25 JANUARY 1901 - MIDDELFONTEIN

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Lt-Col G C Cunningham was ordered by French to leave a garrison at Rustenburg and to move south through Olifant’s Nek, there to take position in order to prevent De la Rey from moving eastward.

 

Crossing the Nek on 23 January, Cunningham gained touch with the enemy (600 men under Commandant Potgieter) at Middelfontin, 7 miles from the summit of the pass. 

After some intense fighting the Boers were forced to retreat. Cunningham, unfortunately, chose a position for his camp in a valley dominated on every side by rocky hills. 

 

The next day De la Rey appeared on the scene with another 500 men and started an attack at 04h00 before dawn. This was kept up the whole of the day with the British subjected to rifle fire from all sides till darkness fell.

 

Cunningham lost 54 killed and wounded during the 2 days’ fighting and could only extricate his force on 25 January with a further loss of 2 killed and 7 wounded when a relief column was sent by Babington from Ventersdorp. 
Times History, Vol V, p112.