This road commemorates the Canadian participation in the Battle of Paardeberg. It is a part of the National Field of Honour Cemetery.
The Battle of Paardeberg (“Horse Mountain”) was a major battle during the Second Anglo-Boer War. It was fought near Paardeberg Drift on the banks of the Modder River in the Orange Free State near Kimberley, between February 18-27, 1900. Faced by a reorganized British offensive directed at their capitals, the Afrikaners made a stand at Paardeberg, a point on the Modder River some 130km from Bloemfontein. The Royal Canadian Regiment fought first at Paardeberg Drift on February 18, 1900, where, after hours under fire in the scorching sun, they were ordered to make an assault. Their second engagement took place on February 27, 3km from the Drift. The Canadians, attacking before dawn, faced withering Afrikaner rifle fire. Although the Regiment was ordered to retreat, 2 companies who failed to hear or head the order maintained their position and returned the fire. Shortly thereafter Gen Piet Cronje and almost 4000 exhausted Afrikaners surrendered. The Battle for Paardeberg cost Canada 31 men; another 92 were wounded.
