Siege of Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa
What happened
The British garrison under Colonel Robert Kekewich, with the mining magnate Cecil Rhodes in the town, held out against Boer forces under Cornelius Wessels and later Ignatius Ferreira. At the start of the Second Anglo-Boer War, Boer forces surrounded the diamond-mining town of Kimberley and shelled it on most days. The defenders built fortifications and even made their own large gun, called 'Long Cecil', in the De Beers mine workshops. After 124 days, British cavalry under John French broke through and relieved the town.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Pressure to rescue Kimberley shaped British strategy early in the war. Its relief was followed straight away by the decisive British victory at Paardeberg.
What came next
French's cavalry relieved the town on 15 February 1900. The Boer general Piet Cronjé was then cornered at Paardeberg.
Did you know?
In 1882 Kimberley became the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to have electric street lights.
Timeline
- 1871Diamonds are found at Kimberley.
- 14 October 1899The siege begins.
- 21 January 1900The 'Long Cecil' gun is completed.
- 15 February 1900British cavalry relieve Kimberley.