24 FEBRUARY 1902 - HARRISMITH DRIVE

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During the night of 23/24 February General de Wet with some 600 men (including President Steyn and other Government members) managed to break through the British cordon near Harrismith, breaching that part of the line held by the 7th New Zealand Mounted Infantry.

 

Both sides suffered heavy losses. De Wet left 14 dead on the field and carried away 20 wounded, while the New Zealanders, who had shown fine tenacity, had 23 killed and 43 wounded.