Northern Natal Offensive

Northern Natal Offensive
Part of the Second Boer War
The Siege of Ladysmith, a key engagement in the offensive
Date 12 October 1899 - 10 June 1900 Location Natal, South Africa Result British Victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	South African Republic  Orange Free State

The Northern Natal Offensive (12 October 1899 - 10 June 1900) was a military invasion of the Northern region of Natal by the Boers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State during the Second Boer War.^[1] It was part of a larger offensive by the Boers into the British colonies, with other invasions occurring in Bechuanaland and the Cape Colony. The Boers invaded on 12 October^[2], after Kruger had declared war a day earlier. The Boers initially had success with this offensive, besieging Ladysmith,^[3] and reaching as far south as Estcourt in November 1899.^[4] However, with Redvers Buller's reinforcements arriving that same month, the Boers retreated to the Tugela River. Multiple attempts were made by Buller to relieve Ladysmith, but to no avail.^[5] However, the fourth attempt in February 1900 expelled the Boers from their position at the Battle of the Pieters.^[6] Scattered fighting from March-May 1900 continued, with the Boers being expelled from Natal completely at the Battle of Laing's Nek.^[7] With the Boers out of Natal, the offensive ended.