TOPIC:

One of the Naval guns being fired on the Colenso Battlefield. If it had not been for the Naval Brigades, the British forces would have suffered more reverses than they have done. Their guns have been able to do better work than the ordinary field guns, for the reason thay they are larger and more powerful pieces, though they are less mobile.

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/11-research/3...9-1900?start=0#88756

Detail of the Naval 4.7 pictured above (photograph by J.E. Middlebrook, Durban).



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Fortified kopjes, North of Colenso, from whence the Boers fought the battle of Colenso

Source: www.angloboerwar.com/forum/11-research/3...9-1900?start=0#88756

Here are some updated photos of the battlefield, taken last week, from the site of the loss of the guns.

What surprised me was that Hlangwane looked further away that what I imagined when I looked at maps of the battlefield.

None of the plaques on the markers are currently in place.

I'm trying to work out where Gen Hart went wrong in the battle of Colenso. He seems to have lost faith in his map when he came across Dooringkopspruit - a tributary of the Tugela - in the wrong place. Here are 3 maps: Maurice (Official History) shows the stream in the same place as Google . Amery (Times History) shows it too far to the East.
Does anyone have access to the map used in the battle, so I can see where Dooringkopspruit is indicated?
Thanks in anticipation
Rob

Rob, herewith a section of the contemporary souvenir map prepared by the same Captain who seemed to have been responsible for the map that was used in battle. You may note that the spruit east of Bridle Drift is quite prominent on the map while it possibly was just a minor stream.