Battle of Poplar Grove

Battle of Poplar Grove (Slag van Modderrivierpoort)
Part of Second Boer War
Sketch of positions at Poplar Grove, March 7, 1900
Date 7 March 1900 Location Poplar Grove, Orange Free State 28°54′32″S 25°21′57″E / 28.90889°S 25.36583°E / -28.90889; 25.36583 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Australia	South African Republic  Orange Free State
Commanders and leaders
Lord Roberts	Christiaan de Wet
Strength
5,000[1] 7 guns[1]	5,000
Casualties and losses
8 killed 49 wounded[1]	1 killed 1 wounded[1]

The Battle of Poplar Grove (Afrikaans: Slag van Modderrivierpoort) was an incident on 7 March 1900 during the Second Boer War in South Africa. It followed on from the Relief of Kimberley as the British Army moved to take the Boer capital of Bloemfontein. The Boers were demoralised following the surrender of Piet Cronjé at the Battle of Paardeberg. General Sir John French's cavalry attacked the Boer force from the rear while mounted infantry and horse artillery attacked from the right flank. The Boers abandoned their positions in panic before the cavalry. The commander-in-chief of the Free State forces, Christiaan de Wet, in his book called the chapter on the subject "Wild Flight from Poplar Grove". This battle was followed by the Battle of Driefontein (Afrikaans: Slag van Driefontein, also called Battle of Abrahamskraal (Slag van Abrahamskraal)) on March 10, 1900.