On March 10 1922 the white miners strike turned into an armed revolt against Smuts' government. During the subsequent Rand Revolt the rebels briefly established control in Jeppe, among other districts. On March 11 over 600 mostly unarmed men of the Jeppe and Denver Workers' commandos led by Captain Hall MC launched a surprise attack on the army depot at Ellis Park. About 3 soldiers of 150 of the defending Imperial Light Horse regiments and unknown number of strikers died.