The Siege of Kimberley(1890–1900)
"For 124 days, Kimberley stood alone."
Between 14 October 1899 and 15 February 1900, Kimberley found itself at the centre of one of the defining episodes of the Second Anglo-Boer War. Surrounded by Boer forces and cut off from the outside world for 124 days, the town endured artillery bombardment, food shortages and constant uncertainty. Yet it never fell.
The Siege of Kimberley was far more than a local military engagement. At the end of the nineteenth century, Kimberley was the world's leading diamond-producing city and home to De Beers Consolidated Mines, whose mines supplied the vast majority of the world's diamonds. It was also the home of Cecil Rhodes, whose presence in the town gave the siege enormous political significance.
The successful defence of Kimberley became a symbol of British determination during the early months of the war, while the eventual relief of the town marked a turning point in the conflict. Today, reminders of the siege can still be found throughout Kimberley, from the Honoured Dead Memorial and the famous Long Cecil gun to surviving forts, cemeteries and historic buildings.
Did You Know?
The Siege of Kimberley lasted 124 days, from 14 October 1899 to 15 February 1900.
Long Cecil was designed and built in the De Beers workshops during the siege, making it one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of the war.
George Labram (1859-1900) was an American engineer behind Long Cecil. He was employed as Chief Mechanical Engineer by De Beers in Kimberley. Labram was killed by a Boer shell on 9 Feb 1899, just six days before Kimberley was relieved.
The Honoured Dead Memorial still stands in Kimberley today, with Long Cecil mounted on its base as a lasting tribute to the city's defenders.
George Labram (front), Chief Engineer, with Long Cecil
Many reminders of the siege still survive today. Among the most significant is the former Kimberley Sanatorium, completed in 1897 and used as Cecil Rhodes's residence and operational base during the 124-day siege. Today it houses the McGregor Museum, whose collections help tell the story of Kimberley's remarkable past. Located in Atlas Street, the museum is just a five-minute walk (approximately 350 metres) from Solomon Edwardian Guest House.
Cecil Rhodes and associates outside the Kimberley Sanatorium - his home during the siege of Kimberley
Today the Kimberley Sanatorium houses the McGregor Museum on Atlas Street, Kimberley
Why Kimberley Was So Important
When war broke out between the British Empire and the Boer republics in October 1899, Kimberley was an obvious military objective.
The city lay only a short distance from the border of the Orange Free State and occupied an important railway junction connecting the Cape with the interior. More importantly, Kimberley was the heart of the world's diamond industry. De Beers had transformed hundreds of competing mining companies into a single enterprise whose wealth was of enormous strategic and political importance.
Capturing Kimberley would have dealt Britain a serious economic and psychological blow. It would also have delivered a major propaganda victory to the Boer forces during the war's opening weeks. Conversely, the British government could not afford to allow one of its most prosperous colonial cities to fall.
Cecil Rhodes's arrival in Kimberley shortly before hostilities began further increased the town's importance. As founder of De Beers, former Prime Minister of the Cape Colony and one of the most influential figures in southern Africa, Rhodes became one of the most prominent civilians trapped inside the besieged town. He set up home in what is now the McGregor Museum on Atlas Street in Kimberley.
Preparing for War
As relations between Britain and the Boer republics deteriorated during 1899, both sides anticipated the possibility of conflict.
British military commanders strengthened Kimberley's defences under the command of Colonel Robert Kekewich, while volunteers from the Diamond Fields Artillery, the Kimberley Regiment, the Cape Police, and other local units prepared to defend the town. De Beers engineers also began assisting with defensive works, using the company's extensive workshops and technical expertise to strengthen Kimberley's ability to withstand a siege.
When war was declared on 11 October 1899, Boer commandos rapidly advanced towards Kimberley from both the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal). Within days, railway lines and telegraph communications had been severed, leaving Kimberley isolated from the rest of the British Empire.
Colonel Kekewich and Lieutenant Colonel Scott-Turner during the Siege of Kimberley
The Siege Begins
On the evening of 14 October 1899, telegraph communications with the outside world were cut, and the Siege of Kimberley officially began.
Boer forces surrounded the town but chose not to launch a full-scale assault. Instead, they adopted a strategy of containment, hoping that bombardment, shortages and isolation would eventually force Kimberley to surrender. The British defenders established a ring of forts and defensive positions around the town while maintaining regular patrols beyond the perimeter.
Although occasional attacks were launched by both sides, much of the siege became a contest of endurance rather than open battle.
