Siege of Rustenburg

Siege of Rustenburg
Part of First Boer War
Date 27 December 1880 – 30 March 1881 Location Rustenburg, British-occupied Transvaal (Transvaal Colony) Result South African Republic victory; Rustenburg is captured
Belligerents
United Kingdom	South African Republic
Commanders and leaders
Captain Auchinleck[1] Second Lieutenant Despard [1]
Strength
62 men of the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers Several men from the Commissariat and Hospital Corps 6 men of the Rustenburg Rifle Volunteers Total: approximately 70 men [1]	600 men[2]

The Siege of Rustenburg was a Boer siege, carried out by the South African Republic, that took place between 1880 and 1881 during the First Boer War. Boer forces carried out the siege against Rustenburg, a British-controlled city inside of the Transvaal Colony.

Preparations

In November 1880, several months before the opening of hostilities, much of the British garrison was withdrawn, leaving only a single battalion of 62 men of the 21st Regiment of Foot in Rustenburg.^[1] Following a rise in tension, and with conflict in South Africa imminent, British forces under Captain Auchinleck strengthened the defences of Fort Rustenburg, which included adding additional sandbags on top of existing Paraparats, laying small mines around the fort and the construction of additional military huts.^[3]

References

1. Lady Bellairs. The Transvaal war, 1880-81. p. 277. Retrieved 19 February 2014. In November 1880, in order to strengthen the field column, then sent from Pretoria to Potchefstroom, the garrison had been reduced by one company, and, at the time hostilities commenced, only consisted of a company of sixty-two men of the 2d Battalion 21st Eoyal Scots Fusiliers, with a few men of the Commissariat and Hospital Corps, under the command of Captain Auchinleck, the other officers present being Second Lieutenant Despard and Surgeon Eitchie.
2. Lady Bellairs. The Transvaal war, 1880-81. p. 277. Retrieved 19 February 2014. On the 24th December, information reached the officer commanding that a force of 600 Boers had assembled ten miles off.
3. Lady Bellairs. The Transvaal war, 1880-81. p. 277. Retrieved 19 February 2014. When hostilities seemed imminent, the fort was further strengthened, sand bags being placed on the parapets, and small mines laid. To give greater scope to the defence, some military huts were also thrown down.