Today in Kimberley's History
January 24th
"Every day has a story about Kimberley's past."
On this day...
The twenty-fourth of January was one of the darkest days of the Siege of Kimberley. In retaliation for the success of Long Cecil, the Boer artillery unleashed the heaviest bombardment of the entire siege, raining hundreds of shells onto the town. One year later, Emily Hobhouse's courageous report exposed another tragic consequence of the South African War.
1900 – The Heaviest Bombardment of the Siege
101 days into the Siege of Kimberley
On 24 January 1900, Kimberley endured the most intense artillery bombardment of the entire siege.
In The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley, October 1899 to February 1900, Winifred Heberden described being awakened before dawn by what initially sounded like the long-awaited arrival of the British Relief Column. Instead, it was the thunder of nine Boer guns firing simultaneously from positions around Kimberley.
The artillery was positioned at Alexandersfontein, Wimbledon Ridge, the Lazaretto, Diebels Vlei, Kamfersdam and Susannah, while the defenders answered with every available gun, including Long Cecil, the Wesselton gun, batteries at the forts and the 7-pounder at No. 2 Redoubt. From her window, Winifred watched Long Cecil firing steadily while shells screamed overhead towards the Police Barracks and the nearby Ordnance Depot.
By evening, it was estimated that more than 500 shells had fallen on Kimberley. Buildings throughout the town were damaged. One shell exploded near the rear entrance of the Kimberley Club while members were eating supper, while others landed around Nazareth House and residential neighbourhoods. Despite the intensity of the bombardment, casualties were remarkably few.
Did You Know?
Long Cecil fired around 60 shells during the day's fighting, while the Wesselton gun fought a prolonged artillery duel with the Boer gun known as "Susannah".
1900 - The Tragic Death of Maggie Maddocks
The heaviest shelling of the siege also claimed one of its most heartbreaking civilian victims. Shortly before 7.00 a.m., a Boer shell struck a house in Scholtz Street, where 16-year-old Magdalena Margaret Georgina "Maggie" Maddocks was dressing for the day. The shell exploded in her bedroom, killing her instantly.
Winifred Heberden recognised Maggie as a former patient of her husband, Dr Jack Heberden, from the family's earlier years in Barkly West. Maggie's father, Thomas "Yankee" Maddocks, had himself died four years earlier during the Matabele Uprising in what is now Zimbabwe. Her mother, Johanna, and six brothers and sisters were left to mourn another devastating family tragedy. Today, Maggie Maddocks is remembered as one of the innocent civilians whose lives were lost during the Siege of Kimberley.
Did You Know?
Although thousands of shells fell on Kimberley during the siege, comparatively few civilians were killed. Each individual death, therefore, had a profound impact on the close-knit community.
1901 – Emily Hobhouse Speaks Out
On this day in 1901, Emily Hobhouse submitted her report on conditions in the British concentration camps established during the South African War. After visiting camps in the Orange Free State, including Bloemfontein, she described severe overcrowding, inadequate food, poor sanitation and widespread disease affecting women and children.
Her report shocked many people in Britain and abroad, although the British government initially rejected much of her criticism. Subsequent investigations confirmed many of her findings, leading to important reforms in the camps. Even so, thousands of civilians died before conditions improved. While the concentration camps were not located in Kimberley, their story forms an important part of the wider history of the South African War that shaped the city and the region.
Did You Know?
Emily Hobhouse's determination to expose conditions in the concentration camps made her one of the most respected humanitarian figures of the South African War. Today, she is remembered in both South Africa and Britain for her compassion and courage.
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
These are just two of the many events that helped shape Kimberley. Every date on the calendar reveals another chapter in the city's remarkable history.
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