25 JUNE 1901 - DEFENCE OF RICHMOND

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On 25 June 1901, the small town of Richmond, defended by a detachment of the 4th Battalion North Staffordshire Regt and the Richmond Town Guard, was attacked by a superior Boer force under Gen Wynand Malan and Commandant Smith.

 

A number of small forts on kopjes overlooking the town were overrun. The Boer tactics were to keep a continuous fire on the loopholes of a fort while a number of them stormed the fort and were safe below the loopholes that were too highly positioned.

 

They then threatened to toss in dynamite, leading to the surrender of the defenders. Eventually only the heavily fortified jail and the so-called “Flag Hill Fort” remained unconquered. At dusk word reached Malan that a strong British force was nearing Richmond and in the evening the Boers withdrew.

 

British losses were 6 killed and 8 wounded, while on the Boer side there were only a number of wounded burghers.