Battle of Chieveley

Battle of Chieveley
Part of the Second Boer War
Illustration depicting the ambushed train and the battle.
Date 15 November 1899 Location Chieveley, South Africa Result Boer victoty
Belligerents
United Kingdom	South African Republic Italian Volunteer Legion
Commanders and leaders
Charles James Long Aylmer Haldane	Louis Botha Camillo Ricchiardi
Strength
120 men	~200 Boers
Casualties and losses
4 dead 14 wounded 58 captured

The Battle of Chievely took place on 15 November 1899, and was an ambush on a British armored train travelling from Estcourt to Colenso in a reconnaissance mission. Boer forces under the command of Louis Botha, which comprised primarily the Italian Volunteer Legion, ambushed the armored train, and derailed it, taking most of the British soldiers prisoner. Commanding the British forces on the armored train was Colonel Charles James Long, who had received reports a day earlier about Boers in the area, hence the reason for sending out the armored train.

Battle

On 15 November, Colonel Long organized a reconnaissance force to head from Estcourt to Colenso, as they had received reports of Boers heading towards Estcourt and Weenen. The train passed Frere station, and Natal Police reported that all was clear ahead. The train continued towards Colenso when they passed a Boer position 600 yards away from them. The artillery on board the train opened fire, followed in quick succession by the riflemen, and the train reversed in order to get closer to the Boer position. Just a bit further past was a ridge, in which Boer artillery and a Maxim "Pom Pom" was situated. The Boers opened fire with their artillery and derailed the three train cars. Winston Churchill, who was present as a correspondent, along with Lt. Frankland, managed to pile the wounded onto the engine, whilst Captain Haldane held off the Boer forces. The engine was still operational, and Churchill and Frankland sent the train down towards Estcourt, where it reached safety. The rest of the forces present tried to hold off the Boers, but eventually the Boers forced them to surrender.

Composition of British Forces present
4 Sailors from the HMS Tartar
4 Sections, Dublin Fusiliers
1 Company, Durban Light Infantry