The Anglo Boer War: Unveiling the Reality of the Spion Kop Battle

Discover the gripping reality of the Spion Kop Battle during the Anglo Boer War, as we delve into a pivotal moment in South African and British history at this iconic battlefield site.
Step back in time to 23 January 1900, as British forces launch a bold offensive on Spion Kop in a critical attempt to break the Boer siege of Ladysmith. Historian Ray Heron shares intricate details of this intense battle, highlighting the strategic maneuvers and ultimate outcome of this significant engagement. On this rugged mountain, figures like Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi witnessed the events unfold, while Louis Botha-future South African prime minister-played a key role. Experience this unforgettable historical event where bravery, tactics, and fate intertwined.
The Battle of Spion Kop was a part of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), a broader conflict over control of South Africa’s resources. The British, motivated by imperial expansion, sought to bring the Boer Republics under their rule. The Boers fiercely resisted, fighting for their independence and way of life. This battle and the war itself marked a turning point in South Africa’s history.
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The Tragic Battle of Spion Kop Chapters:
1. Introduction to Spion Kop 00:00:03
2. The Boer Trench Strategy 00:00:10
3. British Plan to Climb Spion Kop 00:00:29
4. Climbing at Night 00:00:46
5. Heavy Fog and Confusion 00:00:53
6. British Reach the Summit 00:01:05
7. Boers Assist in Burying British Dead 00:01:18
8. Key Features of Spion Kop 00:01:48
9. General Buller's Irritation 00:02:45
10. General Warren's Decision 00:03:03
11. Battle Plan and General Woodgate 00:03:27
12. Lieutenant Alec Thornycroft 00:03:41
13. Drawing the Top of the Mountain 00:03:53
14. The Actual Climb and Its Difficulties 00:04:20
15. British Reach the Top in Heavy Fog 00:05:03
16. Encounter with Boer Sentries 00:05:08
17. Sentries Alert Louis Botha 00:05:26
18. British Begin Digging Trenches 00:05:39
19. Mist Lifts, Revealing Positions 00:06:15
20. The Battle Intensifies 00:07:05
21. British Under Heavy Boer Fire 00:07:54
22. British Fix Bayonets and Charge 00:08:31
23. Boer Retreat and Return 00:08:56
24. Artillery from British Naval Guns 00:09:51
25. Buller Shuts Down Artillery Fire 00:10:36
26. Reinforcements Arrive 00:11:10
27. General Talbot Coke Takes Over 00:12:00
28. General Buller's Frustration 00:12:46
29. Alec Thornycroft Takes Command 00:13:09
30. Conditions on the Mountain 00:14:19
31. Surrender and Confusion 00:15:39
32. Alec Thornycroft's Defiance 00:16:20
33. Louis Botha's Speech to His Men 00:16:51
34. Continued Fighting 00:17:19
35. British Attempt to Take Twin Peaks 00:18:00
36. Decision to Retreat 00:18:43
37. Outcome of the Battle 00:19:32
38. Battle's Historical Impact 00:20:00
39. General Buller's Orders 00:20:57
40. Failed Attempts to Relieve Ladysmith 00:21:52
41. Impact on Ladysmith 00:22:31
42. Notable Figures on Spion Kop 00:23:51
43. Legacy of the Battle 00:24:46

[@Tekweni]

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[@peterrooke5336]

Having been to spion kop this brings back some special memories to me , thank you .

[@lukasvisagie9513]

@@RoderickEmanuel Spioenkop

[@Horriblebastad]

I did the same with the Falklands. Very emotional to relive the conflict in peace time. 2012 thirty years later.

[@DeonSmith-p7l]

Spioenkop.

