General Sir Redvers Henry Buller’s troops relieve British forces at Ladysmith

General Sir Redvers Henry Buller's troops relieved British forces at Ladysmith near Durban, KwaZulu Natal.  The British forces had been under siege by the Boers since 2 November 1899. They were besieged almost a month after the outbreak of the Second South African War (also known as Second Anglo-Boer War), which broke out in October 1899. Ladysmith was not the only town to be under Boer siege. Mafikeng, and Kimberley were besieged for equally long periods. At the end of the war on 31 May 1902, shortly before midnight, the two parties (English and Afrikaneers) signed the peace treaty of Vereeniging at Melrose House in Pretoria. By 54 votes to six the Boer representatives agreed to surrender their independence and to recognize the authority of Edward VII.