Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of the Tugela Heights

Battle of the Tugela Heights was a battle fought on 14 February 1900 at Colenso, in what is now South Africa; it lasted 13 days. It was part of Second Boer War, which ran from 1899 to 1902. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 20,000; 50 guns against 5,000; 8 field guns.

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Soldiers of the Royal Inniskilling Regiment storming Hart's Hill during the Battle of Tugela Heights.
Soldiers of the Royal Inniskilling Regiment storming Hart's Hill during the Battle of Tugela Heights.. Lance Thackeray (1869-1916), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought14 February 1900lasted 13 days
WhereColenso, South Africa28.683S, 29.833E
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandagainstSouth African Republic; Orange Free State
Casualties and losses2,300 killed, wounded or missingand200 killed
Part ofSecond Boer War1899 to 1902

Where it sits in Second Boer War

Battle of Doornkop, 1896Siege of Mafeking, 1899Battle of Kraaipan, 1899Siege of Kimberley, 1899Battle of Talana Hill, 1899Battle of Elandslaagte, 1899Relief of Ladysmith, 1899Battle of Ladysmith, 1899Siege of Ladysmith, 1899Battle of Belmont, 1899Battle of Graspan, 1899Battle of Modder River, 1899Battle of Stormberg, 1899Battle of Magersfontein, 1899Battle of Colenso, 1899Battle of Spion Kop, 1900Battle of Vaal Krantz, 1900Battle of the Tugela Heights, 1900Battle of Paardeberg, 1900Bloody Sunday, 1900Battle of Poplar Grove, 1900Battle of Driefontein, 1900Battle of Sanna's Post, 1900Battle of Boshof, 1900Battle of Laing's Nek (1900), 1900Battle of Diamond Hill, 1900Battle of Dwarsvlei, 1900Battle of Silkaatsnek, 1900Battle of Witpoort, 1900Battle of Elands River, 1900Battle of Bergendal, 1900Battle of Bothaville, 1900Battle of Leliefontein, 1900Battle of Nooitgedacht, 1900Battle of Vlakfontein, 1901Battle of Groenkloof, 1901Battle of Blood River Poort, 1901Battle of Elands River, 1901Battle of Bakenlaagte, 1901Battle of Groenkop, 1901Battle of Tweebosch, 1902Battle of Rooiwal, 190218961902Battle of the Tugela Heights, 1900
42 placed engagements of Second Boer War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date14 February 1900
to 27 February 1900
PlaceColenso, South Africa
28.683S, 29.833E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength20,000; 50 guns5,000; 8 field guns
Casualties and losses2,300 killed, wounded or missing200 killed
Commanders
Battle of the Tugela HeightsBattle of the Tugela HeightsRelief of LadysmithBattle of ColensoSiege of LadysmithBattle of Vaal KrantzBattle of LadysmithSiege of LadysmithBattle of LadysmithDurbanPietermaritzburgVryheidBethlehemUlundiHlotseButha-ButheMokhotlong100 km28.683S, 29.833E
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 1900

Battle of the Tugela Heights 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 Q4873033, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of the Tugela Heights, revision 1376503813, 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.