In the very early morning of February 12 French left the line of railway, and, bearing to the eastward, crossed the Riet River between Cronje's camp and the capital. He was followed by the Sixth (Kelly-Kenny's) Division. Sweeping round through Watervaal and Klip's Drift, French found the Boers astride his road. They were not in great strength, and he made no attempt to bandy words with them. The road to his objective lay between two hills, on which the enemy were posted, and French, mindful of the urgency of his mission, determined to ignore the enemy, and, putting his men at the gallop, he forced his way past the Boers with astonishingly little loss. His way was now clear, and, pushing ahead as fast as the condition of his horses would allow, he swept round to the north of the town, and at 6 p.m. had effected the task before him. Leaving Colonel Porter in command, French now retraced his steps, in order to take a part in the impending attack on the position held by General Cronje near Paardeburg.
Casualties during French's Relief of Kimberley.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| Scots Greys | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Inniskillings | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 9th Lancers | - | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| 10th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
| Buffs | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| Yorkshires | - | - | - | - |
| Gloucesters | - | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Cornwall L.I. | - | - | - | 3 |
| 12th Lancers | - | - | - | 1 |
| 14th Hussars | - | - | - | 1 |
| 16th Lancers | 1 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| R.H. Artillery | 1 | 3 | - | 24 |
| West Riding | - | - | - | 19 |
| Hampshires | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Oxford L.I. | - | 1 | 11 | 38 |
| Roberts's Horse | - | 1 | - | 5 |
Paardeburg, February 18 to 27, 1900.
This battle honour was conferred on the following regiments for the operation which resulted in the surrender of the Boer Commander-in-Chief in the war in the Transvaal:
1st Life Guards.
2nd Life Guards.
Royal Horse Guards.
Carabiniers.
Scots Greys.
9th Lancers.
10th Hussars.
12th Lancers.
16th Lancers.
Buffs.
Norfolks.
Lincolns.
Yorkshires.
K.O. Scot. Borderers.
Gloucesters.
Cornwall L.I.
West Riding.
Hampshires.
Welsh.
Black Watch.
Oxford L.I.
Essex.
Shropshire L.I.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
By the brilliant relief of Kimberley Lord Roberts had scored the first real success of the campaign, and had opened the way for an advance on the capital of the Boer Republics. General Cronje realized this, and, breaking up his camp on the Modder River, commenced a hurried retreat towards Bloemfontein. But Lord Roberts was already practically athwart his path. French, returning from Kimberley, threw himself across the head of Cronje's army, and General Kelly-Kenny, with the Sixth Division, clung to his rear. The Seventh and Ninth Divisions were now closing up, and Lord Roberts was free to assault the strong position which Cronje had taken up at Paardeburg.
Despite the large force at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, the operation was none too simple. Cronje had with him a large number of women and children, and, from motives of humanity, Lord Roberts was averse to resorting to the usual methods of war. Our first attack on the Boer position at Paardeburg was met in the most gallant manner, our losses being very heavy. Little by little we neared the Boer defences, our troops actually sapping up to the cleverly-devised works; but it was not until February 27 that General Cronje decided to surrender.
The road was now open for an advance on Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State, and as soon as Lord Roberts had filled up his convoys with provisions he recommenced his forward march, and on March 12 the Field-Marshal hoisted the British flag in Bloemfontein.