[@etiennelaubscher5336]

In 1982 we went up Spioenkop in a military excercise. Our infantery section arrived at the bottom of Spioenkop. It was just after midday. It took us more than 3 hours to walk up there making use of a footpath. It times it was so steep that some of us would turn around and start to walk backwards up the road. We arrived late afternoon on the top. And we were not allowed to proceed in daylight. But only to carry on with our mission once the sun starts to set. But then a fine drizzle started to fall. With no place to hide. So I basically crawled up behind a white painted gravestone of an English soldier, trying to hide from the light rain. It was an akward feeling to hide there amongst all the graves of fallen British soldiers and getting wet and cold, only to see how the fog started to move in. And then we were instructed to move on again when it was almost dark. Needless to say that it was a daunting task and dangerous and slippery to get off the hill in the dark in the fog. We were cold and miserable and hungry and struggled because of lack of sleep. It was a very long and thirsty and cold and hungry night trying to reach all our waypoints in time and trying to read our instructions and map by making use of a Bic lighter. It was only early the next morning that we managed to read our final destination and to get food and to sleep for only 2 hours and to start again with the next day ant its challenges. PS And at that stage little did we know all the detail of the horrendous slaughter that took place many years ago.

[@ifv2089]

They were very good marksman, the British were definitely outclassed and still using antiquated tactics, very intresting period of British military history.

[@cornell3206]

What a amazing person Mr Heron thank you for keeping History alive

[@GrayCoventry]

Well done Ray. Brought back many memories as you know I was raised there as the farms belonged to the Coventry family. The farms were already been farmed by the Coventry, s at the time of the battle of Spionkop. My grandfather gave his house to Botha to use as the Boere headquarters. Growing up there we met many people visiting the battlefield of Spionkop. Your presentation is spot on thanks regards Gray Coventy

[@guyhowison4291]

Wow...fantastic historical account and wonderfully delivered. Thank you.

[@Tekweni]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Gamefarmnet-1991]

Repeat.

[@ifv2089]

Yes fantastic presentation and delivery 👏

[@calvinlee4321]

A very impressive presentation - informative & clear. So refreshing to see a guide not constantly looking at his phone for his notes - he obviously knows his stuff. The inclusion of maps was particularly helpful. 10/10.

[@tonicastel5933]

Very interesting. So well presented. Riveting narration. Thank you for posting.

[@sweetpeasweetpea5083]

So very well done- informative and well presented. This Rooinek very definitely supported the Boers. Married to a SAfrican whose gt-gt uncle died as a prisoner of war on St Helena. Many thanks Ray for sharing this- much better than the lectures etc I had at Wits!

[@paulocavaleiro-krugersafar6884]

My great grandfather fought in the battle of Spion Kop and Colenso (got his article), here was a German canon general who fought with the Boers. His name was August Gorlich. Have his photo.

[@RobertCarlBurns]

Hat off to your grandfather,paul

[@RobertCarlBurns]

Love his name, August

[@salomonandreoosthuysen6310]

@@paulocavaleiro-krugersafar6884 Spioenkop

[@SpartanMFP]

Respect. Always believed and still do there is an allegiance of some sort between the Boers and Germans ❤

[@paulocavaleiro-krugersafar6884]

When he moved to Johannesburg, he got news that the British were on their way to Johannesburg he then gathered all the boers and he managed to hide them savings many lives. He then joined the police force and got his name on the plague not sure name of building in Pretoria but it there. One day I would love to go to the battlefields where he fought.

[@jaapvandenbergh7430]

Baie dankie vir 'n uitstekende en objektiewe verhaling. Doe zo voort.

[@Tekweni]

Dankie! Ek waardeer jou positiewe terugvoer en sal my bes doen om voort te gaan met objektiewe inhoud.

[@Flintlock1776]

Well done, indeed. I've always been fascinated with this battle and this was the best overview I've seen on it.

[@peetschabort1080]

I was there with oom Reg Ströh in 2000. He also told us that there were about no trees, bushes etc. My grandfather took part in this battle. Where is the Vierkleur at the entrance? Only the Transvalers were engaged in this battle. An excellent representation, thank you.

[@riaanperold4653]

Wow! Excellent. I have been there (in my army days!) and have read a few renderings of the story. One can not help to admire what men are capable of (both sides), yet come to the same conclusion as Gandi!

[@John5209]

In 2008 I went up there on a very quiet Saturday afternoon. I was the only visitor that day and sat quietly and watched the sun start to set. The birds became quiet and I felt a quiet "presence" that had so much sadness that made me very emotional and raised the fine hairs on my neck & arms. As a Veteran from 1976 & 77, I fully understood the sadness of the Spirits there. I closed the road gate on my way down, and stood there looking back till darkness fell, thinking of those men of both sides on that day. All those that died were sacrificed by greedy English empire politicians out to steal the gold mines in Johannesburg!!!

