Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Elandsfontein

Battle of Elandsfontein was a battle fought on 16 January 1881 at Pretoria, in what is now South Africa. It was part of First Boer War, which ran from 1880 to 1881. The recorded result: Boer victory.

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Fought16 January 1881
WherePretoria, South Africa25.750S, 28.033E
OutcomeBoer victory
BelligerentsSouth African RepublicagainstUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Casualties and losses8 woundedand4 men killed and 6 wounded
Part ofFirst Boer War1880 to 1881

Where it sits in First Boer War

Action at Bronkhorstspruit, 1880Siege of Rustenburg, 1880Siege of Lydenburg, 1881Siege of Marabastad, 1881Battle of Elandsfontein, 1881Battle of Laing's Nek, 1881Battle of Schuinshoogte, 1881Battle of Rooihuiskraal, 1881Majuba Hill, 188118801881Battle of Elandsfontein, 1881
9 placed engagements of First Boer War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date16 January 1881
PlacePretoria, South Africa
25.750S, 28.033E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
StrengthUnknown154 Pretoria Volunteers; 129 Royal Scots Fusiliers; 74 Pretoria Carbineers; 62 Cavalry; 39 men of the Royal Artillery; 30 men of the 94th Regiment; 170 mounted men including 45 mounted infantry; a 9 and 7 pounder field gun; a gun mounted cart
Casualties and losses8 wounded4 men killed and 6 wounded
Commanders
  • Lieutenant colonel
  • George Frederick Gildea
  • Col
  • William Bellairs
  • Lieutenant
Battle of ElandsfonteinBattle of ElandsfonteinSiege of MarabastadBattle of RooihuiskraalBattle of RooiwalBattle of Diamond HillBattle of NooitgedachtBattle of RooihuiskraalBattle of RooiwalJohannesburgVereenigingKlerksdorpRustenburgPotchefstroomBethalStanderton100 km25.750S, 28.033E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1881

Battle of Elandsfontein is one of 3,694 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 95 in present-day South Africa.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2887936, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Elandsfontein, revision 1370110052, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.