Battle of Tweebosch

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Battle of Tweebosch
Part of Second Boer War
Date 7 March 1902 Location Western Transvaal, South Africa Result Boer victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Transvaal
Commanders
Lord Methuen	Koos de la Rey
Strength
1250	2000
Casualties and losses
200 killed and wounded, 600 captured	unknown

In the Battle of Tweebosch on 7 March 1902, a Boer commando led by Koos de la Rey crushed a British column under the command of Lieutenant General Lord Methuen during the final months of the Second Boer War.

[edit] Background

In order to trap the Boer guerillas in the Orange Free State, Lord Kitchener built lines of blockhouses connected with barbed wire. But there was not enough water in the Western Transvaal to employ the blockhouse system. Instead, he unleashed nine columns to hunt down De la Rey and the other Boer commanders in the area. On 24 February 1902, De la Rey pounced on a wagon convoy commanded by Lieutenant Colonel S. B. Von Donop. For the loss of 51 Boers, De la Rey killed, wounded or captured 12 officers and 369 men.^[1] In response, Methuen tried to track the Boer leader down.

[edit] Battle

Less than two weeks later, De la Rey ambushed Methuen's column at Tweebosch on the Little Hart River. The British force numbered 1250, including nearly 1000 mounted men and four guns. Methuen's force was largely made up of green troops; these panicked and fled or surrendered. Only the British regulars in the column fought stubbornly in the combat which lasted from dawn until 9:30 am. The British lost 200 killed and wounded, plus 600 men and all four guns captured. After being wounded twice and suffering a broken leg when his horse fell on him, Methuen was captured.^[2] He was the only general taken prisoner by the Boers during the war.^[3]

[edit] Aftermath

The seriously wounded Methuen was sent to a British hospital under a flag of truce. Upon hearing news of the disaster, a badly shaken Kitchener retired to his bedroom for two days and refused to eat. Recovering his poise, he ordered heavy reinforcements sent to the Western Tranvaal and appointed Colonel Ian Hamilton to coordinate the British effort. On 11 April, one of Hamilton's columns beat the Boers at the Battle of Rooiwal. On 9 April, Boer and British delegations convened to discuss a negotiated surrender, which was signed on 31 May.

[edit] References

• Evans, Martin Marix. The Boer War: South Africa 1899-1902. Oxford: Osprey, 1999. ISBN 1-85532-851-8
• Pakenham, Thomas. The Boer War. New York: Avon Books, 1979. ISBN 0-380-72001-9

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ Pakenham, p 583
2. ^ Evans, p 155
3. ^ Pakenham, p 583