[@nigelwilliams8537]

Breahtaking detail, fantastcally researched and told with all the drama, humanity and momentum of a master raconteur! Splitting hairs, I'm not at all sure that the,"Lions led by donkeys" quotation derived from the Boer War, as most historians attribute it to the Battle of the Somme in WWI but my devotion to historical accuracy means that I'd be very happy to be proved wrong. Congratulations and many thanks for this tour de force - mesmerising from start to finish.

[@Not_sheeple]

I want to reach out to all, especially the British people, who lost or had family fighting at Spioenkop....... it is a MUST visit. It will be an adventure of note!!!!

[@gavinbolton-ou6tv]

My great grandfather fought at Spionkop, he was in Thorneycrofts Mounted Infantry. When I was in 5 South African Infantry we re enacted the battle of Spionkop, we ascended at night after route marching from Ladysmith.

[@deonbester1408]

A lot of excuses from the British point of view. The Boers were superior guerrilla fighters and a force of only 75 000 kept a colonial force of 500 000 occupied for 3 years.

[@alecblunden8615]

1:19 Sounds a lot like the Americans in Vietnam and in the Middle East more recently.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

You've jumped the gun, Deon. The Battle of Spionkop was in the first phase of the war, prior to the guerrilla phase, so set piece battles were the aim of the Khakis in trying to pin down the Boer armies.

[@gbone7581]

@@alecblunden8615 Sounds like SWAPO in Namibia?

[@sop2510]

And the Boer bolt-action Mausers were superior to the Lee-Medford issued to the British.

[@joebudi5136]

Didn't Churchill say sonething like "1 boer= 2 british"? Something like that? Churchill admitted the Boer fighter was superior was his point.

[@andyblick6735]

Very good commentary. Thank you. What was, what might have been, what is ..

[@hettyjames5111]

Extremely interesting! Thank you.

[@geralddavie8690]

Great story telling. Great sound too on a windy hill. It became more engaging as it went until I was hooked. I did climb that hill once and saw all of those graves but your story explained it all. Well done.

[@susanwilliams7814]

Wow how insightful Sir. Unfortunately you cannot mess with Boer met sy roer. Ghandi was spot on. There are no winners in war.

[@MrIronklad]

Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@Dav1Gv]

Thanks, very intersting. "And we buried our dead, and the Boers buried theirs and then we started all over again." (to misquote Eric Bogle's song about Gallipoli). The futility of war.

[@brucealmighty6442]

Really good narrative on the battle....thank you for sharing 👍

[@Tekweni]

Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed the narrative.

[@KatutaCC]

Very well articulated 👍

[@lourensjoubert8652]

WOW!!!!! I love this and we need more people who can keep history alive

[@Tekweni]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@dextervandendowe8329]

this is a spectacular retelling of the events at Spioenkop. Need to have a series!

[@woverby1963]

Id love to take this tour with this guy, he tells it very well, then takes you to the different spots to illustrate what hes telling you, very engaging, i hung on every word. Well done.

[@dutchchessbetterthancheese1239]

Best explanation of what happened at Spionkop, bravo.

[@iainjohnston788]

Futility of war right there , well told , thanks .

[@davidandrews2883]

Brilliantly told account. Succinct, to the point, and fairly objective I thought.

[@Laceraciona]

Very, very interesting story, war history is very interesting, so the boer war was fought from Magaliesburg mountains in North West province all the way to Ladysmith in Kwazulu Natal?

[@LouwrensvanderMerwe]

Amazing!! Thank you very much.

[@Tekweni]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@BaDpAnDa591]

Thisbis where I live ,well close by in a town called memel,I have been to the places and everytime I go there i get very emotional

[@paulorosa1364]

Thank you, very informative.

[@Tekweni]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rogue___tr00per24]

Well narrated, thank you.

