defeated the British and held up their advance, General Lord Roberts was appointed as overall Commander in Chief in South Africa; he took personal command on this front, and at the head of an army reinforced to 25,000 men, he relieved Kimberley on 15 February 1900. Cronje's retreating army was surrounded and forced to surrender at the Battle of Paardeberg on 27 February 1900. Lord Methuen later salvaged his reputation and career through successes he achieved against George Villebois-Mareuil at the Battle of Boschoff. However, he was the only general captured by the Boers during the war. Victoria Cross awards Three Victoria Cross citations were made for the action at Magersfontein: Lieutenant Henry Edward Manning Douglas. Royal Army Medical Corps Corporal John Shaul. Highland Light Infantry Captain Ernest Beachcroft Beckwith Towse. Gordon Highlanders Order of battle British Forces The 3rd Highland Brigade was attached to the 1st Infantry Division from the 9th Infantry Division The below units were deployed for communication line protection duties and as such were under command of Major-General Methuen. Boer Forces Notes References Sources Further reading External links Conflicts in 1899 1899 in the Cape Colony Battles of the Second Boer War Battles involving the United Kingdom History of the Northern Cape Kimberley, Northern Cape Karoo December 1899 events Orders of battle