Ladysmith

Ladysmith town (1991 pop. 30,532), KwaZulu-Natal, E South Africa. The town has railroad yards and food-processing, textile, and tire factories. It is the distribution center for the surrounding agricultural and coal-mining region. Ladysmith was founded in 1851 by Boers (Afrikaners) who had been persuaded by British governor Sir Harry Smith to remain in Natal rather than join the Trek to other areas. The town, named for Smith's wife, grew after a railroad to Durban was opened in 1886. During the South African War , Sir George White's British forces at Ladysmith were under siege by Boers from Nov., 1899, to Feb., 1900, when British reinforcements arrived. Nearby battlefields associated with the siege include Wagon Hill, Nicholson's Nek, and Spioen Kop.

Ladysmith Town in northern Natal, besieged by Afrikaner forces during the second Anglo‐Boer War. Ladysmith became the main British military supply base in Natal in 1897. When the Boers advanced into the colony at the outbreak of war in 1899 the British commander, Sir George White, was heavily defeated and found himself surrounded in Ladysmith. Fortunately for White, the Boer commander, Joubert, did not exploit his success and the town was relieved at the end of February 1900.

Ladysmith. Town in northern Natal, scene of a siege by Afrikaner forces during the second Anglo-Boer War. Ladysmith became the main British military supply base in Natal in 1897 and when the Boers advanced into the colony at the outbreak of war in 1899 the British commander in Natal, Sir George White, expected an easy victory. Instead, his army was heavily defeated and White found himself surrounded in Ladysmith, a strategically unsuitable site for a beleaguered force to occupy. Fortunately for White, the Boer commander, Joubert, did not exploit his success and the town was relieved at the end of February 1900.

Kenneth Ingham