Lieutenant-Colonel Kekewich and the 1st Loyal North Lancs Regt were sent to protect the vulnerable heart of the diamond mining region controled by Cecil Rhodes. As they had suspected, 3 days after war was declared the Boers attacked and laid seige to the town. Rhodes himself was trapped there and although he threw the resources of the mining company behind the defence, he also insisted that he would hand the town over to the Boers if the British did not attempt a relief. This drastically interfered with the priorities of Roberts' troops and all but ruined his cavalry in its execution.

British Colonial forces

Number engaged :

n/a

Casualties :

181

Boer (Free State) forces

Number engaged :

n/a

Casualties :

n/a