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“Left Bird’s River at 3am to attack Dordrecht and co-operate with Gen. Brabant. Arrived 7am Boers driven from ridges west of town and fallen back on East Ridge. Boers about 2000 strong (diary editor says about 600) with one gun. Our force 2000 (diary editor says 1600) with six guns and four 2.5-inch guns and 2 Maxims. Fight lasted two days. Our tactics were very feeble. Centre section with two guns got into a very tight hole but got out with one man severely wounded. Two horses killed and seven wounded. Boers cleared off with loss (diary editor notes British lost at least 7 killed and eight wounded, Boers one killed and eight wounded) and took their gun with them which we ought to have captured. Splendid work by our guns. 15 pounders silenced Boer gun first shot.” Anglo-Boer War Diary of H.G. Howell.

“Lord Roberts’ supply column cannot keep up with the infantry and is ordered to stay at Waterval Drift, 20 km south of Jacobsdal, and to follow the main force as soon as the oxen have recovered sufficiently. General Kelly-Kenny details about 500 troops to escort the convoy which stretches more than 10 to 12 kilometers. As soon as the main force is out of sight, General De Wet attacks. His long-range shelling and rifle fire causes the draught animals to stampede and the escort commander realizes that there is now no way of preventing the wagons from falling into enemy hands. He retreats, abandoning the convoy. De Wet takes 180 loaded wagons, about 2 800 oxen, a few horses and an enormous supply of food, as well as 58 prisoners. The loss of four days’ precious rations and almost a third of all the oxen brought together for the advance can jeopardize a massive operation in an inhospitable country, but Roberts is unfazed.” “The Anglo-Boer War: A Chronicle” by Pieter G. Cloete.

Strong Boer attacks forced Maj-Gen R A P Clements to abandon his positions around Colesberg and retire to Rensburg on 13 February 1900. However, that area was not well suited for defence and on 14 February he withdrew further south to Arundel. In the process ‘D’ and ‘G’ Companies of the 2nd Wiltshires were not informed of a changed time of the withdrawal and the two Companies, under Major F. R. MacMullen, set off at daybreak, as originally instructed, and soon came under heavy fire. After a brisk skirmish they surrendered, losing 14 killed, including Major MacMullen, 45 wounded and altogether 130 officers and men made prisoners – luckily to be released on the fall of Bloemfontein a few weeks later. The following extract, taken from a special correspondent’s report published in the Cape Times, contains his views on the action and of subsequent events: “The Wilts, as will be remembered, were retreating to Arundel, and in the hurry 150 men, under Major Stock [sic!], were left behind. These men, marching from near Rensburg siding in the direction of Arundel, came in contact with the Boers; in fact, mistook the Boer camp for the British camp. For more than two hours these gallant men fought against overwhelming odds, and not until their ammunition was exhausted did they surrender. The Boers themselves admitted that the Wilts had beaten a manly retreat and had shown splendid fight. The Wiltshire prisoners, I regret to state, were badly treated by the Boer authorities. They were marched from beyond Rensburg in the broiling sun to town. Pausing through Church Street, several of the men dropped down from fatigue and had a drink of water from the furrow passing down the main street. In the Town Hall, where they were confined prior to being marched on to Bloemfontein, two huge buckets of mealie-pap had been placed for their supper, and no cup was provided wherewith the contents could be bailed out. Suffice it to say, the buckets and contents were abandoned for the more palatable niceties sent them by some Colesberg ladies. In connection with this supper I must there make special mention of the kindness of Mrs. Porter, of this town, who not only on that occasion but on frequent occasions subsequently, contributed most liberally to the wants of the soldiers. From the Court House, where we were imprisoned, we could just catch a glimpse of the Wiltshire men, about 100, more or less, who had the run of the back yard of the Town Hall. The following morning the Wilts were marched on to the Free State, via Norval’s Pont. The day was rather more pleasant than the previous one, it threatening rain all day. Before leaving the Town Hall the Wilts were presented with a copy of the Good Book by the Rev G. Scholtz, Dutch Reformed parson. Crowds of ladies and gentlemen lined Church Street, in order to catch a last glimpse of the Wiltshires. The men all seemed in excellent spirits, owing probably not so much to the scanty food provided by the authorities as to the abundance of spiritual comfort they had received for the journey.”

