Dundee is a coal-mining town of 35,000 people (2011) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is located in a valley of the Biggarsberg mountains (28°10′S 30°14′E). Dundee is part of the Endumeni Municipality, Umzinyathi District and is very rich in coal deposits.
More populous than the town of Dundee is its adjacent township named Sibongile. This township is now being extended with many residing zones, e.g. Dundee was established by Peter Smith, with land contributed by his son in-law, in 1882 after the realisation that the valley was a natural way for travellers into the interior of Africa.
Traders, hunters explorers, missionaries and soldiers all made their way through here. A large fort, Fort Jones, housed British troops in the area during the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. It is named after the hometown of a pioneering Scottish settler, Peter Smith.
Location of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa
At first, Dundee was a farm (Dundee farm), the property of Peter Smith, which he had bought from a Voortrekker settler, Mr Dekker. The town lies nestled in a valley of the picturesque Biggarsberg and is surrounded by historical remarkable mountains of “Indumeni” (where the thunder rolls), “Mpati” (The place of good waters), and “Talana” (The shelf where precious items are kept).
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Dundee has trails of the San people that lived here 4 000 - 5 000 years ago. Dundee has a subtropical highland climate, with pleasant summers and cool, dry winters. Peter Smith, a Scottish settler started sending wagonloads of coal, which was discovered close to the surface, to be sold in Pietermaritzburg.
The Second Boer War and the Battle of Talana Hill
The British started massing troops at Dundee and were given an ultimatum by the Boers to retreat with the troops. On 20 October 1899, the first shots of the war were fired. The news of this battle hit the headlines in Britain as the "Battle of Glencoe", which was corrected the following day to the "Battle of Dundee" and on the third day to the "Battle of Talana."
It was on the slopes of Talana Hill that the British army troops officially wore khaki uniforms for the first time in battle; it is also notable as the first indisputable use of indirect fire in modern warfare, and the tactic as applied by Boer field artillery had a devastating effect.
General Lucas Meyer commanded 3,000 men of the Wakkerstroom commando who were deployed near Dundee. On 11 October the Dundee garrison camping under Impati Hill heard that Kruger’s ultimatum had expired, but for another nine days it remained business as usual in the officers’ mess. Although there was a water shortage, one young officer recorded: “There was no shortage of whisky and soda.” Some officers were accompanied by their wives and talked about celebrating Christmas in Pretoria.
On Friday 20 October, the unopposed Boers were spotted on Talana Hill with two French Creusot field guns, and almost immediately the first 75 mm shells splashed into the wet earth behind the British camp. Talana looked featureless but it was terraced by erosion and had a couple of protective farm walls on the lower slopes.
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The Battle of Talana Hill
Penn Symons decided on conventional tactics - the artillery duel, an infantry attack, and then a cavalry charge to cut off the Boer retreat. Gen. Penn Symons, always conspicuous because of the red pennant carried by the ADC at his side, then ordered the infantry to attack Talana Hill in close order.
They were immediately repulsed, the leading closely-packed soldiers being cut down by Boer marksmen hidden on the misty hilltop. The wounded were scooped up by Indian stretcher-bearers and taken to a field hospital. It was difficult for the British to advance under the deafening tempest of Mauser fire from above. Bullets ricocheted off rocks and splashed into the ground like a rainstorm on a lake.
Above their heads shrapnel burst in balloons of white smoke and red dust, and the shredded leaves fell in swathes. Concerned about the slow advance, Gen. reached a second wall on the hillside. A Captain Nugent described how he and a companion, both wounded, managed to reach the crest of Talana, only to be shelled by their own artillery. By midday the hill had been won by the British, but at great cost. Fifty-one had been killed and 203 wounded, some by their own artillery.
Colonel Robert Gunning of the 60th Regiment had been shot through the heart as he stood up near the crest to shout at his own artillerymen to stop firing. Captain Connor of the Fusiliers was mortally wounded in the stomach and Lt. Col. Major Knox and his 100 cavalrymen on the right flank were attacked near Lennox Hill by Boers who had crept within 300 yards of the British.
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When two of his men and three horses were hit, Knox withdrew his two squadrons and galloped back to camp, enabling General Meyer and his 3,000 men to escape unchallenged. When the thick mist lifted on Saturday 21 October, General Erasmus’ gunners on the heights of Impati began shelling Dundee with the Krupp 40-pounder (the Long Tom), which outranged the British 15-pounders. The first 5 in.
After the battle, the British troops retreated to Ladysmith and Boer forces occupied the town, renaming it Meyersdorp. This occupation lasted seven months. The town's folk who had left before or shortly after the battle returned and the town began to flourish again.
The Retreat to Ladysmith
Major-General James Yule, who had taken over command from the wounded Gen. White was forcing Yule to leave Dundee to the enemy, plus the garrison’s two months supply of food and stores (valued at £350,000) and their own wounded, including the dying Gen. Penn Symons. The Dundee defenders were almost surrounded by 10,000 Boers and the request to retreat was nevertheless humiliating for Yule and his garrison.
