Ladysmith

This small town became world famous between 1899 and 1900 as a result of its four month besiegement by Boer forces and has since become known as 'Siegetown'.

It was originally called Windsor but was renamed Ladysmith after the wife of the Governor of the Cape - Lady Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon Smith. The little town was a crossroads for transport riders between Port Natal (Durban) and the Transvaal. In 1886 the railway reached the town.

During the siege, food became very scarce and many of the 30,000 inhabitants died from enteric fever. In the final month of the siege, 28 British soldiers a day were being buried at the Intombi Hospital. Many other victims of the siege are buried on Cemetery Hill.

Of the garrison of 12500 only 9000 survived. The town is now an active community of over 100,000 people.

The museum was constructed in 1884 as a marketplace and served as a ration post during the siege. In 1965 the building served both as museum and as library but in 1985 was converted to the sole purpose of museum.

Local battlefields include: Spioenkop, Vaalkrans, Colenso, Tugela Heights, Elandslaagte, Nicholson's Nek and Wagon Hill.

A 'Siegetown' walkabout guide of the town is available from the Siege Museum. In addition to a collection of Boer War artifacts, the museum houses a diorama depicting Ladysmith at the time of the siege.

Castor and Pollux, two 6.3" howitzers that served the town well during the siege, including damaging one of the Boer guns, stand outside the museum entrance. The Bill Mackay Gallery includes glimpses into daily life during the siege.

The diorama depicts the positions of the guns of the Boers, the names of the geographical features, the positions of the Boer searchlights and the point where the Boers built a dam in an attempt to flood the town. Also indicated is Intombi Camp - a neutral hospital in the no-man's land at the foot of Umbulwane. Guided tours around the Museum are available and there is a curio shop.

The Police Station incorporates a loopholed wall built in 1879 as part of the defences of the town against a Zulu attack.

Umbulwane

Dominating Ladysmith is the 'small mountain' - Umbulwane from the summit of which, the Boer forces could see almost all that was happening in the town.

(Platrand) marks the place where the Boers determined to drive the British from the hill on 6th January 1900 and monuments and cairns mark the places where men fell.

During the battle, a member of the Harrismith Commando, the Rev. JD Kestell gave succour to friend and foe alike under fire and a monument has been erected in his memory.

. . .marks the site where Lt. Egerton, manning a 4.7 ship's gun succumbed to shell fire from the Long Tom on Pepworth Hill. The Lt. Col. Dick Cunyngham VC Cairn marks the spot where the commander of the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders - who had hardly recovered from wounds inflicted at Elandslaagte - was mortally wounded by a stray bullet whilst trying to reinforce the men on Wagon Hill on 6th January 1900.

- the remains of 319 Boer soldiers were reinterred in this communal crypt with the names of a further 781 who are listed according to battles in which they fought. The upturned hands of the monument point in the direction of the various battles in which the men died.

Four of these 8" guns were ordered from France by the Transvaal Government in 1897 to protect Pretoria. Three were employed in the siege of Ladysmith and one in the siege of Mafeking.

The Royal Hotel is the spot where Dr. Stark was mortally wounded by a Long Tom shell whilst talking to journalist McHugh in the doorway. The base of this shell is cemented into the pavement.

No. 16 Poort Road was General Sir George White's HQ until it was struck by a shell on 22nd December 1899.

The Town Hall served as a hospital but despite a large red cross flag, was still shelled on several occasions. The Convent was directly in the line of fire from the besieging Boer forces and after several direct hits the nuns were evacuated to the Intombi Hospital.

After the siege, the building was used by General Buller as his HQ. There is a walkabout/driveabout that identifies more than eighty sites of historical interest. Brochures are available from the Siege Museum.

The Blockhouse Museum is a private collection of siege memorabilia, Boer War and Anglo/Zulu War artefacts in a replica of a British blockhouse and it is well worth a visit. The MOTH Museum also has a collection of military memorabilia (0361) 23762.

The Cultural Centre in Keat St. houses a Jungle/Discovery room for kids, a Ladysmith achievers room, the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Hall, an art gallery and a conference room.

The town has also been famous in recent times for its frequent flooding by the Klip River. A magnificent dam has been constructed some 4km outside Ladysmith. The dam has been named 'Qedusizi' - 'the end of suffering'.

Close to the town in neutral territory Intombi hospital was established. A Garden of Remembrance commemorates the 700 soldiers and civilians that are buried here.

Not far from Ladysmith is Danskraal Farm where the Voortrekkers camped prior to the Battle of Blood River. It is also here where they reputedly made their vow to build a church should they defeat the Zulus.

The Soofie Mosque is rated as one of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

An ideal spot for those who enjoy birding - more than 200 species have been identified here on the 1.5km long vlei that adjoins th Klip River.

This popular picnic spot is located off Poort Road. There is both a natural and a children's swimming pool.

This dam on the Tugela River under the shadow of the Spioenkop Battlefield is a major resort with boating, yachting, canoeing and fishing. Controlled hunting in a portion of the reserve is allowed in season.

There are more than 250 species of birds around the dam and a hide from which visitors can watch raptor feeding in the winter months. Mammals include: rhino, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, springbok, impala, buffalo and eland.

There is a choice of self guided trails including the one to the summit of Spioenkop to see the famous Boer War battlefield from which there is a splendid view of the Drakensberg Mountains - for which attractions Spioenkop is very centrally located 036 4881578. Accommodation comprises twenty five fully equipped six bed chalets and a camp site.

Near the town is the location most generally agreed upon where in 1838 the Voortrekkers made the vow that should they defeat the Zulus, they would build a church (The Church of the Vow in Pietermaritzburg). The name allegedly comes from a dance given in honour of the Voortrekkers by a local chief.