Episode 41 - An earthquake strikes as the Battle of Diamond Hill unfolds

We’re up to episode 41 of the series and Lord Roberts and the British army have taken control of most of South Africa. In this episode we’ll hear about the last pitched conventional battle of the Anglo-Boer war, Diamond Hill. It’s also unique for the fact that an earthquake struck the region east of Pretoria in the Transvaal Republic as the battle raged. The Free State Republic has fallen, so too the Transvaal Republic. But have they really? Their capitals have been seized by the British, but there are still thousands of Boer commandos willing to fight on. We heard last week how General Christian de Wet was making life difficult for Lord Methuen and others in the Free State, now our attention shifts back to the Transvaal and the area around the Capital Pretoria in particular. Boer President Oom Paul Kruger has fled to Machadadorp in the east along with his government, while back in Pretoria Burghers are trying to make up their minds about their next steps. The fighting is about to switch to unconventional warfare, guerilla warfare, and the Boers are gathering under the leadership of General Louis Botha. First he decided to face off against the British at a sweeping group of hills that formed a natural semi-circle called Donkerhoek which means Dark Corner. The English referred to this coming battle as Diamond Hill. This would conform to the recent style of fighting and was not strictly guerilla in tactics. With Lord Kitchener in the south trying to tie down General de Wet, the coming fight was left to Lord Roberts and General Hamilton.