39:
191:
147:
180:
134:
237:
222:
203:
160:
876:
785:, the force arrived at the river on 6 November and drove the Boers from their positions. However, as resistance was stronger than expected, and because Smith-Dorrien had expected the Boers to be reinforced, he ordered his forces to set up camp at Leliefontein for the night, before beginning a withdrawal back to Belfast the following morning.
835:
Throughout the morning, the
Canadian rearguard positions were assaulted by Boer forces. At one point during the engagement, 200 mounted Boers charged the Canadian's positions in an attempt to break their line. The mounted charge was eventually repulsed by a handful of Royal Canadian Dragoons, and the
866:
continued to maintain their positions until the rest of the rearguard withdrew further behind them. However, as a result of the action, the dragoons under
Holland's command were all captured, killed, or wounded; with Holland also sustaining injuries. Boer assaults on the Canadian positions persisted
924:
for their actions at
Leliefontein. The Royal Canadian Dragoons remains the only Canadian unit where three of its members were awarded the Victoria Cross in a single day. Private W. A. Knisley of the Royal Canadian Dragoons was also recommended for a Victoria Cross by Smith-Dorrien, although Knisley
788:
The Boers that withdrew from their positions in Komati later reconsolidated with reinforcements, having expected the
British force to pursue them. The Boer force included the Ermelo Commando and Carolina Commando. The Boers originally planned to intercept an advancing British force at a road south
899:
I have much pleasure in forwarding attached statements on the gallant behaviour of officers and non-commissioned officers of The Royal
Canadian Forces in the actions of 7th November 1900 between Witkloof and Leliefontein on the Koomati River. I must in bringing them forward emphasize the fact that
900:
the behaviour of the whole Royal
Canadian rear guard under Lieutenant-Colonel Lessard was so fine that it makes it most difficult to single out for special distinction. There is no doubt that men sacrificed themselves in the most gallant way to save the guns which they succeeded in doing.
798:
867:
afterwards, although lacked the organization and momentum from earlier assaults with the loss of their commanders. The two 12-pound field guns were used to fight a rearguard action until the
Canadians reached the high ground, after which the Boers halted their attack.
789:
of the river. However, after the Boers realized that the
British-Canadian force was not pursuing them and was withdrawing from the area, they advanced to attack the rear of the British-Canadian column.
851:
carried the machine gun off its carriage to prevent its capture, burning his hand on the gun's barrel in the process. During these mounted charges, two of the local Boer commanders, General
895:
After the battle, Smith-Dorrien wrote a letter to the
British Chief of Staff, commending the successful rearguard action by the Royal Canadian Dragoons as well as Lessard's leadership.
600:
306:
1195:
Greenhous, Brerton (1983). Dragoon : the
Centennial History of The Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1883–1983. Belleville, Ont. : Guild of The Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1983
952:
The following figure refers to those engaged in rearguard actions at Leliefontein and does not include the larger British-Canadian force that was withdrawing from the area.
832:. The dragoons were deployed in a 4-to-5-kilometre-wide (2.5 to 3.1 mi) line behind the withdrawing British column, with the horse-drawn machine gun at its centre.
844:
prevented the field gun's capture. Although Morrison was injured, the dragoons were able to repel the charge with assistance from the machine gun on their left flank.
739:
successfully repelled Boer assaults against the column, facilitating the successful withdrawal of the British-Canadian force from the area. Three members of the
763:
to push the Boer soldiers out of the area. The British force also included the second Canadian contingent to arrive in South Africa, including members of the
139:
856:
241:
593:
299:
1220:
1140:
979:
847:
The position where the horse-drawn machine gun carriage was placed was then assaulted and eventually taken by the Boers. However, Sergeant
772:
586:
292:
920:
Three members of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, including Sergeant Holland, Lieutenant Turner, and Lieutenant Cockburn were awarded the
78:
1215:
1200:
1240:
837:
880:
863:
825:
779:
1235:
1230:
841:
640:
537:
482:
1113:
840:. During the mounted charge, a field gun was almost taken, although a hastily organized 12-man ambush led by Lieutenant
427:
44:
38:
1018:
926:
848:
814:
542:
1225:
852:
207:
817:
802:
675:
562:
522:
375:
467:
888:
821:
806:
768:
764:
740:
670:
517:
395:
370:
1065:
660:
650:
630:
507:
497:
472:
437:
385:
350:
236:
221:
202:
165:
72:
917:
to four members of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, and another military decoration to Lieutenant Morrison.
685:
547:
442:
410:
345:
913:
In addition to commending Lessard, Smith-Dorrien also recommended to the Chief of Staff awarding the
906:
859:
were killed by machine gun fire. Boer General Johann Grobler was also wounded during the engagement.
