Lot Essay
Private A. Roberts was killed in action at Fort Itala on 26.9.1901.
The defence of Fort Itala and Fort Prospect on 26.9.1901, in the face of General Botha's men following their invasion of Natal, is one of the epics of the Guerilla War. In a day's worth of fighting and a bloody defence, 300 British held off 1400 men at Itala and 80 held 400 at Prospect. One Victoria Cross and several Distinguished Conduct Medals were won in heroic actions which were a costly failure to the Boers and forced Botha to relinquish his scheme of invasion.
The defence of Fort Itala and Fort Prospect on 26.9.1901, in the face of General Botha's men following their invasion of Natal, is one of the epics of the Guerilla War. In a day's worth of fighting and a bloody defence, 300 British held off 1400 men at Itala and 80 held 400 at Prospect. One Victoria Cross and several Distinguished Conduct Medals were won in heroic actions which were a costly failure to the Boers and forced Botha to relinquish his scheme of invasion.