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Battlefields South Africa has been the scene of many battles by the native tribes, battles by natives against the Europeans and later still, battles between Europeans. The warfare itself was evocative, Zulus armed with spears and shields attacking British scarlet soldiers with their Lee Enfield rifles, British army formations being attacked by Boers on horses using guerrilla tactics, and the less savory side of the Anglo-Boer wars, the concentration camps set up by the British. It is possible to visit such historic locations as 'Blood River' where Zulus were defeated by Europeans, the famous battle of Rourke's Drift where British soldiers fought off attacks by the vastly superior Zulu army (later made into a famous film with Michael Caine) - you may visit the Rourke's Drift Museum on the site. Talana Hill, was where kommando fighters of the Orange Free State fought British Regiments - whose early-targeted scarlet uniforms began to be supplemented by Khaki colours. The Siege of Ladysmith in 1899 was the first ever battle to be recorded on film. This long 118 day siege by the British to ultimately relieve the town by surrounding Boer forces came at a huge cost in lives- Ladysmith was also the destination for a Sandhurst trained correspondent and cavalry man - Winston Churchill when he was captured by the Boers, before later escaping. One of the two Howitzers artillery guns from the siege still stands in front of the Ladysmith town hall. |