Battle of Zand River

Battle of Zand River
Part of the Advance on Pretoria
British troops crossing the Zand River
Date 10 May 1900 Location Sand River, South Africa
Belligerents
United Kingdom Canada	South African Republic Orange Free State
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Roberts John French	Louis Botha
Strength
11,000	~800 Boers

The Battle of Zand River was an engagement between the British forces under Lord Roberts faced a Boer defensive position, led by Louis Botha.

Battle

By 6 May, the British had advanced north from Bloemfontein, and began their advance on Transvaal. About 130km north of Bloemfontein, they came across a Boer defensive position at Sand (or Zand) River. The Boers had blown up the railway bridge, forcing the British to ford the Sand River. The Boers had overextended their defense line, going at about 20 miles. The British flanked the Boer position with infantry from the right, and deployed their cavalry on the left, rather than advancing frontally, forcing the Boers to retreat from their position. The Boers panicked, and not much fighting occurred before they left.

British units present

11th Division - Reginald Pole-Carew
Infantry Units	Mounted Units
Coldstream Guards	Life Guards
Grenadier Guards
Warwickshire Reg.
Essex Reg.
Welch Reg.
Yorkshire Reg.
7th Division - Charles Tucker
Infantry Battalions	Mounted Units
Norfolk Reg.	Ceylon Mounted Infantry
Lincolnshire Reg.
Hampshire Reg.
Scottish Borderers
North Staffordshire Reg.
Cheshire Reg.
East Lancashire Reg.
South Wales Borderers
Bruce Hamilton's Brigade
Infantry Battalions	Mounted Units
Derbyshire Reg.
Sussex Reg.
Cameron Highlanders
C.I.V
Ian Hamilton's Brigade
Infantry Battalions	Mounted Units
Gordon Highlanders
Royal Canadian Regiment
Shropshire L.I Reg.
Cornwall Reg.