De Beers searchlight used to signal to relief forces during the Siege of Kimberley
Royal Artillery 7-pounder mountain guns used during the Siege of Kimberley
British redoubt outside Kimberley during the Siege of Kimberley
Life Under Siege
For Kimberley's civilian population, life changed dramatically almost overnight.
Thousands of residents suddenly found themselves trapped inside the town. Food, fresh vegetables and medical supplies became increasingly scarce as the siege continued. Water had to be carefully managed, while rationing affected nearly every household.
The greatest hardships were experienced by Kimberley's poorest residents, particularly the large African population living on the outskirts of the town. Crowded living conditions, limited food supplies and poor sanitation increased the risk of disease. To help alleviate suffering, Cecil Rhodes organised soup kitchens for those most in need.
Meanwhile, Boer artillery regularly shelled the town. Residents learned to recognise the sound of incoming shells and hurried to shelters whenever bombardments began. Schools, churches and businesses continued wherever possible, but daily life was constantly interrupted by the realities of war.
Waiting in a redoubt. In warfare, a redoubt is an isolated, fortified emplacement. It is typically built rapidly using earthworks, stone, or timber to defend a specific location.
During the Siege of Kimberley horse meat was used to make soup
Long Cecil – Kimberley's Home-Made Gun
One of the most remarkable achievements of the siege was the construction of Long Cecil, a large artillery gun designed by George Labram, Chief Mechanical Engineer of De Beers.
At the beginning of the siege, Kimberley's defenders possessed only relatively light artillery and were unable to match the range of the Boer guns. Labram therefore designed an entirely new gun, which was manufactured in the De Beers workshops using local materials and engineering expertise.
After weeks of intensive work, Long Cecil was successfully tested in January 1900 before entering active service against Boer positions. Its arrival greatly boosted morale inside Kimberley and demonstrated the extraordinary ingenuity of the town's engineers under siege.
Sadly, George Labram did not live to see the end of the siege. On 9 February 1900, only six days before Kimberley was relieved, he was killed when a Boer shell struck the Grand Hotel where he was staying.
Siege of Kimberley: The barrel of "Long Cecil" being hoisted during construction at the De Beers mine engineering workshops
Cecil Rhodes During the Siege
Although a civilian, Cecil Rhodes played an influential and sometimes controversial role throughout the siege.
Rhodes remained in Kimberley despite opportunities to leave before the town was completely surrounded. He used De Beers' resources to support the defence, financing engineering projects, assisting with food supplies and encouraging the manufacture of ammunition, armoured trains and Long Cecil.
His strong personality, however, frequently brought him into conflict with Colonel Robert Kekewich, the military commander responsible for Kimberley's defence. Rhodes believed the army should adopt a more aggressive strategy, while Kekewich insisted that military decisions remained his responsibility. Their disagreements became well known and occasionally caused tension within the besieged town.
Relief at Last
After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Kimberley, British forces under Field Marshal Lord Roberts launched a major offensive early in February 1900. A fast-moving cavalry force commanded by Lieutenant General John French successfully outflanked the Boer positions and entered Kimberley on 15 February 1900, ending the siege after 124 days.
The arrival of the relief force was greeted with enormous celebration throughout the town. For Kimberley's exhausted residents, the long months of uncertainty were finally over. The Boer forces withdrew eastwards, but the campaign continued. Just days later, General Piet Cronjé and his army were surrounded at Paardeberg, where one of the most significant British victories of the war followed.
Remembering the Siege
The Siege of Kimberley remains one of the defining events in the city's history.
Today, visitors can still discover many reminders of those dramatic months. The Honoured Dead Memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, commemorates those who lost their lives defending the town and incorporates the original Long Cecil gun as its centrepiece. Nearby museums preserve weapons, uniforms, photographs and personal stories from the siege, while surviving forts and cemeteries continue to tell the story of Kimberley's defence.
More than a century later, the siege remains a powerful reminder of Kimberley's resilience, ingenuity and determination during one of the most turbulent periods in South African history.
Continue Exploring Kimberley
Whether your interests lie in history, culture, dining, shopping, entertainment, or simply discovering somewhere new, we hope these guides help you make the most of your time in Kimberley. If you're planning a visit to the City that Sparkles, Solomon Edwardian Guest House offers elegant accommodation in the historic suburb of Beaconsfield. Ideally situated for business and leisure travellers alike, The Solomon provides a comfortable base from which to explore.