The Siege of Kimberley took place during the Second Boer War at Kimberley. Prior to the onset of the Second Boer War, Kimberley was the centre of diamond mining operations of the De Beers Mining Company. On 12 October 1899, an armoured train between Kimberley and Mafeking was captured by the Boers. When the siege of Kimberley itself began on November 6, the situation favoured an attack. The Boers were in control of the railway from the Orange River to Mafeking, while arms and ammunition were in short supply in Kimberley. The Boers besieged the city for 124 days, before the siege was finally lifted on 15th February 1900, following British victory at the Battle of Modder River, Battle of Magersfontein and Battle of Paardeberg.