Battle of Spion Kop

Background

With the beginning of the Siege of Ladysmith in November 1899, British forces in South Africa began moving to relieve the beleaguered city. Guided by General Sir Redvers Buller, they approached the Boer positions along the Tugela River but were defeated by General Louis Botha at the Battle of Colenso in December. Pausing for reinforcements, Buller devised a new plan for January 1900 which called for General Sir Charles Warren to move west and cross the river at Trikhardt's Drift. This movement was to be supported to the east by force under Lieutenant General Neville Lyttelton which would cross at Potgieter's Drift.

Opening Moves

Moving out on January 23, Warren's force marched slowly and in view of the Boer positions. Spotting the British columns, the Boers shifted forces to cover Warren's line of advance. Crossing the river, the British neared the new Boer lines. Scouting ahead, the Earl of Dundonald's cavalry located the Boer right and was in position to pass it and ride on to Ladysmith when Warren recalled it to guard the army's baggage train. Advancing, Warren directed troops on his left to attack the Boer right along the edge of Tabanyama plateau. Pushing forward, Lieutenant General Francis Clery's division was unable to gain ground.

Taking Spion Kop

Surveying the Boer line, Warren decided to make an attempt to capture a large hill known as Spion Kop. Located in the center of the Boer position, its heights dominated the battlefield. That evening, he ordered Major General Edward Woodgate to take the hill with Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Thorneycroft leading the initial assault. Moving forward through a heavy fog, the British succeeded in driving a small Boer force off the crest of the hill. As they attempted to dig in, they found that the summit was largely rock. This precluded the digging of trenches and as a result the British positions were only 16 inches deep.

The Boer Response

As dawn broke on January 24, the British found that they had failed to occupy the highest parts of Spion Kop. Instead, their position consisted of only the lower part of the hilltop while the enemy held superior positions on three sides. Though not overly concerned about the area taken by the enemy, the Boers were worried that the British would capture the two heights of Twin Peaks to the east as the loss of these positions would turn their left flank. In addition, if the British advanced to take nearby Conical Hill and Aloe Knoll, their artillery could move up to strike the Boer positions at Tabanyama (Map).

Beginning a bombardment of the British position, troops under Commandant Hendrik Prinsloo quickly advanced and occupied Conical Hill and Aloe Knoll. Coming under heavy fire, the British were soon assaulted by a force of Boers. Despite heavy fighting, the Boers were unable to dislodge Woodgate's men. As shells continued to fall on the British lines, Woodgate was mortally wounded around 8:30 AM. After several officers were killed or injured, command devolved to Colonel Malby Crofton. Though he signaled for aid, Crofton did little else and Thorneycroft effectively took over atop Spion Kop.

A Desperate Battle

In response to Crofton's signal, Warren ordered Major General J. Talbot Coke's brigade forward and requested that Lyttelton begin a diversionary attack. As Coke's men moved out, Warren sent a runner to Thorneycroft officially placing him in command of the British position. Atop the hill, Thorneycroft was forced to intervene to prevent the surrender of part of the Lancashire Fusiliers. As he waved back the advancing Boers, the lead elements of Coke's men arrived on the scene to bolster his command. Opening fire, a tense fight ensued on the hilltop.

Though the British situation on Spion Kop was desperate, the Boer position was little better. Having taken heavy losses, only volunteers could be persuaded to climb the heights to continue the fight. On the hill, Thorneycroft sent Warren requests for reinforcements and water. Though his brigade was engaged, Coke remained behind the lines and did little to assist. As the afternoon passed, the British right began to waver but held after the arrival of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). With the British line stabilized, the fight on Spion Kop became a stalemate.

Missed Opportunity

Earlier in the day, in response to a request from Warren for reinforcements, Lyttelton had pushed two battalions forward towards Spion Kop. Around 5:00 PM, one of these succeeded in capturing Twin Peaks. Shattered by the loss of these positions, the Boers prepared to withdraw that night until Botha arrived and convinced them to stay. Having heard nothing from Warren and unaware that the battle had been effectively won, Thorneycroft withdrew his men down the hill that night citing a lack of artillery support, water, and ammunition. With this retreat, Buller ordered the troops back from Twin Peaks.

Aftermath of Spion Kop

When the sun rose the next day, the Boers were stunned to find that the British had withdrawn from Spion Kop. In the course of the fighting, the British suffered 243 killed and around 1,250 wounded/captured. Boer losses numbered 68 killed and 267 wounded/missing. Withdrawing back over the Tugela, the British regrouped before making another attempt to breakthrough to Ladysmith. Displeased with Buller's handling of the war, London dispatched Field Marshal Lord Roberts to serve as commander-in-chief. Though relieved of these duties, Buller was left in command on the Natal front. Pressing forward again on February 14, he advanced at a crawl. Finally on the 26th, he launched an all-out assault and succeeded in crossing the river and defeated Botha north of Colenso. Driving the retreating Boers before him, he broke through to Ladysmith the next day. On February 28, 1900, the first relief columns arrived in the town, ending the 118-day siege.