[@jinx4729]

Just coming to the most recent video to say Graham Adam needs his own show and would definitely be successful which greatly increases awareness to the wildlife videos but wildlife in general 👌

[@fleuger99]

Excellent presentation with detailed facts. Wonderful.

[@jonathanhunter2888]

Excellent thank you sir .

[@darrencorrigan8505]

Thanks, Tekweni.

[@durnham]

Great Narration, very clear what happened to the fine detail.

[@awildlife123]

Very interesting documentary

[@craigdouglasmartens7037]

The Indins came out in 1865 as indentured labourers to work in the canefields.

[@VJ592]

1860 . But factually the first Indian slaves were brought into the Cape by the Dutch East Company in the 1600's

[@AltavanZyl]

​@VJ592 no definitely not Indians then!

[@VJ592]

They were Indian slaves bought from Bengal. Simon Van Der Stel the first Governor of the Cape his mother was known Catherine of Bangal. If you read the biography of FW de Klerk he claims ancestory from said Catherine of Bengal. The Dutch authorities allowed Indian slave women to marry Dutch East India workers and for them and there offspring to have same rights as Europeans. The Dutch didn't bring European women to the Cape. So modern day Afrikaaners of the Cape have Indian ancestory.

[@YenneY01]

​werent those slaves Malays?@VJ592

[@VJ592]

@@YenneY01 Malay and Indians. The Indians lost there identity due to being subsumed into the "coloured" and Muslim population. It's a pity there isn't any much study of this. So South Africa was built on the backs of Indian slaves in Cape , parts of the Transvaal and Natal.

[@Frisia-dd6ud]

The boers were hero's.

[@ArmourSoldier-n4t]

😂 until they handed over the country

[@Ebrahim-ig8gl]

They handed over to save their women and children from perishing in Brittish concentration camps ​@@ArmourSoldier-n4t

[@mjgholfza]

Very interesting!

[@12345678981441]

My grandfather was a doctor for the British during the war. He came home a broken man from the horrors that he saw.

[@artfuldodger8655]

Indian folk most definitely DID NOT come to SA in 1655. Nov 1860

[@brucealmighty6442]

Might want to brush up on actual history instead of believing your dumb google search. They actually arrived in the Cape in 1654 as slaves. Don't comment and try and make someone look stupid, when stupidity sits on your own very shoulder!

[@RossoVerdeNero]

The biggest behind-the-goal terrace in the old Windsor Park football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland, was also named the Spion Kop; just as the larger example in Liverpool. Both are long since gone, having been replaced by all-seater stands, but they are both still known as the Kop, regardless of whatever they might be called officially. You might think it's odd to commemorate a defeat, but there are other examples.

[@salomonandreoosthuysen6310]

Like the SADF soldiers during the Bushwar who where 15 k against the Cuban soldiers who were 120k and easily handled them. Just a correction ; Spioenkop

[@clivefreemantle]

The correction saved me from submitting it 😀

[@shabeersayed5903]

Excellent. Sir....

[@Gamefarmnet-1991]

I need to visit the Battlefields!

[@bernard6519]

Damn this man can give an exciting history lesson!!!

[@blu-young-enterprise]

Amazing !

[@davee2056]

The Kop End at Anfield (Liverpool Football Club) is named thanks to this battle.

[@leprekhantar347]

Thank you for this video.

[@frankvanbrakel2340]

Spy head = Spioen kop..... Hill or little mountain..... Mooi program ou Rooinek dit alles om die goud te kom steel😅😅😅😅

[@gbone7581]

So a koppie is a small head?

[@joecruiser]

​@@gbone7581 Nope. A Cuppa .... Tea. 😂

[@VJ592]

I wonder if this History will be preserved

[@jimhallinsn1023]

I don't care whose side the soldiers where on, they all fought bravely for their side. . May they all rest in peace.

[@araned1306]

British colonialism at its best. The love of gold and diamonds. So British.

[@ceciljohnrhodes4987]

And the problem with that is?

[@Ebrahim-ig8gl]

​@@ceciljohnrhodes4987 Moral lobotomy. if you don't understand, you're not able to understand

[@Ebrahim-ig8gl]

​@@ceciljohnrhodes4987Moral lobotomy. If you dont understand you can't understand!

