Battle of Modder River
Modder River, near Kimberley, South Africa
What happened
A British column under Lord Methuen fought Boer forces of the South African Republic and Orange Free State under Piet Cronjé and Koos de la Rey. Methuen was marching to relieve the besieged town of Kimberley. De la Rey had the Boers dig trenches on the south bank of the Modder River, and when the British approached at dawn, the Boers opened fire and pinned most of them down all day. Some British infantry crossed the river, and the Boers withdrew during the night.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a British victory, but it showed that a simple head-on infantry attack against bolt-action rifles was nearly impossible. Relieving Kimberley, where the businessman Cecil Rhodes was trapped, was a major British goal.
What came next
The British paused for about ten days, and the Boers used the time to dig new trenches at Magersfontein. Kimberley was finally relieved by British cavalry on 15 February 1900.
Did you know?
During the siege, engineers in Kimberley built their own large gun, nicknamed 'Long Cecil' after Cecil Rhodes.
Timeline
- 14 October 1899The siege of Kimberley begins.
- 28 November 1899The British win at Modder River.
- 11 December 1899The Boers win at Magersfontein.
- 21 January 1900The 'Long Cecil' gun is completed.
- 15 February 1900Kimberley is relieved.