Battle of Elands River (1901)

Battle of Elands River
Part of Second Boer War
17th Lancers in action at Modderfontein, after a painting by Richard Caton Woodville Jr.
Date 17 September 1901 Location Modderfontein farm, near Tarkastad, South Africa 31°51′3″S 26°10′4″E / 31.85083°S 26.16778°E / -31.85083; 26.16778 Result Boer victory
Belligerents
17th Lancers, United Kingdom	South African Republic
Commanders and leaders
Captain Victor Sandeman (WIA)	Jan Smuts
Strength
130	250
Casualties and losses
29 killed, 41 wounded, 60 captured	1 killed, 6 wounded

The Battle of Elands River took place near the Elands River Poort mountain pass on 17 September 1901 during the Second Boer War. During the battle a Boer raiding force under Jan Smuts destroyed a British cavalry squadron led by Captain Sandeman, a cousin of Winston Churchill, on the Modderfontein farm. This battle is therefore also known as the Battle of Modderfontein.