Battle of Belmont
Belmont, Northern Cape, South Africa
What happened
A British force under Lord Methuen attacked Boers under Jacobus Prinsloo who blocked the road to besieged Kimberley. Methuen was marching to rescue the town of Kimberley. He sent the Guards on a night march to get round the Boer position on Belmont kopje, but poor maps left them in front of it instead. The British crossed open ground and took the hill, and the Boers rode away on their ponies.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first of Methuen's battles on the road to Kimberley. It showed the problems of poor maps and weak scouting.
What came next
The Boers re-formed at Graspan, and Methuen fought on at Modder River and was defeated at Magersfontein, one of the British disasters of 'Black Week'.
Did you know?
A British naval gun used at Belmont was nicknamed 'Joe Chamberlain'.
Timeline
- November 1899Methuen arrives with orders to relieve Kimberley.
- 23 November 1899Battle of Belmont.
- 7 March 1902Methuen is captured at Tweebosch and released by Koos de la Rey.
- 30 October 1932Methuen dies at Corsham Court.