Today in Kimberley's History
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Annexation of the Orange Free State is announced - 1900
At the beginning of May 1900, the British Army, under Field Marshal Lord Roberts, launched an attack on the Orange Free State. President M T Steyn and General C R de Wet of the Orange Free State (Boer Republic) failed to defend their capital town Bloemfontein. The British advancement from the Free State capital was delayed for six weeks to enable Roberts to rest his troops and horses. Shortly after his entry into Bloemfontein, Roberts announced the annexation of the Orange Free State. He also promised burghers who surrendered voluntarily that they would be allowed to return to their farms. The new colony was known as the Orange River Colony.
At the beginning of May 1900, the British Army, under Field Marshal Lord Roberts, launched an attack on the Orange Free State. President M T Steyn and General C R de Wet of the Orange Free State (Boer Republic) failed to defend their capital town Bloemfontein. The British advancement from the Free State capital was delayed for six weeks to enable Roberts to rest his troops and horses. Shortly after his entry into Bloemfontein, Roberts announced the annexation of the Orange Free State. He also promised burghers who surrendered voluntarily that they would be allowed to return to their farms. The new colony was known as the Orange River Colony.
King Dinuzulu defies British order - 1901
Allegedly Zulu Paramount Chief Dinuzulu (Dinizulu) refused British instructions to take up arms against the Boer republics during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Col. H.B. Bottomley of the Imperial White Horse warned the king that, under martial law, he was obliged to follow orders or face banishment. In March 1901, British military law had been imposed on the region and the Zulu people were armed by the British. There is controversy about the date of 28 May, as another source gives it as 31 May. The accuracy of this event can be debated as another tradition states that a Zulu force of 6,000 men was assembled by Dinuzulu and Bottomley at oSuthu and advanced against Boers who had fled with their cattle to the Dleke hill, about forty kilometres from Nongoma. The military operation from 4 - 9 April 1901 ended in a Boer defeat. Thousands of cattle, guns and ammunition left on the wagons by the fleeing Boers were captured.
Allegedly Zulu Paramount Chief Dinuzulu (Dinizulu) refused British instructions to take up arms against the Boer republics during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Col. H.B. Bottomley of the Imperial White Horse warned the king that, under martial law, he was obliged to follow orders or face banishment. In March 1901, British military law had been imposed on the region and the Zulu people were armed by the British. There is controversy about the date of 28 May, as another source gives it as 31 May. The accuracy of this event can be debated as another tradition states that a Zulu force of 6,000 men was assembled by Dinuzulu and Bottomley at oSuthu and advanced against Boers who had fled with their cattle to the Dleke hill, about forty kilometres from Nongoma. The military operation from 4 - 9 April 1901 ended in a Boer defeat. Thousands of cattle, guns and ammunition left on the wagons by the fleeing Boers were captured.