Today in Kimberley's History
February 13th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
The thirteenth of February marks another dramatic chapter in the closing days of the Siege of Kimberley. While shells continued to rain down on the besieged town, events beyond the Boer lines were rapidly changing the course of the war. Unknown to the civilians sheltering in Kimberley, the cavalry of General John French was advancing swiftly across the veld, bringing relief ever closer.
1900 – Relief is on the Move
121 days since the beginning of the Siege of Kimberley
For the people of Kimberley, 13 February 1900 seemed little different from the days that had come before.
At six o'clock that morning, the Boer bombardment resumed. Shells fell continuously throughout the day, causing further damage across the town. The Mounted Camp bore much of the attack, while those sheltering in Beaconsfield anxiously watched each shell burst from what they hoped was a safe distance. Writing in her diary, Winifred Heberden recorded: "Shells have fallen continuously since 6 a.m., and Kimberley has had a very bad time of it. The Mounted Camp got a good share, but we ourselves had no more 'over shots!'"
Although the shelling remained relentless, something remarkable was unfolding beyond the horizon. More than 100 kilometres to the south-east, Field Marshal Lord Roberts had launched a bold plan to relieve Kimberley. Rather than attacking the Boer defences head-on along the railway line, he ordered Lieutenant-General John French and his cavalry division to sweep around the Boer flank, crossing the Riet and Modder Rivers before racing north towards the besieged town.
On 13 February, French's mounted troops were making rapid progress across the open veld, outmanoeuvring Boer forces who had expected a conventional advance. The speed of the cavalry surprised both friend and foe, opening the way for one of the most famous relief operations of the South African War. Inside Kimberley, however, the townspeople knew nothing of these developments. Telegraph lines had long since been cut, newspapers were heavily censored, and rumours were often unreliable. As another day of shellfire came to an end, most residents could only hope that the long-awaited relief force was still on its way. They would not have to wait much longer. Within two days, General French's horsemen would ride into Kimberley, bringing an end to 124 days of siege.
Did You Know?
General John French's cavalry covered nearly 120 kilometres in just three days during the final dash to Kimberley, one of the fastest and most daring mounted operations of the South African War.
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Kimberley's Story Continues
The people of Kimberley could not see beyond the smoke of exploding shells, but history was about to change. As the siege entered its final hours, courage, endurance, and hope carried the town through one last day of uncertainty before relief finally arrived. The story of the Siege of Kimberley remains one of the defining chapters in the city's remarkable history.
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