 1899. Two days later the Boers crossed the border of Transvaal into Natal. After inflicting heavy losses on the British at Talana Hill (20 October) and Lombard’s Kop (30 October), the British withdrew within the confines of Ladysmith, a key railway, postal and telegraphic communications centre between Durban and Johannesburg. The Boer siege of Ladysmith lasting 120 days from 3 November 1899 to 28 February 1900 followed.

Base Hospital Camp Ladysmith.  For more photos and background click here>>

The garrison of Ladysmith consisted of 13,500 British and Imperial troops, under command of Lieutenant-General Sir George White VC, plus 8,000 civilians. The 1st and 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC), and the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (RB), were among the British troops. The Boers occupied the high ground surrounding the town, preferring to bombard and starve out the garrison than attack.

A relief force of over 20,000 British and Imperial troops, commanded by General Sir Redvers Buller VC, assembled during late November/early December 1899 some 20 miles south of Ladysmith before beginning their advance on the besieged town. The force included 3 KRRC, 1 RB, a Rifle Reserve Battalion and the mounted infantry company of 2 KRRC. (see below)

2 KRRC Mounted Infantry

Buller’s attempts to defeat the Boers standing in the way of his army’s advance on Ladysmith were repeatedly frustrated, first at Colenso (15 December 1899) and then at Spion Kop and Twin Peaks (24 January 1900) and Vaal Krantz (5-7 February). Eventually the relief force broke the back of the Boers’ resistance at Hart’s Hill and Pieter’s Hill (27 February). The Boers withdrew and the leading elements of Buller’s army reached Ladysmith on 28 February.

General Buller was much criticised for his lack of imagination and caution in command and for the length of time it took his relief force to reach Ladysmith. The besieged garrison, while expecting early relief, soon found conditions deteriorating. By February the garrison was on half rations with large numbers suffering from enteric and dysentery. In total, there were 10,688 hospital admissions during the siege, with twice as many dying from disease (541) as were killed in action or died of wounds (270).

Despite the trials and tribulations endured by the besieged garrison and the relief column, Ladysmith remained in British hands and became the launch pad for General Buller’s subsequent, successful advance into Transvaal. The British, too, began to learn from their mistakes and, applying superior resources, to create the conditions leading to the eventual defeat of the Boers and the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging ending the South African War on 31 May 1902.

detail from main picture