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  25-27 OCTOBER 1900 - JACOBSDAL SIEGE

  By archie777 · Posted 11 minutes ago

  “The story of Jacobsdal was one of carelessness and bravery. Here were 45 Cape Town Highlanders, 8 police, and a 15 pounder, manned by some Colonial Volunteers.   The men were lodged partly under canvas on the market square, partly in houses near at hand. In the night of October 25… 70 Boers under Field Cornet Bosman crept up the bed of the Riet River which runs through the town and gained some houses commanding the tents of the sleeping Volunteers.   Opening fire at 3am, they killed 14 and wounded 13 of the 34 men in the tents.    Those in the buildings held out until a relief party of 54 men arrived from Modder River. On the next day the town was evacuated, only to be immediately reoccupied by the Boers.” Time History, Vol V, p25-6
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  25 OCTOBER 1900 - FREDERIKSTAD

  By archie777 · Posted 15 minutes ago

  On 20 October 1900 the combined commandos of De Wet and Liebenberg, numbering some 1500 men with two Krupps and two pom-poms, take up positions adjoining General Barton’s camp at Frederikstad (20 km north of Potchefstroom). Barton immediately signals for reinforcements and recalls his patrols.   The burghers press closer, complete the encirclement and sustain a constant long-range fusillade until twilight. During the night of 21 October Barton abandons his camp at the railway station, leaving only his hospital, and disperses his troops on two hills, virtually splitting his force in two.   He places the Royal Welsh Fusiliers with  five guns on Gun Hill, north-east of the station, the Royall Scots Fusiliers on a long hill to the south-west with the rest of his men thinly spread out in between. Barton, under the impression that De Wet is being pursued by a British force, resigns himself to taking defensive positions and waits for reinforcements. On 23 October the burghers push their ramparts to within 400m of South Hill. De Wet realises that Barton’s reinforcements are approaching and on 24 October he and General Liebenberg decide to force the issue. Having noticed that the besieged force relies on water from a small dam near the railway bridge, De Wet orders Liebenberg and Froneman to furnish 200 volunteers to occupy positions dominating the dam.   He is convinced that, if the British can be denied water, they will surrender. The intended positions are about 1000m from the Boer lines, meaning that the men will be without support and will only be able to fall back safely after dark.   In the early hours of 25 October only about half of the burghers ordered to occupy the exposed position at the railway bridge between Frederikstad and Gun Hill muster. They move out under cover of darkness and, leaving their horses about 2km away, they make their way to the bridge where they dig in.   At daybreak some black attendants lead horses and mules to water. One turns and runs when ordered to surrender and is shot down. Barton initially thinks that only a few snipers are involved and sends ten ILH men to deal with them. However, when they are repeatedly repulsed, he launches a full-scale two-pronged attack, using five companies, against the isolated burghers.   Elsewhere De Wet directs his attack at Barton’s main positions. Barton comes under fierce fire and is hard pressed until reinforcements led by Colonel H T Hicks  start arriving from Welverdiend Station, where they have detrained.   The burghers near the railway bridge put up a stubborn resistance, but with their ammunition running low, they are forced to make a fast retreat over open veld towards the river and are mown down by artillery firing from high ground. In the confusion some burghers put up white flags while others continue firing. Liebenberg retires towards Klerksdorp while De Wet heads back to the Free State.  The burghers suffer heavily – losing about 80 killed, wounded and captured. In retaliation for the alleged abuse of the white flag the British deny a Boer doctor access to the wounded
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  19 OCTOBER 1900 - FAURESMITH

  By archie777 · Posted 27 minutes ago

  After discussing the Boer attack on the Jagersfontein garrison the “Times History” Vol V, p25 continues: “At Fauresmith there stood a smaller garrison, consisting of 117 Seaforth Highlanders, 20 Imperial Yeomanry and a Town Guard of 17 men, the whole under Capt A B A Stewart. Closely encircled on 3 sides by hills, which are themselves commanded by higher hills, Fauresmith was a difficult place to defend with such a weak force.   Stewart wisely kept his Highlanders together on a kopje south of the town, while the Yeomanry under Lt Richardson held a fort built of stones and sandbags on a low ridge to the north.   At 4.15am on October 19 a determined attack was made, mainly against the H’landers. All the troops held firm, and by 8:30, having inflicted nine casualties, the Boers drew off.”
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  16 OCTOBER 1900 - TEVREDEN (LAKE CHRISSIE)

