Battle of Boshof

French postcard depicting The glorious death of Comte de Villebois-Mareuil at the Battle of Boshof, 1900

Date	5 April 1900
Location	Boshof
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

South African Republic

Legion of France volunteers

Commanders and leaders

Lord Chesham

Comte de Villebois-Mareuil †

Strength

750 men

120 men

Casualties and losses

3 killed & 10 wounded

11 killed
64 captured & wounded

South African Republic

The Battle of Boshof was a battle fought during the Second Boer War on 5 April 1900 between British forces and mostly French volunteers of the Boer army.

Following the Battle of Paardeberg (18–27 February), the relief of Kimberley and Ladysmith and the fall of Bloemfontein, General Frederick Roberts reorganised his force to pursue the defeated Boers. At the same time Lieutenant general Paul Methuen was tasked with clearing the country along the Vaal River on the Boers’ flank and to drive towards Mafeking, which was still besieged.

On 5 April Methuen ordered Brigadier-General Lord Chesham, with the Kimberley Mounted Corps and 4th Battery RFA. From an informer they found intelligence on a Boer Commando unit led by a French volunteer, the Comte de Villebois-Mareuil. Methuen was given information that the Boer unit intended to attack the British at Boshof near Tweefontein. The newly formed Imperial Yeomanry 3rd and 10th battalions, was given the task to surround the Boers. De Villebois-Mareuil, was in charge of the French legion volunteers which had 75 foreign volunteers most of whom were of the French but included a number of German, Dutch, Americans and one Russian Prince.

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