[@rdrenth]

​@@ceciljohnrhodes4987did someone say there was a problem?

[@Xheph]

​@@ceciljohnrhodes4987the problem is the deeds committed in the name of gold and diamonds

[@dodecahedron7910]

Louis Botha is my ancestor

[@mariusvermaak6575]

In Great Contemporaries, Winston Churchill wrote: “The three most famous generals I had known in my life won no great battles over a foreign foe. Yet their names, which all begin with 'B,' are household words. They are General Booth, General Botha and General Baden-Powell.15 Aug 2015

[@paulchignell8341]

Such brave men, on both sides.

[@IAMALLMUSIC]

So what were they fighting for?

[@Tekweni]

The British and Boers were fighting in the Battle of Spion Kop as part of the larger Second Anglo-Boer War, which took place from 1899 to 1902. At its core, the conflict was driven by British imperial ambitions and control over South Africa’s rich resources, particularly the gold and diamond mines discovered in the region. The Boers, mainly descendants of Dutch settlers, fought to preserve their independence in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, resisting British attempts to bring their territories under British rule. The British sought to consolidate their control over the region and secure access to its wealth, while the Boers were fighting to protect their way of life, homes, and self-governance. The clash at Spion Kop was a critical battle in this broader struggle for control, with both sides fiercely contesting strategic positions to break the siege of Ladysmith, a key moment in the war. In short, they were fighting for control of South Africa’s territories-one side for British expansion, the other for Boer independence.

[@afriquelesud]

British greed, the reason why the invade to steal and oppress. We had gold and diamonds they wanted. Greed is ugly.

[@Andres-v7r2h]

That is the south africa i want the old south africa not the garbage we have now

[@manusduminy9845]

The name of the hill is Spioenkop.

[@0448mickey]

Heavily slanted in favour of the Brits. Making excuses 120 years later seems ridiculous. History's a bitch.

[@SeanWilken]

Spioenkop nie Spion kop nie

[@chuisamen]

As you drive into Selkirk Scottish Borders there is a street named spionkop

[@Fres-no]

Wrong spelling: Spioen.....not Spion....dankie

[@Crudmonkey211]

Many of the “British” were Commonwealth soldiers from Australia, valued for their knowledge of similar geography and terrain. Some Australians were sympathetic to the anti-imperial Boer cause and fought with them instead. It’s time we start referring to them as such.

[@AIJimmybad]

What like Breaker Morrant?

[@samoday2992]

Stop making up things

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

I've seen this before.

[@Tekweni]

We included this in a longer documentary where you would have seen it.... we extracted this clip for viewers

[@CaptainHarlock-kv4zt]

@@Tekweni Yes, I remember it. Thanks.

[@flipster7285]

sad thing is that a lot of the graves on these battlefields are being dug up and robbed. either for artefacts or for muthi.

[@NickSchoonwinkel]

11:00 Is this statement correct that the Indians came to Port-Natal is 1655 to cute the sugarcane? To my knowledge: 16 November 1860, the historic day on which the first Indians landed in Durban aboard the SS Truro from Madras, here to work in the sugar cane plantation of the then Port-Natal.

[@TukauGreenaway]

He says we killed...bad

[@obySedgefieldgemofourgardenrou]

Those were the days ,when men were men ,the stood up, where are our men today,it seems many trying their damdest to be something else,shamefull.

[@seanwilken6979]

Spioenkop not spionkop

[@Tekweni]

Thank you for your comment! Both 'Spion Kop' and 'Spionenkop' are used in different contexts. We chose 'Spion Kop' for the title as it is commonly used in English-language historical references and is widely recognised. However, 'Spionenkop' is the Dutch and Afrikaans spelling, which is also correct.

[@wallywombat164]

How many Australians fought in the Boer War?

[@Tekweni]

Approximately 16,000 Australians served in the Second Boer War (1899-1902), also known as the Anglo-Boer War. These volunteers came from the six separate British colonies that later federated to form Australia in 1901. They served in various capacities, primarily as mounted infantry, and played significant roles in several key operations during the conflict.

[@alanhill5337]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@pierrefourie1786]

Spioenkop....proper spelling

[@ruandurand3971]

That is the modern day spelling.

