Battles & Campaigns · 1900
Battle of Elands River (1900)
Swartruggens, South Africa
What happened
The Boers shelled a British supply depot at Brakfontein Drift on the Elands River for days. The defenders dug in behind stone walls and held on with little artillery support. They refused De la Rey's call to surrender, and the Boers eventually withdrew.
Why it matters
The garrison held out until a column under Lord Kitchener relieved it on 16 August. But the relief pulled troops away from the hunt for Christiaan de Wet, who escaped.
What came next
According to some accounts, De Wet's escape helped the war go on for almost two more years.
Did you know?
Kitchener called the defence 'remarkable'. The garrison also included African porters, drivers and runners; four of them were killed and fourteen wounded.
Timeline
- 4 Aug 1900The Boers begin shelling the depot.
- 16 Aug 1900Kitchener relieves the garrison.
- 31 May 1902Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war.