17/02/2025
February marks the anniversary of a number of significant events in Australia's experience of the Boer War including Pink Hill, Kimberley in the Orange Free State and Paardeburg.
At Pink Hill, a famous action was fought between Australian (and British) troops and a Boer force on 12 February 1900 some thirteen kilometres north-west of Colesberg in central Cape Colony. The engagement occurred after the Boers, realising the weakness of the column of 6,600 men under Major General Clements which opposed them about Colesberg, moved to drive in the British flanks and force a retreat back down the railway line towards Naauwpoort. Clements' left flank rested on a low rocky ridge known as Pink Hill, which was held by 75 men of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, 20 South Australians and 100 British regulars. The action resulted in the deaths of six Australians and the wounding of 22 others.
The relief of Kimberley, on the 14th of February, was a major operation undertaken to break the Boer siege of the town. 500 Australians of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, New South Wales Mounted Rifles and New South Wales Lancers were involved in the breaking of the siege as part of the cavalry division commanded by Lieutenant-General John French. Famous Australian poet Banjo Patterson was present as a war correspondent.
A few days later, on the17th of February at the Battle of Paardeburg, men of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles were involved in the the surrender of 4,000 Boers under General Piet Cronje.
Although, the details of the Boer War are not as familar with us as more recent conflicts, it is important that we honour all our servicepeople's scrifice.