[@Notsofatamerican]

Spioen Kop you mean.

[@AltavanZyl]

Indians 1655?? You don't know Your history at all!

[@Xheph]

Bro go do some research about the first Malays in SA

[@ArchangelD78]

Spioen Kop

[@Tekweni]

Thank you for your comment! Both 'Spion Kop' and 'Spionenkop' are used in different contexts. We chose 'Spion Kop' for the title as it is commonly used in English-language historical references and is widely recognised. However, 'Spionenkop' is the Dutch and Afrikaans spelling, which is also correct.

[@ArchangelD78]

@@Tekweni still found it to be highly informative 😉

[@lukasvisagie9513]

@@Tekweni Spioenkop

[@afriquelesud]

​@@TekweniAs Anglophones are just inept when it comes to difficult foreign names such as Dibeng, which became Deben, or München that now is mewnick. They just cannot help themselves. Deutschland became Germany. They need proper education.

[@richardfeldt9641]

I lived in mansfield notts and there was a little place called spion kop....always wondered about the name...fast forward 20 years living in Australia...there's another little place called spion kop...what's the chances 😆 🤣 😂

[@NicoBotha-t2z]

Spioen kop mamparas

[@chrisgerber1074]

The correct spelling is Spioenkop

[@BenVisser-f9j]

Some of your facts here are just as shaky as your spelling even starting with the video title

[@BenVisser-f9j]

Maybe you should have cited reputable sources..

[@Spearhead-lz1oq]

"Lions led by donkeys" comes from WW1.

[@alecblunden8615]

6:27 And is the saying of an ill informed journalist.

[@johnludike7991]

Never understood why Boer Commandos didn’t rescue women and children from concentration camps . Someone said they were too busy playing “ commando “ ??

[@Ebrahim-ig8gl]

Save them to return to farms where homes, furniture were burned to dust, cattle killed, crops burned and destroyed. Jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

[@jkmb5758]

Jy weet nie wat ons weet! Jy sal nooit verstaan nie.

[@afriquelesud]

They simply lacked the manpower and logistics. Bear in mind, the Boers weren't ever a real army.

[@mariusvermaak6575]

Die kommando s moes so mobiel moontlik wees om teen die onsettende oormag weerstand te kon bied. Dink jouself in jy is deel van 100 berede mag Boere wat dag en nag veg onder uiterste omstandighede, hoe op aarde gaan jy n klomp vrouens kinders en babas versorg, kos gee , gaan jy hulle uit gevaar hou dat hulle nie doodgeskiet of vermink word? gaan jy tietbottel met warm melk rondstuur en doeke was? waarnatoe gaan jy met hulle omtrent al die dorpe en stede is in Britse hande. Daar is groot Britse opmarse met baie Boere verraaiers en Swartes wat rondbeweeg en net vroue en kinders vang, jy kan nie waag om hulle aan te val want dan beland die vroue en kinders in spervuur, en die beste van als is baie van die Britte was lafhartig en het die vroue gebruik sodat daar nie op hulle geskiet kon word,. Daar was gevalle oa waar Genl de Wet so britse vroue kommando aangeval het en daar was vroue gewond en dood.

[@lynnrobski1]

what would they have done with them?

[@dancemunki]

However you Afrikaaners fought smart n hard, there is no doubt bout that.

[@twinfishing6713]

Two people fighting for land that wasn't even their in the 1st place.

[@adrian3355w]

Times then were so different.. Conquer or be conquered.

[@jkmb5758]

I trust you've returned you piece of land.

[@timcro1966]

Boers fighting and defending British imperialism for the country of their birth. What did you expect them to do? And where were all the Africans whilst the Boers were defending the country? Hiding?

[@twinfishing6713]

@@jkmb5758 lol

[@twinfishing6713]

@@jkmb5758 young boy you know nothing about land. You maybe 14years of age. Stay in your lane

[@shanemeissenheimer586]

Imagine they lost we could be a great country today with British roots 💪 and proper rules. All our troubles now could have been avoided by a truce then

[@anthonyflint7419]

Yeah very interesting thanks all for the gold/ diamonds.