Today in Kimberley's History
February 16th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
The day after Kimberley's relief was not one of rest. While the town celebrated its newfound freedom, British troops immediately resumed the campaign against the retreating Boer forces. The siege had ended, but the South African War was entering a new phase. Around Kimberley, abandoned Boer positions were occupied, supplies were recovered, and the famous siege gun, Long Tom, narrowly escaped capture.
1900 – The Hunt for Long Tom
1 day since the lifting of the Siege of Kimberley
The morning of 16 February 1900 revealed just how quickly the Boer forces had withdrawn.
When British troops entered the abandoned Boer position at Kamfersdam, they found that the famous siege gun known as Long Tom had been removed during the night. Although the gun itself had escaped, much of its equipment remained behind. Its massive gun platform was still in position, together with the elevator, ramrods and cleaning swabs used by the gun crew. Around 200 heavy shells intended for the gun were abandoned, along with large quantities of rifle ammunition.
The Boer positions impressed the British troops. Kamfersdam had been heavily fortified with trenches, bomb-proof shelters and defensive works carefully constructed over the previous four months. Mining debris had been tunnelled to provide protection from shellfire, remarkably similar to the shelters that Cecil Rhodes had arranged in the Beaconsfield debris heaps for Kimberley's civilians during the siege.
Large quantities of provisions were also discovered, including food, livestock and goods taken from surrounding stores. Much of the coal belonging to the nearby mine had been buried in an attempt to deny it to the advancing British forces. Although Kimberley was now safe, military operations continued throughout the day as General French's cavalry pushed north and east in pursuit of the retreating Boers.
Did You Know?
When British troops occupied Kamfersdam, they found Long Tom's gun platform and around 200 heavy shells—but the famous gun itself had been hauled away only hours before they arrived.
1900 – The War Moves East
The relief of Kimberley marked the end of one campaign but the beginning of another.
With Kimberley no longer under siege, General Piet Cronjé abandoned the Boer positions at Magersfontein and began retreating towards the Orange Free State with thousands of soldiers, wagons, families and livestock. General John French, despite the exhaustion of his cavalry after their remarkable ride to Kimberley, wasted no time. On 16 February his mounted troops continued their advance, driving Boer forces from the ridges around Dronfield and securing the approaches to the town.
Winifred Heberden recorded that Dr Jack Heberden accompanied the mounted troops as fighting continued throughout the day. Boer resistance remained stubborn, and British casualties mounted, but by evening the enemy had been driven from their positions.
News also reached Kimberley that large numbers of Boer troops were leaving Magersfontein.
Few people realised it at the time, but the focus of the war had shifted dramatically. The pursuit of Cronjé's retreating army would soon lead to the Battle of Paardeberg, one of the decisive engagements of the South African War. For Kimberley's residents, however, there was immense relief in knowing that the sound of battle was growing more distant with each passing hour.
Did You Know?
General French remained in Kimberley for barely a day after relieving the town before leading his cavalry eastwards in pursuit of General Piet Cronjé's retreating Boer army.
Can't find a Kimberley connection for a particular date? Our Today in Kimberley's History collection is continually expanding as we research Kimberley's rich history. If you know of a notable local event that occurred on a specific date, we'd love to hear from you using the Contact Us page.
Kimberley's Story Continues
Although the Siege of Kimberley had ended, its legacy would endure for generations. The abandoned gun positions, trenches and shelters around the town stood as reminders of four months of hardship, courage and endurance. As the war moved east towards Paardeberg, Kimberley could finally begin the slow process of rebuilding, while remembering those who had endured one of the defining episodes in the city's history.
Continue exploring...