The Battle of Majuba, fought in South Africa on the 27th February 1881 was one of the British Army’s most humiliating defeats.
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
SUPPORT MY CHANNEL
1)Become A Patron
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Supporters-club
or
2)Join My YouTube membership
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyTGpFsD0AJkQ6KSCW8d_Ug/join
From their force of 400 men, the British lost 92 killed (including their commanding general), 134 wounded and 59 captured - a 70% casualty figure.
In comparison their Boer opponents lost just 2 men killed and 4 wounded.
It would result in the Boers regaining their independence from Britain: the first
time since the American colonists that part of the British empire had successfully broken free.
It is a story of folly, mixed with ego and good dose of bravery too.
Related videos:
The Boer War 1899-1902
https://youtu.be/u1JAVnchZQI
The Jameson Raid
https://youtu.be/IhNyd9iEl2w
Hector MacDonald
https://youtu.be/Sx178vz8p7U
The Battle of Majuba was the final bloody encounter in what has been termed the first Boer (or Anglo Boer) war, fought in 1881.
A force of British redcoats commanded by general George Pomeroy Colley successfully took the summit of Majuba Hill in a night time assault.
His 400-strong force consisted of 3 companies of the 92nd Regiment (Gordon Highlanders), 2 companies of the 58th Regiment of Foot (later the Northamptonshire’s) and 50 members of the naval Brigade from HMS Dido.
The British had failed to entrench their positions, not had they taken artillery with them.
The Boer counter attack, commanded by Piet Joubert, reached the summit of Majuba and drove the British off.
In the process General Colley was killed, along with 91 others.
Two British officers captured by the Boers would go on to have impressive careers in the British Army.
Ian Hamilton would rise to the rank of general and would command the allied landings at Gallipoli during World War 1.
Hector MacDonald, would rise all the way from the ranks to also become a general. He was to play key roles at the battle of Omdurman and during the second Anglo Boer War when he commanded the Highland Brigade.
Sources used in researching this video included:
"The Transvall Rebellion: The First Boer War" - John Laband
"A Study in Attack: Majuba 27 Feb 1881" - G. Tylden
National Army Museum
"The Scramble for Africa" - Thomas Pakenham
The Blue Jackets.co.uk
British Battles.com
Chapters
0:00 Battle of Majuba Intro
0:57 The Boer Republics
2:43 General George Colley
3:56 Battle of Laing’s Nek
6:00 Majuba
7:01 British units
8:22 British Assault
9:23 British Success
11:21 Battle of Majuba
13:03 Joseph Farmer VC
14:41 British Flee
15:45 Casualties
16:45 Boers Win Independence
18:32 The History Chap
#battleofmajuba #firstboerwar #britishempire
Sources used to produce this video include:
National Army Museum
"The Scramble for Africa” - Thomas Packenham
“The First Boer War” - John Laband
“A Study in Attack. Majuba 27 Feb 1881” - G Tylden
Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia
British battles.com
The Blue jackets.co.uk
Follow me at:
www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChap
My name is Chris Green (aka The History Chap) and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern History from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.