BATTLE // July 16, 1900

Battle of Witpoort

Name: Battle of Witpoort
Start: 1900-07-16
End: 1900-07-16
Location: Battle of Witpoort

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Overview

The Battle of Witpoort was fought during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Major Frederick Henry Munn commanded the detachment of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at Witpoort which was attacked on 16 July 1900, his orders being to "hold his position at all costs". The Boers called on Major Munn to surrender, but, scornfully refusing, he held out from daybreak till 2 pm, when the Canadian forces mounted a counterattack and the Boers retired. The battle became famous because of the death of Harold Lothrop Borden.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Witpoort formed part of British operations during the Second Anglo-Boer War in the mid-1900 period. A detachment of the Royal Irish Fusiliers under Major Frederick Henry Munn was ordered to hold its position at all costs. Despite Boer demands for surrender, Munn refused and his force held out from daybreak until 2 pm, when Canadian forces mounted a counterattack that caused the Boers to retire. The engagement is primarily remembered for the death of Harold Lothrop Borden, which gave it a prominence beyond its immediate operational outcome.

Tactics

The Royal Irish Fusiliers detachment under Major Munn held a defensive position at Witpoort against a Boer assault. Munn's orders required him to hold at all costs; he refused a Boer call to surrender and maintained his position through the morning hours. Canadian forces then launched a counterattack that forced the Boers to retire.