On this day - 17 May
Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.
Siege of Mafeking ends
The end of the siege of Mafeking came on May 17th 1900 when the reinforcements fought their way in and provided relief to the town. Mafeking is today known as Mahikeng and is located in South Africa. For 217 days the town was under siege during the Second Boer War.
Colonel Robert Baden-Powell led the forces under siege and became highly popular in the media once the siege was lifted. He went on to found the Scout Association once he retired from the Army.
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