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  3 AUGUST 1901 - WEST OF KROONSTAD RAILWAY

  By archie777 · Posted 21 minutes ago

  “On 3rd August 1901, a patrol retiring, and Captain Mitchell, 3rd Dragoon Guards, being dismounted, they took back a spare horse to him; this being killed, Corporal Taylor again returned to him and assisted him to mount.  On both occasions the Boers were close and firing heavily, and on the second were galloping to take the officer.” London Gazette, 15 November 1902, p7382 and Army Order 399 “Promotions for Distinguished Gallantry in the Field
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  Real eBay Items

  By Stogieman · Posted 28 minutes ago

  The miniature set sold for a very reasonable $220, hope you won @VtwinVince!!
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  28 JULY 1901 - NEAR HARRISMITH

  By archie777 · Posted 59 minutes ago

  The following is taken from “With the Eighth Division” by Pte E C Moffett: “From Harrismith on the 27th a small force of Yeomanry, aided by the Harrismith Light Horse, under Major Peacock, left at midnight to operate against Boers about twelve miles away from the town.   Early the following morning they surprised a Boer patrol hidden in a donga, who fled, leaving their horses, arms, and ammunition behind. The main body of the enemy retired, taking up a stronger position.   Lieutenant Moore, with a portion of the Yeomanry, advanced to attack them, while the remainder of the force was kept as a support. Unfortunately the enemy were found to be in much greater numbers than was anticipated, and the attack ended disastrously, Lieutenant C. H. Moore and one trooper were killed, seven or eight wounded, and Lieutenant Stutfield with thirty-five men, after firing all their ammunition and attempting to break through, were taken prisoners.   The remainder of Lieutenant Moore’s party got back to Major Peacock’s supports, upon which the latter returned to Harrismith. The captured Yeomanry were subsequently released near Fouriesburg”. The incident is also covered in depth in WO108/372 (SA Surrenders) and an Afrikaans History of Harrismith.  According to the latter source the PoWs were sent over the border into Basutoland and returned to Harrismith on foot a week later.
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  Some new additions to my collection

  By Christian1962 · Posted 1 hour ago

  Congrats!   Two very nice pieces. I am collecting now for more than 40 years and always failed to purchase them.   Regards   Christian
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  28 JULY 1901 - NONDWENI

  By archie777 · Posted 1 hour ago

  Early on the morning of 28 July 1901, near N’qutu, a 400+ Boer commando made a determined attack on a column consisting mainly of the Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment (130 men) and the 8th Hussars (70 men) and accompanied by 3 guns of the 67th Bty, RFA under command of Major Jervis-Edwards.   The Boers made desperate efforts to capture one of the guns but did not succeed. In the end six men were killed/died of wounds and three were wounded. The enemy was driven off with much loss.  C.C. Murchie. Natal M.R. Murchie was attached to the Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment when he was killed at Nondweni. An eye-witness account of his demise is given in “War with Johnny Boer”, p482-483: “Just before the gun was so determinedly attacked, Major Jervis-Edwards (our commander), a sergeant of the Hussars and four men left our place to go and see where they could take up another position, but as they did not return, Major Henderson came to where we were, and said he was very anxious about Edwards, and called for four volunteers to go with him to look for the commander.   Sergeant [C.C.] Murchie, myself and another young fellow named Lewis stepped out. [One of the lieutenants also seems to have volunteered]. The firing at this time was the heaviest of the day. We advanced up the ridge, taking what cover we could behind anthills.   When we had gone 60 or 70 yards, we saw two Boers on top of the ridge, and the lieutenant gave the order to drop. I took one anthill and Murchie another, about five yards away. Just as we dropped there were two reports. I thought they had passed between us, and turned to Murchie and said, ‘That was close’, when to my horror I saw he had received one of the bullets and was lying on his back.   I called him by name, asking him where he was hit, but he never spoke, groaned or moved. Major Henderson was the only one of us that could see the Boers, so he fired four shots at them. The lieutenant and myself got up alongside Murchie and found that the poor fellow was shot through the heart, so I took his watch, ring and money, and then we retired, rolling over anthills and crawling on our bellies, for the Boers were firing all the time”.