BBC News Online: World: Africa

Prince Philip honours Boer War dead

Prince Philip travelled by helicopter from Durban to Spionkop, a remote and rugged region of KwaZulu-Natal, to commemorate the bloody battle that took place nearly a century ago.

In a spirit of reconciliation, he laid poppy wreaths on the war memorials of both the British and the Boers.

Inscriptions on the two wreaths read: "In memory of the brave soldiers of both sides who fought and fell on this site, and also of all those who lost their lives in the Anglo-Boer South African War, white and black, men, women and children. Never again - nooit weer nie."

The visit is part of a royal state trip with the Queen to Africa, taking in Ghana, South Africa and Mozambique.

Spionkop was one of the most calamitous defeats of the British Empire. At least 322 British troops died, 563 were wounded and 300 taken prisoner in 24 hours. The troops failed to secure an observation hill as part of an attempt to relieve the siege of Ladysmith in January 1900.

Casualties on the Boer side saw about 58 killed and 140 wounded or taken prisoner.

The British attempt involved climbing the hill at night and digging shallow trenches. But daylight revealed that the length of the trenches was directly in the sights of the Boer rifles and artillery on nearby Twin Peaks.

Communications and command were confused, and the British, although vastly outnumbering the Boers, retreated.

Among those at the Battle of Spionkop were a young Winston Churchill who, at 24, was a war correspondent, Gandhi who was a stretcher bearer for the British and, on the Boers' side, Louis Botha who later became South Africa's first prime minister.

Mr Churchill's grand-daughter Celia Sandys and his great-grandson Alexander Perkins, 13, were at Spionkop for the commemoration ceremony.

But for some, the move to reconcile over war is not enough. Afrikaans protesters in South Africa have demanded an apology from the British for their colonial past and alleged war crimes when Boer women and children were detained in insanitary concentration camps. Up to 28,000 died.

The Queen has expressed sadness at the loss of life during the Boer War, but stopped short of an apology.

Further tribute to those who lost their lives during war will be paid by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on Remembrance Sunday. They will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Durban.

Relevant Stories

Township welcome for Queen (11 Nov 99 | Africa)
Queen's regret over Boer War (10 Nov 99 | Africa)
Picture gallery: South Africa salutes the Queen (10 Nov 99 | Africa)
Queen welcomed to South Africa (10 Nov 99 | Africa)
Imperialism in the dock - the Boer War (10 Nov 99 | Africa)
Fit for a Queen (10 Nov 99 | UK)
Xhosa demand apology from Queen (08 Nov 99 | Africa)

Internet Links

The British Monarchy
South African Government

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Dam builders charged in bribery scandal
Burundi camps 'too dire' to help
Sudan power struggle denied
Animal airlift planned for Congo
Spy allegations bug South Africa
Senate leader's dismissal 'a good omen'
Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe
Zimbabwe constitution: Just a bit of paper?
South African gays take centre stage
Nigeria's ruling party's convention
UN to return to Burundi
Bissau military hold fire
Nile basin agreement on water cooperation
Congo Brazzaville defends peace initiative
African Media Watch
Liberia names new army chief