Battle of Colenso, Second Boer War, Irish Units on Both Sides of the Conflict

The Battle of Colenso, which took place during the Second Boer War (1899-1902), is notable for the involvement of Irish soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

The Battle of Colenso, occurring on December 15, 1899, was the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War. It was fought between British and Boer forces from the independent South African Republic and Orange Free State in and around Colenso, Natal, South Africa.

It was a significant engagement where British forces, including the Dublin Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers, and the Inniskilling Fusiliers, faced Boer troops, among whom were Irish units fighting for the Boers.

Irish Involvement in the Boer War

The presence of Irish soldiers in the Boer army was a manifestation of the complex Irish sentiments towards British imperialism. Many Irish nationalists sympathized with the Boers, seeing parallels between the Boer struggle against British domination in South Africa and their own struggle for independence from British rule.

Irish Brigades with the Boers

The Irish units fighting alongside the Boers, such as the Irish Brigade, were composed of Irishmen who had either emigrated to the Boer Republics or traveled from Ireland to support the Boer cause. Their participation was driven by a mix of anti-British sentiment and a sense of adventure.

Irish Regiments in the British Army

On the other side, regiments like the Dublin Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers, and Inniskilling Fusiliers were part of the British Army. These units had a long history and included many Irish soldiers serving in the British forces, which was a common occurrence at the time due to economic reasons and a long-standing tradition of Irishmen serving in the British military.

The Battle of Colenso

This battle was one of the early engagements of the war and a significant defeat for the British. The British forces, under the command of General Sir Redvers Buller, attempted to cross the Tugela River to relieve the Siege of Ladysmith but were repelled by the Boers with heavy casualties.

The British lost 143 killed, 756 wounded, and 220 captured. Boer casualties were eight killed and 30 wounded.

After the battle of Colenso, four soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry that can be awarded to British (and Commonwealth) forces. All crossed an exposed area of intense Boer fire and rescued two of the twelve guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries when their crews had become casualties or were driven from their weapons. They were Captain Walter Congreve, Captain Harry Norton Schofield, Corporal George Nurse, and Lieutenant Frederick Roberts (the only son of Field Marshal Lord Roberts), who died of his wounds two days later.[