The British did not realise it at the time but by midnight on the 27th February, the battle was won. The Boers abandoned the last of their fiercely defended positions on Pieter’s Hill and withdrew towards Ladysmith where they joined the columns of wagons and guns moving further to the north.The advance guard of Buller’s relief column would be in Ladysmith the next day. The series if battles that we today call “Thukela Heights” were over.
It had all started when General Buller’s disillusioned troops had returned from the upper Thukela to discover that, since the battle of Colenso in mid-December, the Boers had crossed the river and fortified hills on the south bank.
About 1 500 Boers were well dug in and supported by artillery. Now not only would they have to find a way to get across the river, but they would first have to dislodge the Boers from the south bank!
On the 12th February, the mounted brigade occupied the small knoll that would become known as Hussar Hill. The final battle had begun. Day by day – metre by metre – General Buller’s troops forced the Boers from their strongholds.
By the morning of 20th February, the British had regained the entire south bank but instead of crossing the river immediately and attacking the Boers who were in some disarray, Buller delayed for 24 hours and by the time the crossing began, the Boers had formulated a sound defensive strategy and were determined that Britain’s soldiers would pay dearly for every metre gained. And so it proved:
21st Feb - The Colenso Koppies;
22nd & 23rd Feb – Wynne’s Hills;
23rd & 24th Feb – Hart’s Hill;
26th & 27th Feb – Hart’s Hill, Railway Hill and Pieter’s Hill.
By the morning of the 28th, the Boers had gone. It was all over but the British had suffered – officially - over 2 250 casualties.
In reality, it is possible that many more men’s bones lie out there in the African sun – the price paid to restore the honour of the empire.
Audio : Ron - "snapshots" on the Battle Of Thukela Heights
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