“CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BOERS AND THE BRITISH” – NORTHERN NATAL AFRIKANERS AND THE BOER OCCUPATION OF KLIP RIVER COUNTY (OCTOBER 1899-JUNE 1900)

On 11 October 1899, when the ultimatum issued to Britain had expired, the Boer force consisting of roughly 11 400 burghers from the South African Republic (hereafter ZAR), commanded by Generals Erasmus, Kock and Meyer and 6 000 burghers from the Orange Free State (hereafter OFS), under Chief Commandant Prinsloo and Commandant De Villiers, invaded Natal and specifically Klip River County. The Republican objective seems to have been to defeat the force under Major- General William Penn-Symons at Dundee and to proceed to Ladysmith in order to capture the town, which was located at the important railway junction between the Republics and the Colony of Natal. Once this was achieved, the goal was to be defensive and to halt the advance of British reinforcements.