Battle of Elandsfontein

Battle of Elandsfontein
Part of the First Boer War

Aftermath of the battle, in the foreground are British soldiers on patrol, a 7-pounder gun, and British Army Officers.
Date16 January 1881
Location25°45′00″S 28°01′59″E / 25.75000°S 28.03306°E / -25.75000; 28.03306 (Battle of Elandsfontein)
Result Boer victory
Belligerents
 South African Republic  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
South African Republic Unknown United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Lt-Col George Frederick Gildea
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Col William Bellairs
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Lieutenant J.W. Glynn
Strength
Unknown 154 Pretoria Volunteers
129 Royal Scots Fusiliers
74 Pretoria Carbineers
62 Cavalry
39 men of the Royal Artillery
30 men of the 94th Regiment
170 mounted men including 45 mounted infantry
a 9 and 7 pounder field gun
a gun mounted cart
Casualties and losses
8 wounded 4 men killed and 6 wounded
Battle of Elandsfontein is located in South Africa
Battle of Elandsfontein
Location within South Africa

The Battle of Elandsfontein on 11 January 1881 was a military engagement during the First Boer War which took place at Elandsfontein ridge just west of Pretoria. During the war horses proved to be the main means of transport across the South African plains. Because of this, much effort was put in grass mowers by the British for the production of hay. It was during one such expedition to collect the necessary horse fodder on 11 January 1881 in a valley near Elandsfontein, that the British were spotted and attacked by a party of Boers. This resulted in the Boers capturing the mowing machine, a wagon and some mules while the British escaped the encounter. With the belief that their attackers had originated from a laager at Elandsfontein, an escorted expedition force was sent to the laager's believed location on 16 January 1881 to either assert dominance in the area or to destroy the camp outright.[1]

  1. ^ Best, Brian (30 March 2017). The Victoria Cross Wars: Battles, Campaigns and Conflicts of All the VC Heroes. ISBN 9781473887381. Retrieved 28 October 2020.