Today in Kimberley's History
February 23rd
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
Eight days after Kimberley's relief, the war that had once threatened the Diamond City was reaching its climax at Paardeberg. While British commanders tightened their grip around General Piet Cronjé's trapped army, one final Boer attempt was made to reopen the escape route. It would prove to be one of the last significant efforts to change the course of the campaign.
1900 – The Fight for Oskoppies
8 days since the lifting of the Siege of Kimberley
By 23 February 1900, the Battle of Paardeberg had entered its seventh day.
General Piet Cronjé and thousands of Boer soldiers remained trapped beside the Modder River, surrounded by British forces under Lord Roberts. The key to Cronjé's escape lay on a low ridge known as Oskoppies, later called Kitchener's Kop. For several days, General Christiaan de Wet had held this vital position, hoping to keep open an escape route for the besieged Boer force. However, mounting pressure from the advancing British had forced him to withdraw.
Refusing to abandon his comrades without one last effort, De Wet organised a determined counterattack on 23 February. He entrusted the assault to General Philip Botha together with Commandants Koos de la Rey, Fick, Kriegler, Helgaard (Harry) Theunissen and Vilonel. Around 500 Boer fighters, drawn mainly from the Heidelberg and Winburg commandos, advanced against British troops of the Yorkshire Regiment and The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) holding the ridge.
The attack met fierce resistance. Unable to break through, most of the Boer force was forced to retreat. Commandant Helgaard Theunissen and eighty-seven members of the Winburg Commando remained behind to cover their comrades' withdrawal. After holding their position for several hours against overwhelming odds, they were compelled to surrender. At least fifteen members of the Winburg Commando were killed during the action.
For Kimberley's residents, the news from Paardeberg was clear. The last realistic opportunity to rescue Cronjé's army had failed. The force that had besieged Kimberley for 124 days was now itself trapped, and surrender was only a matter of time. Four days later, on 27 February 1900, Cronjé would lay down his arms, bringing one of the most decisive campaigns of the South African War to an end.
Did You Know?
Oskoppies, later known as Kitchener's Kop, was the key high ground overlooking General Piet Cronjé's trapped army. Had the Boers regained it, they might have reopened an escape route from Paardeberg.
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Kimberley's Story Continues
The relief of Kimberley did not end the South African War overnight. Instead, it marked the beginning of a dramatic reversal. Within days, the besiegers had become the besieged, and events at Paardeberg would shape the future of the conflict. Kimberley's place in history was secured not only by surviving the siege but also by the decisive campaign that followed its liberation.
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