This morning (April 25th, 2021) I was lucky enough to attend an intimate Anzac Day gathering. It was cold and dark as we gathered on the battlefield of Diamond Hill – fought on the 11th and 12th of June 1900. It was here that a number of regiments from across Australia came together, alongside their British and Canadian comrades, to attack the well-entrenched Boer positions. It was essentially the birth of the modern Australian army.
The battle was fought on a very wide front and the outnumbered and outgunned Boers were eventually forced to pull back – and with them went any hope of recapturing Pretoria.
This morning’s event was organised by a number of veterans from across the Commonwealth – it was a beautiful service and a fitting tribute to the ANZACs. I hope to attend again in the future and also learn more about this little-known battle of the Anglo-Boer War.
Redcoat History 