Battle of Paardeberg
Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAT : Battle of Paardeberg
| Second Boer War |
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| Talana Hill – Elandslaagte – Modder River – Stormberg – Magersfontein – Colenso – Spion Kop – Bloody Sunday – Paardeberg – Ladysmith – Sanna's Post – Mafeking |
The Battle of Paardeberg was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. It was fought near Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modderrivier ("Mud River") in the Orange Free State. It was the largest and bloodiest single - as well as last major - battle of the war.
The battle started on 18 February 1900, when the British forces under command of Lord Horatio Kitchener surrounded the Boer forces, under General Piet Cronje, at Paardeberg. Kitchener was taken ill the next day and thus Field Marshal Lord Roberts assumed command of the Imperial forces. After a drawn-out siege of nine days, the Boer forces finally surrendered on 27 February.
The losses on the Boer side were heavy - 100 killed, 250 wounded and 4,096 captured. The loss of nearly ten percent of its fighting strength further weakened the Boer forces and led the way for the Relief of Ladysmith. British losses were equally heavy - 258 killed, 1 211 wounded and 86 captured.
The Battle of Paardeberg also marked the first ever deployment of the Canadian Army. The Royal Canadian Regiment suffered nearly 100 casualties and was credited with leading the assault that led to the surrender of the Boer army.
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