Colesberg was the most prominent Karoo town in the Anglo-Boer War, with intense activity between November 1899 and February 1900. The Boers occupied Colesberg on 14 November 1899. Numerous intense skirmishes took place within a radius of 25 km from Colesberg.
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See the Themes Page, for the Colesberg Campaign for more fascinating details!
Suffolk Hill (or "Grassy Hill")
Suffolk Hill is located about 5 km west of Colesberg, on the Petrusville road. On the 5th January, Colonel Watson of the Suffolks received permission from General French to launch a night attack,which went disastrously wrong. Instead of a surprise attack on some sleeping Boers, the Burghers had been reinforced. The Suffolk losses were heavy - 36 men died and almost 200 were captured or wounded. Captain Watson was killed in the field. On the Boer side, 8 burghers died and 17 were wounded.
The Colesberg Kemper Museum
Start your visit to Colesberg by visiting the local museum (follow the link for a YouTube clip), which portrays the many historical phases and cultural groups in Colesberg. The museum, situated in the central part of the town, has a useful display on the Anglo Boer War. For more information, click here, and indicated on the MAP.
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The British and Boer cemeteries, side by side
A separate British and Boer cemetery is located at the northern entrance of the town, alongside the N1. The entrance is from Station Road (the R58 road which leads to Noupoort).
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Enemies who shot at each other are now lying peacefully near one another - the pathos of war!
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Boer sangars (shelters)
The first journalist killed in the war
Colesberg
