Historical information
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
In 1847 after buying the land from the Zulu King Mpande, a number of Boers settled in the area and called it the Republic of Klip River. The Republic was annexed by the British in the same year and on 20 June 1850 it was proclaimed a township called Windsor. In October 1850 the name changed to Ladysmith after Juana Maria de los Delores de Leon Smith, also known was "Lady Smith", the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony. He was also High Commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.
A for was built in 1860 to protect the villagers from the Zulu.
During the Second Boer War British commander Lieutenant General Sir George White made Ladysmith his centre of operations for the protection of Natal against the Boer forces. A number of short lived battles were fought for the control of the town. After suffering many casualties the British retreated to Ladysmith.
While the British regrouped in the town, Boer forces surrounded Ladysmith. The siege lasted 118 days during one of the most crucial stage of the war.
Three attempts by General Sir Redvers Buller to break the siege resulted in defeat for the British forces at the Battles of Colenso, Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz. The Boer forces attempted to break the siege. This led to the Battle of Platrand, or Wagon Hill, south the town.
Buller finally broke the siege in February 1900 after defeating the Boers.
Sir Winston Churchill, a young war correspondent was present at the Relief of Ladysmith after having been taken prisoner - between Ladysmith and Colenso - and escaping earlier during the war.
Physical description
Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.
