Mafeking, siege of (1899-1900), one of three major sieges that began the Second Boer War. A British force of about 1, 200 (mainly irregulars) under Col Baden-Powell was besieged at Mafeking, just inside the border of Bechuanaland, by a Boer force of about 7, 000 at first. The siege was loosely maintained for 217 days, from 13 October 1899 until relief on 16 May 1900 by a British column under Col B. T. Mahon. Uproarious popular rejoicing in Britain on ‘Mafeking Night’ accompanied the news and the verb ‘to maffik’ briefly entered the language.
Bibliography
- Pakenham, Thomas, The Boer War (London, 1979)
— Stephen Badsey
