South African Republic 1900 1901 1902 The Battle of Chieveley took place on 15 November 1899, and was an ambush on a British armored train travelling from Estcourt to Colenso in a reconnaissance mission.

Boer forces under the command of Louis Botha, which comprised primarily the Italian Volunteer Legion, ambushed the armored train, and derailed it, taking most of the British soldiers prisoner.

[1][3] After the Boers surrounded the and besieged the British garrison under General White at Ladysmith on 2 November, the remaining Natal Field Force headed south towards Colenso and Estcourt.

[3] Winston Churchill, who was present as a correspondent, along with Lt. Frankland, managed to pile the wounded onto the engine, whilst Captain Haldane held off the Boer forces.

The British forces were worried that the Boers would move south and occupy Pietermaritzburg, and the city began construction of earthworks, and stationing naval guns on the nearby hills.