Overall height: 9cm (3.5in)
Smoothbore solid shot mounted with a period note 'Bullet found in Kronjis [sic] Laager in Paardeburg. S. Africa’. 1900.’
Following Lord Roberts victory over General Piet Cronje at Margersfontein in early 1900, British forces the caught up with the Boer commander and his army at Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modder River. On 18 February a combined Anglo-Canadian attack on the Boer position which was honeycombed with trenches resulted in heavy casualties amongst the attackers, resulting in a more cautious approach to tightening the cordon around the Boer position. On the night of 26-27 February, the Canadians bore the brunt of another assault that finally convinced Cronje that his position was untenable. He surrendered later that morning. Over four thousand men, or nearly ten percent of the Boer army, were made prisoners. It was the first significant British victory of the war. The battle secured Orange Free State which was subsequently annexed to the British Empire under the name Orange River Colony.