#ThrowbackThursday: February 27, 1881

137 years ago on February 27, the Battle of Majuba was faught. Known as the final battle of the First Boer War, the battle of Majuba was the decisive battle of the war, which ended on a resounding victory for the Boers.

March 1, 2018

F.C. Pelser 1 minute read

137 years ago on February 27, the Battle of Majuba was fought. Known as the final battle of the First Boer War, the battle of Majuba was the decisive battle of the war, which ended on a resounding victory for the Boers.

In reaction to the battle of Laingsnek in January of the same year, General George Pomeroy Colley of the British Army ordered around 2 000 troops be sent to Newcastle to occupy Majuba Mountain, where the Brits would have a better vantage point over Boer camps.

Late in the evening of February 26, a day prior to the Battle started ascending up the mountain. The next morning 400 troops were on the top of the mountain when they were spotted by Boer troops.

In retaliation General Nicolaas Smit deployed Boer volunteers of all ages into three groups, under the leadership of Commander Joachim Ferreira, Assistant-Field Cornets Fanus Roos and Danie Malan. After the Boer troops began firing later the afternoon at Gordon’s Knoll, the confusion of the attack lead the British troops to retreat which resulted in many fatalities, injuries and arrests.

92 British soldiers perished in the battle, with around 134 injuries and 59 arrests. Only one Boer troop, H. Bekker was killed during the Battle, and later J. Groenewald also died because of complications.

Read about The Battle of Majuba and the Majuba Festival 2018 in the Newcastle Advertiser March 1.

Thank you to resident, Ulrich Botha, for supplying video footage of the Majuba Festival.