The troops moved out in pouring rain and darkness on a three-day march to Ladysmith. The next day, so a Medical Corps captain volunteered to ride up the rocky track to the Boer position carrying a white flag. Penn Symons died during the afternoon, but not before he told the medical staff that he regarded Yule’s retreat as a betrayal. The Boers sewed his body into a Union Jack and took it in procession to St. James’ Church cemetery.
After the surrender, 38 wounded Britons were sent to captivity in Pretoria and the more seriously wounded were handed over to their comrades in Ladysmith.
Blood River: A Site of Conflict and Reconciliation
An important part of South African history, the battle of Blood River had a resounding social and political effect, forming part of the legacy of racial divisions that scars the face of this country. In South Africa’s spirit of reconciliation, both sides are represented at the site.
The unbiased nature of the place is represented in the two museums on either side of the river. On the west is the Blood River granite monument and museum, which is considered an important part of Afrikaner cultural heritage in South Africa. Here, there is a bronze wagon memorial lager built on the site of the original lager - the formation of which was the decisive factor in the otherwise improbable Voortrekker victory - as well as three replica cannons.
On the east is the Ncome Zulu Museum, constructed in the distinct Zulu ‘bull horns’ war formation. The juxtaposition of these facilities gives visitors a comprehensive sense of the events that took place at the Battle of Blood River, and encourages an appreciation of the ‘new South Africa’.
Blood River Monument
Once a day of celebration for Afrikaners, 16 December is now a national holiday and has been renamed Reconciliation Day.
On the western side of the Bloodriver is the Blood River monument and museum, commemorating the battle from a Afrikaner point of view. The monument consists of 64 full scale bronze replica oxwagons set up in a defensive circle. On the eastern side of the Bloodriver is the Ncome monument and museum, commemorating the same event from a Zulu perspective. The monument consists of a Zulu war horn formation display. 16 December is now a public holiday in South Africa, celebrated as Day of Reconciliation.
Attractions near Blood River:
- The Smouswa Gift Shop (The Smouswa gift and curio shop). Open seven days a week.
- The Trekker Restaurant (in the Museum Building). Serves refreshments and light meals. Breakfast and evening meals can be booked. Group bookings, e.g. for Sunday meals, may also be made.
Dundee Today
After the battle, the British troops retreated to Ladysmith and Boer forces occupied the town, renaming it Meyersdorp. This occupation lasted seven months. The town's folk who had left before or shortly after the battle returned and the town began to flourish again.
Sentraal Rugby Club is one of the top sides in Northern-Natal. Titans Rugby club is a youth rugby team that builds future rugby players (Grassroots). Dundee was a borough in its own right from 1902 to 1996.
In October 1951, the council obtained a grant of arms from the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland. The arms, which were based on those of the Scottish burgh of Dundee, were : Azure, a pot with three lilies issuant Argent, charged with a miner's lamp proper and on a chief Or two wildebeest courant in fess, Sable; the shield ensigned of a mural crown Argent. In layman's terms : a blue shield displaying two black wildebeest on a golden strip above three lilies in a silver pot decorated with a miner's lamp.
Dundee is a city that is located in Scotland. In terms of population, it is the fourth-largest city in the country. As of 2016, the population was estimated to be 148,270. Given its size, this population count makes the city one of the most densely populated in all of Scotland.
Dundee is the fourth most populated city in Scotland with a population that is quickly reaching 150,000 people. It is the 51st-most populous cities in all of the United Kingdom.
Surprisingly, though, Dundee’s population is not at its highest. This occurred during the census taken in 1971 when the population exceeded 180,000. Today, over 94% of the population was born in the United Kingdom.
The demographic group of people ages 30 to 44 is the largest group, comprising 20% of the total population. The city also has many people that have come to the city from Italy and has one of the largest Asian communities in the country.
The area of Dundee was thought to be inhabited during the 11th century, but the city grew substantially after it was given to the Earl of Huntingdon. The city was designated as a trading center, which led to growth in population. In 1292, the city was designated as a Royal Burgh. The city changed hands multiple times during the 1300s through 1500s.
Following a recession in the 15th century, the city turned to textiles as its primary industry, with the development of four-story mills revolutionizing the industry. The conversion of linen to jute saw further expansion throughout the city in terms of its population, as the city’s economy was thriving and attracting immigrants from areas including Ireland.
During the early 20th century, the success from jute production was beginning to decline because of a decreased demand for the textile, as well as the competition from Calcutta. Today, the city has turned to more modern industries, including microelectronics, to boost its economy.
The city of Dundee has seen highs and lows throughout its long history when it comes to population. However, in more recent years, it has become a place where immigrants have chosen to call home. It also has a high rate of student residents that have come from other cities as well as other countries to study, helping to elevate the population. Despite recent declines, the population should continue to grow at a steady rate into the future.
Second Boer War
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