  By archie777 · Posted 34 minutes ago

  DCM (EVII): 3356 Pte. J.W. Ewart, 20th Hussars;  QSA, 4 clasps Jhburg, D Hill, Witt, Belf: 4479 Pte. J.W. Ewart, 10th Hussars; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 3356 Pte. J.W. Ewart. 20th Hussars   John Walter Ewart was born in February 1873 and joined the 20th Hussars in March 1891. A qualified Marksman and Signaller, he served in England until 1895 and in India till 1898.    After the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa he was recalled from the Reserves, initially for service with the 10th Hussars, but afterwards with his old regiment, the 20th Hussars.   While attached to the 6th Dragoons he received the recommendation that resulted in the award of the DCM. Serving in “B” Squadron, commanded by Lieutenant Ewing Paterson, he took part in the affair at Tevreden, near Lake Chrissie. The Squadron, while keeping communication between other elements of the 6th Dragoons and 4th Brigade, found itself abandoned on the left flank.  Undeterred, Patterson led a spirited attack against the enemy displaying “great dash”. Exactly what role Ewart played in the action is unknown but he must have shown considerable bravery, as a letter written by Paterson to Ewart in 1904 confirms: “I was so glad you got the DCM but honestly you deserved the VC and I was sorry I was unable to get you it. You earned it if anyone did, but I am afraid I was not senior enough in rank to push it further….”   Ewart was mentioned in Roberts’ Despatch of 4 September 1901 (LG 10 September 1901, p5930) and awarded the DCM in the LG 27 September 1901, p6305.   He returned to civilian employ after the War, joining the Royal Borough of Renfrew as a Sanitary Inspector, a position which he held until his death in 1930. 
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  16 OCTOBER 1900 - TEVREDEN (LAKE CHRISSIE)

  By archie777 · Posted 56 minutes ago

  DSO (VR), complete with top riband bar and 2nd award clasp;  QSA, 5 clasps CC, OFS, Jhburg, D Hill, Belf: Capt. E. Paterson, D.S.O., 6/Drgns;  1914-15 Star: Major E. Paterson. D.S.O. 6/Dns.;  BWM & AVM: Brig. Gen. E. Paterson.;  Coronation Medal 1902 (silver): unnamed as issued;  Order of the Crown of Romania, Commander: Neck Badge   O’Moore, Creagh and Humphris in “The Distinguished Service Order 1886-1923” devote almost a full page to Ewing Paterson, and they quote from the Yardley book: In the fight at Tevreden, near Lake Chrissie, “Lieutenant Paterson behaved with great dash, being slightly wounded as he galloped, unfortunately unarmed, alongside Commandant Smuts himself”.   After describing the gallantry of the Inniskillings, and the heroic death of Lieutenant Swanston, Colonel Yardley states: “Lieutenant Swanston and our other dead were buried at sunset at the foot of the Tevreden Hills, close by which I lay wounded, with Lieutenants Paterson and Harris.   The sadness of it I shall never forget, with no feeling of victory to cheer the heart - only regret”. And later: “Lieutenant Paterson, shot through the thigh at Tevreden, pluckily returned to duty; but this inflamed his wound, and he was invalided home in consequence”. Paterson was mentioned in despatches (LG 10 Sept. 1901, p5929) and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in the LG of 27 Sept. 1901, p 6304).   The Insignia were presented by the King on 29 Oct. 1901. During WWI he commanded the Inniskilling Dragoons in France (1915-18) and the 6th Cavalry Brigade from 2 Sept. 1918 to the end of the War, being mentioned in despatches five times.   In addition, he was awarded a Bar to the DSO (Supplement to the LG of 22 June 1918, p7394). “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Owing to the neighbouring troops being driven back, his flank became exposed and a gap was made in the line.   Though he had very few men, he at once  extended his flank and maintained a most gallant and determined resistance for an hour against largely superior numbers, closing the gap at a most critical moment until other troops were able to advance and restore the line.   His tactical handling of the brigade during successive withdrawals, often with one or both flanks exposed, was magnificent.” Ewing Paterson was the second son of John Paterson of Kingburn and Langraw, St. Andrews, in Fife.  He was born on 8 June 1873 and was educated at St. Andrews and in Germany and joined the 3rd Militia Battalion Manchester Regiment as a Lieutenant in 1889. He transferred to the 9th Dragoons on 9 September 1893 being promoted Lieutenant on 1 January 1895.   During the fighting in March 1900 Lieutenant Paterson found himself somewhat cut off and alone with his troop, Colonel Yardley later  recording: “Lieut. Paterson, who was in advance on the left front did good service” … “Lieut. Paterson, with his troops galloped on to a big hill and climbed the precipitous sides just in time to forestall the enemy and drive them back giving us a commanding position.” He was Commandant, Cavalry School, from 1920 to 1922 and retired in 1923.