| Battle of Witpoort | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofSecond Boer War | |||||||
 Battle of Witpoort,South African War Memorial (Halifax),Nova Scotia | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 South African Republic | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Major-GeneralEdward Hutton, MajorFrederick Henry Munn | GeneralBen Viljoen,Roland Schikkerling | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 7 killed 30 wounded 2 officers and 22 soldiers captured | 2 killed 7wounded | ||||||
TheBattle of Witpoort was fought during theSecond Anglo-Boer War. MajorFrederick Henry Munn commanded the detachment of theRoyal Irish Fusiliers at Witpoort which was attacked on 16 July 1900, his orders being to "hold his position at all costs". The Boers called on Major Munn to surrender, but, scornfully refusing, he held out from daybreak till 2 pm, when the Canadian forces mounted a counterattack and the Boers retired. The battle became famous because of the death ofHarold Lothrop Borden.
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between theBritish Empire and theAfrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independentBoer republics, theSouth African Republic (Transvaal Republic) and theOrange Free State. It ended with a British victory and the annexation of both republics by the British Empire; both would eventually be incorporated into theUnion of South Africa, adominion of the British Empire, in 1910.
In the Battle of Witpoort, British commanderEdward Hutton had four companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the 1st Mounted Infantry, which was made up of the 1st and 2nd Canadians (who had arrived in camp on 15 July), as well as the Australians of the Queensland Mounted Infantry. Under the command of Major Munn were three companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (or four, according to 'G' Troop) and 60 troopers of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles were placed on the three hills straddling the Witpoort Pass, The British officers were charged by South African Republic GeneralBen Viljoen and renowned Boer fighterRoland Schikkerling.[1]
South African Republic GeneralBen Viljoen had positioned his troops for attack during the night of 15 July and then launched a three-pronged assault on Major Munn and the Irish positions at daybreak. Viljoen ordered a 'general storming of the British's entrenchments'. The battle opened at 06.45 with heavy shelling on Major Munn's troops. Renowned Boer fighter Roland Schikkerling and his comrades went to the north of the New Zealanders' ridge and then charged under heavy rifle fire. The New Zealanders surrendered one of the three hills they occupied, the Boers were in possession of the higher hill which commanded the lower middle hill. Schikkerling captured a captain and twenty New Zealanders and some continued right over the ridge and captured a number of horses. (Boer Willem Morkel du Toit died in the charge.)
The Canadians mounted a counter-attack. ColonelEdwin Alderson sent two squadrons of the Canadians to assist 'the Irish on the kopje which had been vacated by the New Zealanders' and, with the fire from the guns, the position was regained. Lieutenants Borden andJohn Edgar Burch[2] of 'B' Squadron led a counter-attack.[3] They were successful, but at the cost of their lives. Boer marksmen less than 200 yards distant shot them as they stood up to lead the rifles forward. Lord Roberts reported to the War Office that Borden and Burch "were killed while gallantly leading their men in a counter attack upon the enemy's flank at a critical juncture of his assault upon our position."
At 14.00, British officerEdward Hutton moved all of his available troops onto the desperately regained positions and, by sundown, the battle of Witpoort had ended. His losses were seven killed, with 30 wounded. Two officers and 22 soldiers had been taken prisoner. The Canadian losses were heavy and included Lt Borden, the son of the Canadian Minister of Defence. He is buried at theBraamfontein Cemetery, not far from the grave ofWillem Morkel du Toit.
Another famous Canadian casualty was TrooperLorne Mulloy who was blinded in both eyes and awarded theDistinguished Conduct Medal.
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There are very few battlefields of theAnglo-Boer War which present such well preserved traces as does Witpoort with its 51 small two and four man stonebreastworks (sangars) built by the New Zealanders. The long line of stone shelters makes it possible for one to stand there and visualise the mad charge made by renowned Boer fighterRoland Schikkerling and his fellow Johannesburgers. ThereWillem Morkel fell. One can also crouch behind the rocky ridge thirty to forty meters below the sangars and then walk over the ground once swept by the New Zealanders' fire. There Schikkerling took his prisoners.
On the south of the ridge Colonel Alderson led his Canadians in their counter-attack toward the captured position. Today, this area is a well tended farm and in the north, the level ground over which the Boers charged is now awattle plantation.
This battle site, with its clearly identifiable sangars, deserves to be declared a Heritage Site under auspices of the newNational Heritage Commission.
