Ladysmith

  • Convent Hill

    1 Convent Road, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    17L | LOOKOUT POINT FROM CONVENT HILL Convent Hill now La Verna Hospital. This position in the hospital car park offers a splendid panoramic view of Ladysmith. The following features can be found on the “Hill”: ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH A…

  • Cove Redoubt

    Cove Redoubt, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    19L | A fairly concealed position some way back along the flat crest of a hill 500 ft high, from which commanding altitude it could fire in any direction. Originally occupied by the Natal Naval Volunteers with an antiquated 7…

  • Gordons’ Hill

    Gordons’ Hill, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    20L | This was the main Naval position: “A piece of high ground in the centre of the Northern line of defence, was the first position selected for the Naval 12 pounders: The lines of defence encircling Ladysmith were extensive,…

  • Fly Kraal

    Fly Kraal, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    21L | “At the Commissariat Godown, an Indian “Coolie” armed with a large umbrella constituted himself the special watcher for Umbulwana “Tom” and his shrill cry of “Lang Taam” became very familiar to the fatigue parties at Fly Kraal. When…

  • Hans Dons

    Hans Dons, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    22L | Johannes Hendrick De Lange was a well-known figure in Natal, having been an early Voortrekker scout into Natal and a member of the commando which defeated the Zulu’s at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838….

  • Naval Gun Shield

    Naval Gun Shield, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    23L | Lt Egerton was the first person to die in the Siege of Ladysmith. He was mortally wounded on the 2nd November 1899. “Darkest of many dark days for the Naval Brigade was Thursday 2nd November, in the first…

  • Taunton

    Taunton, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    26L | Major Charles Edmund Taunton, Natal Carabiniers, was killed in action on Nov. 3rd, 1899, in a reconnaissance from Ladysmith along the Colenso road. The enemy was in considerable force and the officer in command, finding their numbers increasing,…

  • Gandhi

    Gandhi, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    Statue of Gandhi at the Sanathan Dharm Sabha Temple While Ladysmith was under siege, Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869-1948) was a stretcher bearer with Gen Buller’s relief force. He trained in Durban under Dr Booth. As a young advocate Gandhi…

  • The Royal Hotel

    140 Murchison Street, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    29L | “The Royal”, built circa 1878 before the Anglo-Zulu War, and a request for a liquor licence was made in 1886 by Mr Hamilton the proprietor. Ladysmith hosted many wagon riders on their way north to the diamond mines…

  • Old Fort

    1 Kerk Ln, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    30L | “A section of the old walls can be seen where it has been incorporated into the current South Africa Police Services buildings. The fort was built to defend the town from possible Zulu attack prior to the Anglo…

  • Tchrengula

    Tchrengula, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal

    31L | At daybreak on Monday 30th October 1899 Col. Carelton’s column, supposedly on their way to Nicholson’s Nek, found themselves on top of this hill where they were cut off and surrounded by Boer forces and after a fire…