5 | Transvaal War of Independence 1880-1881

  • The Battle of Schuinshoogte

    Battle of Schuinshoogte, Ingogo, KwaZulu Natal

    8th February 1881 Having repulsed the British forces at Laing’s Nek the Transvaal Burghers then started to harass the British lines of communication between Newcastle and their camp at Mt. Prospect. Expecting a re-supply convoy from Newcastle on the 8th…

  • Fort Mistake

    Fort Mistake, Glencoe Area, KwaZulu Natal
    3

    Mkupe Pass on the N11. British signalling post built during the war. On east side of N11 overlooking the Mkupe Pass between Newcastle and Ladysmith. Original known as Fort One Tree Hill it eventually became known as Fort Mistake but…

  • The Battle of Majuba

    The Battle of Majuba, Newcastle Area, KwaZulu Natal
    3

    Sunday 27th February 1881 On the night of Saturday 26th February the British Gen. Sir George Pomeroy Colley occupied the top of Majuba with some 400 men. In the early hours of Sunday 27th when the Burghers realised the British…

  • O’Neil’s Cottage

    O'Neill's Cottage, Newcastle Area, KwaZulu Natal
    12

    During the Transvaal War of Independence 1880-81 the cottage, home of Eugene O’Neill, which lay in “no mans land” between the British and Burgher forces became a makeshift hospital for British after their defeat at Majuba and there are graves…

  • Fort Amiel Museum

    Fort Amiel, 4 Fort Street, Amiel Park, Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal

    Fort Amiel was opened as the Cultural History Museum of Newcastle in 1990 at the restored British military base built in 1876 by the 80th Regiment or Staffordshire Regiment. It was used during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and Anglo-Boer…

  • Mount Prospect Cemetery

    Mount Prospect Cemetery, Newcastle Area, KwaZulu Natal

    This is the site of the British camp and Military Cemetery during the Transvaal War of Independence 1880-81 and was occupied by the British from January 24th to the end of March 1881. Many of the British soldiers who died…