Battle of Elandslaagte

Battle of Elandslaagte
Part of Second Boer War
General White at the battle, with the British artillery in the background
Date 21 October 1899 Location Elandslaagte, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 28°25′26″S 29°58′41″E / 28.42389°S 29.97806°E / -28.42389; 29.97806 (Battle of Elandslaagte) Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	South African Republic
Commanders and leaders
John French Ian Hamilton	Johannes Kock † Adolf Schiel
Strength
3,500 18 guns[1]	1,000 3 guns[1]
Casualties and losses
55 killed 205 wounded	46 killed 105 wounded 181 missing or captured

The Battle of Elandslaagte (21 October 1899) took place during the Second Boer War, and was one of the few clear-cut tactical victories won by the British during the conflict. At the time, the Boers were invading Natal, and had occupied the railway station at Elandslaagte. To dispel the Boers from their position, the British Army led a two-pronged assault in the hills which the Boers occupied, forcing them to retreat. However, the British force retreated afterwards due to fear of another Boer force, throwing away their advantage.