782:
527:
492:
420:
415:
184:
987:
933:
756:
725:
645:
620:
557:
487:
457:
432:
405:
390:
365:
355:
195:
665:
635:
625:
552:
512:
477:
462:
360:
340:
330:
1166:
1196:
797:
690:
567:
400:
380:
335:
227:
729:
452:
245:
211:
717:
316:
30:
447:
921:
914:
884:
744:
680:
532:
179:
809:, 1900. Lessard was tasked with covering the withdrawal of the British-Canadian force.
1209:
760:
721:
875:
932:
The two field guns that were involved in the battle are presently held by the
93:
80:
829:
736:
1141:"Royal Canadian Dragoons mark 117 years since the Battle of Leliefontein"
48:
190:
152:
925:
was not awarded the decoration. Lieutenant Morrison was awarded the
824:
from "D" Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery, and a horse-drawn
874:
820:, which included 90–100 men from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, two
796:
578:
284:
828:, was tasked with covering the larger force's withdrawal as its
713:
582:
288:
891:
awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions at Leliefontein.
836:
left section of D Battery under the command of Lieutenant
1114:"History: Nov. 7, 1900 - 3 Victoria Crosses for Canada"
712:) was an engagement between British-Canadian and
755:In November 1900, a British force advanced from
897:
43:Depiction of the Battle of Leliefontein on the
23:
594:
300:
8:
1025:. Veterans Affairs Canada. 21 January 2020
601:
587:
579:
307:
293:
285:
37:
20:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
228:
973:
971:
969:
1060:
965:
945:
929:for his actions during the engagement.
1107:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1040:
1139:Leboeuf, Patricia (9 November 2017).
1105:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1089:
1087:
747:for their actions during the battle.
242:Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo (1861–1900)
7:
1112:Montgomery, Marc (7 November 2016).
735:During the engagement, the Canadian
724:30 kilometres (19 mi) south of
1120:. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
16:1900 battle of the Second Boer War
14:
986:. Legion Magazine. Archived from
838:Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison
235:
220:
201:
189:
178:
158:
145:
132:
864:Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn
826:M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun
1221:Battles of the Second Boer War
114:
1:
978:Zuehlke, Mark (15 May 2017).
842:Richard Ernest William Turner
980:"Canada's first foreign war"
887:. Cockburn was one of three
927:Distinguished Service Order
849:Edward James Gibson Holland
720:on 7 November 1900, at the
1257:
1167:"The 12-Pounder Field Gun"
1118:Radio Canada International
862:Dragoons under Lieutenant
853:Joachim Christoffel Fourie
857:Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo
616:
326:
268:
255:
171:
124:
54:
36:
28:
1216:Battles involving Canada
1019:"Battle of Leliefontein"
773:Canadian Field Artillery
1241:Royal Canadian Dragoons
1145:www.petawawapostlive.ca
889:Royal Canadian Dragoons
807:Royal Canadian Dragoons
771:and "D" Battery of the
769:Canadian Mounted Rifles
765:Royal Canadian Dragoons
741:Royal Canadian Dragoons
911:
892:
818:François-Louis Lessard
810:
803:François-Louis Lessard
706:Battle of Leliefontein
226:Johann Grobler (
172:Commanders and leaders
166:South African Republic
24:Battle of Leliefontein
1173:. Canadian War Museum
1072:. Canadian War Museum
878:
822:12-pounder field guns
800:
269:Casualties and losses
94:25.96667°S 30.05000°E
1236:1900 in South Africa
1231:November 1900 events
907:Horace Smith-Dorrien
783:Horace Smith-Dorrien
185:Horace Smith-Dorrien
934:Canadian War Museum
801:Lieutenant-Colonel
728:at the present day
708:(also known as the
99:-25.96667; 30.05000
90: /
1023:www.veterans.gc.ca
984:legionmagazine.com
893:
815:Lieutenant-Colonel
811:
716:forces during the
710:Battle of Witkloof
621:Pretoria Offensive
458:Pretoria Offensive
1226:Conflicts in 1900
855:, and Kommandant
743:were awarded the
699:
698:
576:
575:
543:Blood River Poort
283:
282:
120:
119:
45:Boer War Memorial
1248:
1183:
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1171:www.warmuseum.ca
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1070:www.warmuseum.ca
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881:Hampden Cockburn
730:Nooitgedacht Dam
641:1st Elands River
611:
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596:
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538:2nd Elands River
483:1st Elands River
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196:François Lessard
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21:
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1190:Further reading
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1147:. Petawawa Post
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947:
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910:
904:
873:
813:A force led by
795:
753:
718:Second Boer War
702:
701:
700:
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676:Hartbeesfontein
612:
610:Transvaal Front
609:
607:
577:
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523:Hartbeesfontein
322:
318:Second Boer War
