The first attempt to relieve Kimberley, 1899

The first year of the Boer war was dominated by sieges. Today we look at the first attempt to relieve the siege of Kimberley. After two hard fought but uncomplicated victories at Belmont (23 November 1899) and Rooilaagte (25 November 1899), Lord Methuen's expedition came close to disaster at the Modder River (28 November 1899), before being stopped in its tracks at Magersfontein, one of three defeats that made up "Black Week".