Talana – Nongqai Vol 17 No 5
4. HAVE THEY GOT THE HILL?
Jennifer Bosch
The Battle of Talana Hill
On the 20th of October 1899, the Battle of Talana Hill was fought near Dundee, which was surrounded by strategic high ground. Boer forces occupied the hills and opened fire on the British camp at dawn. Although warned of an attack, Gen Penn Symons underestimated the threat and ordered a frontal assault on Talana Hill. British troops advanced under heavy fire and suffered significant casualties before eventually capturing the hill. During the battle, Symons was fatally wounded and command of his troops passed to General Yule. The Boers withdrew, mainly due to low ammunition and lack of support from nearby positions.
Despite taking the hill, the British failed to stop the Boer retreat, and a British cavalry unit was captured. Within a day, Boer artillery forced the British to abandon Dundee and retreat to Ladysmith, leaving the town in Boer hands. –Talana Museum-
Boer scouts look down from the summit of Talana Hill. The wood where the British advance was held up can also be seen, and Dundee in the distance. -www.britishempire.co.uk-
Key Figures
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM PENN SYMONS
British commander
Ordered a bold frontal assault to drive the Boers from the heights
BRIGADIER-GENERAL. JAMES HERBERT YULE
British commander
Took over command after Symons was seriously injured.
GENERAL LUCAS MEYER
Boer commander
Led the force that occupied Talana Hill and directed the initial artillery bombardment on the British camp
GENERAL “MAROELA” ERASMUS
Boer Commander
Commanded a larger second force on the nearby Impati Mountain remaining largely inactive due to heavy fog, but responsible for capturing Lt. Col. Möller’s retreating cavalry.
One of the British batteries, firing from the open ground outside Dundee, failed to identify the troops on the top of Talana as their own and continued to fire on the crest, inflicting unnecessary casualties and hindering the assault. Several senior British officers were killed or seriously wounded by British artillery fire.
Penn Symons died during the afternoon, but not before he told the medical staff that he regarded Yule’s retreat as a betrayal. -Historic UK-
British signallers on Talana Hill
