Battle of Witpoort

Battle of Witpoort
Part of Second Boer War

Battle of Witpoort, South African War Memorial (Halifax), Nova Scotia
Date16 July 1900
Location
Result British Empire victory
Belligerents

 British Empire

 South African Republic
Commanders and leaders
Major-General Edward Hutton, Major Frederick Henry Munn General Ben Viljoen, Roland Schikkerling
Casualties and losses
7 killed
30 wounded
2 officers and 22 soldiers captured
2 killed
7wounded

The Battle of Witpoort was fought during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Major Frederick Henry Munn commanded the detachment of the Royal 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 of Harold Lothrop Borden.