Doornkop

Doornkop is a geographical place name in South Africa, most notably associated with a significant battle during the Jameson Raid in 1896. The word "Doornkop" is Afrikaans, translating roughly to "thorn hill" or "thorn head."

The Battle of Doornkop occurred on January 2, 1896, and marked the culmination of the Jameson Raid, an attempt by Leander Starr Jameson and his British South Africa Company troops to incite an uprising among the Uitlanders (foreign residents, mostly British) in the Transvaal Republic. The raiders were intercepted by Boer forces under the command of Commandant General Piet Cronjé. The battle resulted in the surrender of Jameson and his men, marking a significant failure for British imperial ambitions in the region and contributing to rising tensions that ultimately led to the Second Boer War.

The site of the Battle of Doornkop, located near present-day Johannesburg, is now a historical landmark. The area surrounding the site includes memorial sites commemorating the battle and its participants. While the immediate area is historically significant, the name "Doornkop" may also apply to broader geographical areas, including farms or residential areas.