Battle of Laing's Nek

E75295

The Battle of Laing's Nek was a key 1881 engagement in the First Boer War in which Boer forces successfully repelled a British attempt to break through a strategic mountain pass in the Transvaal.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of Laingsnek
armedForce Boer citizen militia
British imperial troops
belligerent Boer forces
South African Republic
United Kingdom NERFINISHED
casualties heavy British casualties
light Boer casualties
combatant Boer commandos
British Army
commander Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley
Piet Joubert
conflict First Boer War
countryInvolved South African Republic (Transvaal)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland NERFINISHED
date 1881-01-28
followedBy Battle of Majuba Hill
Battle of Schuinshoogte
geographicalContext Drakensberg region
historicalPeriod late 19th century
involvedUnit 58th Regiment of Foot
60th Rifles
Mounted Infantry
Natal Mounted Police
location Laing's Nek
South Africa
Transvaal
notableFor demonstration of Boer marksmanship and defensive tactics
early Boer success against British regular forces
objectiveOfBritishForces break through Laing's Nek pass into Transvaal
outcome British attack repelled by Boer forces
partOf First Boer War
partOfCampaign British attempt to relieve besieged garrisons in Transvaal
precededBy Siege of Pretoria
result Boer victory
significance contributed to British decision to negotiate peace in First Boer War
strategicImportance control of mountain pass between Natal and Transvaal
tacticalFeature Boers held high ground overlooking the pass
frontal British assault up steep slopes
terrain mountain pass
steep slopes and ridges
theatre Natal-Transvaal border
typeOfWarfare conventional land battle
weaponry artillery
rifles
year 1881

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Battle of Laing's Nek ("Battle of Laingsnek")
alsoKnownAs
Battle of Bronkhorstspruit
followedBy
First Boer War
notableBattle
Battle of Majuba Hill ("Battle of Laing’s Nek")
relatedEvent

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