November 2, 1899 · Natal Theater
November 2, 1899
After a series of British disasters in October 1899, General White withdrew approximately 12,000 troops into the town of Ladysmith in Natal, where Boer forces under Joubert and then Botha besieged them for 118 days. The besieged garrison conducted sorties and repulsed Boer assaults, while British relieving forces under Buller and then Roberts repeatedly attempted to break through. Inside Ladysmith, disease — typhoid, dysentery, and enteric fever — killed far more men than Boer fire. The garrison held horses, mules, and eventually rats for food as supplies ran low. Relief finally came on February 28, 1900, when forces under Buller broke through after the Battle of Tugela Heights.
Commanders