Battles & Campaigns · 1900
Battle of Nooitgedacht
Nooitgedacht, South Africa
What happened
About 2,100 Boers attacked Clements's camp at Nooitgedacht. Beyers's men captured the mountaintop, and De la Rey and Smuts took most of the nearby hills. The British gathered on Yeomanry Hill and withdrew toward Pretoria that afternoon.
Why it matters
Clements avoided being wiped out but lost half his brigade because of a poor choice of camp. Smuts later wrote that he could not imagine 'a more fatal spot for a camp'.
What came next
Clements's column was soon back in action in the area.
Did you know?
The British saved a large naval gun by rolling it downhill and dragging it back to their position.
Timeline
- 16 Aug 1900Siege at Elands River lifted.
- 13 Dec 1900Battle of Nooitgedacht.
- 30 Oct 1901Battle of Bakenlaagte.
- 31 May 1902Treaty of Vereeniging.