Battle of Silkaatsnek

With its sheer southern cliff face, traffic can only cross this range at seven passes or Neks, such as Kommandonek, Olifantsnek and Silkaatsnek, the latter located at 27 km west of Pretoria.

[2] De la Rey's 200 Boer troops surprised the Royal Scots Greys and Lincolns in the U-shaped mountain pass, attacking from the north where no guards were positioned by Col. H.R.

Alexander who camped with his troops at some distance did not come to the rescue, so that the Boers killed 24, wounded 44, and took 198 prisoner, including the squadron of Scots Greys together with their commanding officer Roberts, adjutant and 84 men of the Lincolnshire regiment.

Col. Roberts was reprimanded for 'failure to adopt ordinary precautions' and Col. Alexander for 'want of military appreciation of the position' and failing to give assistance.

Hamilton and his troops attacked the Pretoria West Commando holding the pass under Kommandant Coetzee, in command since De la Rey left.

Silkaatsnek, a pass in the Magaliesberg mountain range viewed from the British army camp at Rietfontein in the centre distance, Gauteng , South Africa , 1901.
Silkaatsnek and the Crocodile River Crossing from the western end of Rietfontein camp, around 1900.
Australian newspaper article The Nitral's Nek Affair, The Argus (Melbourne) , page 5, 16 July 1900. Nitral's Nek is a synonym for Silkaatsnek.
Royal Lincolnshire Regiment Boer War Memorial, listing various British casualties of the Battle of Silkaatsnek.