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Chieveley, The Armoured Train Incident


Battle Name : Chieveley, The Armoured Train Incident

Date(s) : 15 November 1899

Part of : The 2nd Boer War (or Three Years War) ,

Outcome : A victory for Boer forces over British Armoured Train

Type of battle : Land

Summary

An armoured train was sent to recce North up the rail line from Estcourt to Colenso in Natal, to investigate Boer dispositions in the area. The young Winston Churchill, correspondent for the Morning Post accompanied them. On the return journey the train was fired on, causing it to speed up to out pace some approaching horsemen but in fact driving it at high speed into a prepared ambush. A number of the British were killed and wounded, but most were taken. Churchill was taken to Pretoria but later escaped.

Location

Chieveley on the rail line from Estcourt to Colenso, Natal, South Africa. (South Africa)