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Colenso Railway Bridge after reconstruction, using iron spans made by the Patent Shaft and Axletree Company. See: Colenso Bridge




And a postcard, similarly showing the new bridge.




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Neville - I don't know where you find all these photographs from but I am very glad and grateful that you do! - Regards, David.

I'm busy working on a translation of Generaal Louis Botha op die Natalse Front...
Could I ask whether anyone could consult British maps and tell me if any name was given to the Rooirantjies (literally: "little red ridges") just north of the Colenso railway bridge?
Many thanks!
Rob

Rob,

The Official History and Jeans label them simply as "Colenso Kopjes".

The northernmost feature appears to have gained the name "Howitzer Ridge" after the Battle of Pieters (Royal Engineers Papers).

Neville




.Official History, Vol 1, Map 15


.Jeans, Naval Brigades in the South African War, map facing p. 234




.Professional Papers of the Royal Engineers, 1904 (Pieters's Hill: A Tactical Study)

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Two photographs of Colenso Railway Bridge. The first shows the trestle bridge built by the Royal Engineers [edit - built by the Natal Government Railways], and the second construction work on the new "Patent Shaft and Axletree Company" iron replacement.





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Colenso, during the construction of the trestle bridge.

The conspicuous lack of activity is probably due to the fact that the first bridges to be repaired (Frere & Colenso) were completed by the Natal Government Railways rather than the Royal Engineers. The N.G.A.'s methods, described by Colonel C.K. Wood, R.E., as being "too deliberate; they preferred to work steadily on one repair after another", quickly led to the military taking over. I suspect this photograph was taken on a Sunday, when N.G.A. staff would have had the day off.

Work on the trestle bridge started on 26th or 27th February, and was completed on 19th March.




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