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98:
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62:7 November 1900
42:
31:Second Boer War
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1218:
1208:
1207:
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1191:
1188:
1185:
1184:
1158:
1131:
1083:
1066:"Leliefontein"
1036:
1001:
964:
963:
961:
958:
955:
954:
944:
943:
941:
938:
922:Victoria Cross
915:Victoria Cross
905:Major-General
902:
885:Victoria Cross
872:
869:
794:
791:
752:
749:
745:Victoria Cross
697:
696:
694:
693:
688:
683:
678:
673:
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658:
653:
648:
643:
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545:
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530:
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520:
515:
510:
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495:
490:
485:
480:
475:
470:
465:
460:
455:
450:
445:
440:
435:
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428:Tugela Heights
425:
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408:
403:
398:
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378:
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297:
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266:
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208:Joachim Fourie
198:
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155:
140:United Kingdom
127:
126:
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52:
51:
34:
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26:
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19:
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1201:0-9691281-0-X
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1024:
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1002:
990:on 2019-08-27
989:
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786:
784:
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780:Major-General
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766:
762:
758:
750:
748:
746:
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723:
719:
715:
711:
707:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
671:Middelfontein
669:
667:
664:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
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642:
639:
637:
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541:
539:
536:
534:
531:
529:
526:
524:
521:
519:
518:Middelfontein
516:
514:
511:
509:
506:
504:
501:
499:
496:
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491:
489:
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484:
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469:
466:
464:
461:
459:
456:
454:
451:
449:
446:
444:
441:
439:
436:
434:
433:3rd Ladysmith
431:
429:
426:
422:
421:Bloody Sunday
419:
418:
417:
414:
412:
409:
407:
404:
402:
399:
397:
396:Magersfontein
394:
392:
389:
387:
384:
382:
379:
377:
374:
372:
371:Willow Grange
369:
367:
364:
362:
361:2nd Ladysmith
359:
357:
356:1st Ladysmith
354:
352:
349:
347:
344:
342:
339:
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176:
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167:
156:
154:
141:
129:
128:
123:
116:
112:
109:
108:
103:
74:
71:Lelifontein,
69:
66:
65:
61:
58:
57:
53:
50:
46:
40:
35:
32:
27:
22:
1175:. Retrieved
1170:
1161:
1149:. Retrieved
1144:
1134:
1122:. Retrieved
1117:
1074:. Retrieved
1069:
1027:. Retrieved
1022:
992:. Retrieved
988:the original
983:
948:
931:
919:
912:
898:
894:
861:
846:
834:
812:
787:
777:
761:Komati River
759:towards the
754:
734:
722:Komati River
709:
705:
703:
681:Duivelskloof
661:Nooitgedacht
656:Leliefontein
655:
651:Rhenosterkop
631:Diamond Hill
563:Hart's River
533:Duivelskloof
508:Nooitgedacht
503:Leliefontein
502:
498:Rhenosterkop
473:Diamond Hill
448:Sanna's Post
438:Poplar Grove
386:Modder River
351:Elandslaagte
247:
213:
125:Belligerents
1177:7 September
1151:7 September
1124:7 September
1076:7 September
1029:7 September
879:Lieutenant
686:Bakenlaagte
548:Bakenlaagte
468:Faber's Put
443:Driefontein
411:Vaal Krantz
346:Talana Hill
97: /
1210:Categories
960:References
767:, the 2nd
751:Background
528:Groenkloof
493:Bothaville
416:Paardeberg
276:11 wounded
261:90–100 men
871:Aftermath
830:rearguard
737:rearguard
646:Bergendal
558:Tweebosch
488:Bergendal
406:Spion Kop
391:Stormberg
366:Chieveley
341:Kimberley
115:aftermath
82:25°58′0″S
73:Transvaal
994:28 March
903:—
666:Helvetia
636:Witpoort
626:Doornkop
553:Groenkop
513:Helvetia
478:Witpoort
463:Doornkop
336:Mafeking
331:Kraaipan
274:3 killed
256:Strength
85:30°3′0″E
67:Location
49:Montreal
29:Part of
805:of the
778:Led by
757:Belfast
726:Belfast
691:Rooiwal
568:Rooiwal
401:Colenso
381:Graspan
376:Belmont
279:Unknown
264:Unknown
248:†
214:†
1199:
793:Battle
453:Boshof
244:
210:
163:
153:Canada
150:
137:
110:Result
940:Notes
1197:ISBN
1179:2020
1153:2020
1126:2020
1078:2020
1031:2020
996:2024
714:Boer
704:The
113:See
59:Date
883:'s
229:WIA
47:in
1212::
1169:.
1143:.
1116:.
1086:^
1068:.
1039:^
1021:.
1004:^
982:.
968:^
936:.
775:.
732:.
1181:.
1155:.
1128:.
1080:.
1033:.
998:.
602:e
595:t
588:v
308:e
301:t
294:v
232:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
