Boer and Brit meet in battle

Shots were fired at Majuba Hill on 27 February, as Boer and Brit met in battle once more.

The earthen hues of the Boers were in stark contrast to the bright red coats and white helmets of the British, and shouts in English and Afrikaans were ringing out as fire was exchanged and casualties mounted.

At the end of the battle, the redcoats stood ultimately defeated.

Exactly 134 years ago to that day, the bullets exchanged were real, both sides fighting for every bloody metre, the vanquished departing to the peace of the afterlife.

As history tells, the victory at Majuba Hill by the Boers signalled the end of the first Anglo-Boer War.

Historical records indicate Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley occupied the summit of the hill on the night of 26/27 February, 1881.

His motive for occupying the hill remains unclear.

The Boers believed he might have been attempting to outflank their positions at Laing’s Nek – another theory is the Boers did not consider the hill could be scaled for military purposes.

Thus it may have been Colley’s attempt to emphasise British power, striking fear into the Boer camp.

Whichever is the truth, the facts remain the British suffered heavy causalities from the battle, with Boer forces sustaining just one casualty and five injured soldiers.

More than a century and three score on, historians and re-enactors from across South Africa still congregate at the foot of Majuba Hill annually to re-enact the battle.

This time around, no causalities or injuries were reported.

As per tradition, both Boer and Brit honoured each other, and the sacrifices made during the war, with a handshake a short distance from Owens Cabin, where the original peace treaty was signed.

British forces were organised by the popular Dundee Die-Hards, while the Boers were arranged by the Vryheid Bittereinders.

Both organisations extended another invitation to residents to participate in future reenactments and assist in bringing history to life.