Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, nineteenth century

Battle of Laing's Nek

Battle of Laing's Nek was a battle fought on 28 January 1881 in what is now South Africa. It was part of First Boer War, which ran from 1880 to 1881. The recorded result: Boer victory. Recorded strength: 2,000 against 1,216.

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The work depicts Lieutenant Robert Elwes of the Grenadier Guards, who was killed at the Battle of Laing's Nek on 28 January 1881, during the First Boer War.
The work depicts Lieutenant Robert Elwes of the Grenadier Guards, who was killed at the Battle of Laing's Nek on 28 January 1881, during the First Boer War.. Elizabeth Thompson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought28 January 1881
WhereSouth Africa27.461S, 29.869E
OutcomeBoer victory
BelligerentsSouth African RepublicagainstUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Casualties and losses14 killed; 27 woundedand84 killed; 113 wounded; 2 captured
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 Laing's Nek, 1881
9 placed engagements of First Boer War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date28 January 1881
PlaceSouth Africa
27.461S, 29.869E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength2,0001,216
Casualties and losses14 killed; 27 wounded84 killed; 113 wounded; 2 captured
Commanders
  • George Colley (British Army officer)
Battle of Laing's NekBattle of Laing's NekMajuba HillBattle of SchuinshoogteBattle of Blood River PoortBattle of IntombeBattle of KambulaBattle of SchuinshoogteBattle of Blood River PoortBattle of IntombeMbabaneVryheidLobambaSpringsBethalBethlehemStandertonLadysmith100 km27.461S, 29.869E
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 Laing's Nek is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 92 in present-day South Africa.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q741129, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Laing's Nek, revision 1384742737, 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.