The action of Slingersfontein, named after the farm 15 km south-east of Colesberg, was the first engagement of the Worcester Regiment, exactly one month after landing in South Africa. On 12 February 1900 the right flank of the British at Slingersfontein came under a strong attack by the Boers commanded by General De la Rey. The key to the British position at this point was a kopje held by three companies of the 2nd Worcester Regiment. Upon this the Boers made a fierce onslaught but were as fiercely repelled. They came up in the dark between the set of the moon and rise of sun and the first dim light saw them in the advanced sangars. The Boer generals were fond of using darkness for taking up a good position and pushing onwards as soon as it is possible to see. The occupants of the sangars were all killed to a man, and the assailants rushed onwards. As the sun topped the line of the veldt half the kopje was in their possession. Shouting and firing, they pressed onwards. But the Worcester men were steady old soldiers, and the companies upon the hill (later named Worcester Hill) contained many marksmen. Their fire was so accurate that the Boers found themselves unable to advance any further and through the long day a desperate duel was maintained between the two lines of riflemen. CAMP AT SLINGERSFONTEIN MANY FIGHTS OCCURRED ON THE DISTANT HILLS BY UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD (1900) The Worcestershire Commander Lieut.-Colonel Charles Cuningham was killed, and his 2/IC Major Stubbs fell killed while making a gallant attempt to re-take a position with the bayonet. Hovell and Bartholomew continued to encourage their men, and the British fire finally succeeded in dominating that of the Boers. Under the direction of Hacket Pain, who commanded the nearest post, guns of J Battery were brought out into the open and shelled the portion of the kopje which was held by the Boers. The latter were reinforced but could make no advance against the accurate rifle fire with which they were met. The Bisley champion of the battalion, with a bullet through his thigh, expended a hundred rounds before sinking from loss of blood. With the coming of darkness, the Boers withdrew, with a loss of 8 men killed and 19 wounded. The British loss in the action was 37 killed and 81 wounded, most of which was incurred when the sangars were rushed in the early morning.

Early on the morning of 11 February Lt Col de Lisle attacked a party of some 300 Boers (mainly Fauresmith Commando) under Commandants Hertzog and Jacobsz, who were in a position on hills on the farms Windpomp and Wolwekraal, 20km north-west of Luckhoff. They succeeded in beating off De Lisle advances repeatedly, even after Col Hannay sent strong reinforcements with 2 machine-guns and by nightfall the British retired. British losses in this skirmish were 4 killed and 25 wounded. The Boers had no losses.

“Lieutenant Oosthuyzen had in the meantime not been idle and after a skirmish on 9 February, in which 3 police were killed and 6 police and 2 burghers were wounded, he advanced to a position behind the English camp at Slingersfontein from where part of the camp was within reach of artillery. That night a gun was sent to him with orders to bombard the camp the next morning”. Memoirs of Commandant G M J van Dam, Commanding Officer of the ZARP’s (ZAR Police). The figures listed in the Official ZAR Casualty Returns (List 45, 13 February 1900) are at variance with Van Dam’s, viz. Police: 2 killed, 6 wounded; Burghers: 2 killed, 4 wounded. Locality: Potfontein “A serious effort was made on the 9th against his extreme right at Slingersfontein.. The West Australians who were in action for the first time, played their part well; and a body of twenty of them, under Captain H G Moor, RA, attached to the corps, distinguished themselves by holding a kopje all day against very superior forces” “The War in South Africa” Vol II. Maurice.

The failure of Lord Methuen’s attempt to relieve Kimberley, culminating in the British defeat at the Battle of Magersfontein on 11 December 1899, and taken together with the other failures of the so-called “Black Week”, led to the replacement of Sir Redvers Buller as Commander-in-Chief by General Lord Roberts. Roberts arrived at Modder River Station in the second week of February 1900 with substantial reinforcements. In order to distract the Boers from his true intentions (to move to the east) he sent the Highland Brigade, now under General Hector MacDonald, along the Riet River westwards to Koedoesberg Drift, near the Kimberley/Douglas road. Vecht-generaal Piet Cronjé sent Christiaan De Wet with only 350 men to counter the move. An inconclusive fight to contest occupation of the nearby hill went on for three days before both sides withdrew.

Following the failure of the action at Spion Kop, Buller prepared another offensive operation to relieve Ladysmith. His plan was to seize Vaal Krantz, almost in the centre of the Boer defensive positions, to serve as a base for artillery to provide supporting fire while his cavalry advances to Ladysmith. The attack began at 6:00 on 5 February with a feint from the Maconochie Hills, north of the Tugela River toward the Brakfontein Ridge. British guns on surrounding hills supported the feint while artillery on Swartz Kop bombarded Vaal Krantz. In mid-morning, a pontoon bridge was completed across the river, but not until the afternoon did Maj-Gen the Hon N G Lyttleton’s 4th Infantry Brigade cross. By this time the Boers had assessed that this was the main point of attack and became the focus of intense fire. Later, Vaal Krantz was taken by the Durham Light Infantry and the Rifle Brigade, forcing the Johannesburg commando, led by Kommandant Ben Viljoen, from the crest and the British troops entrenched there for the night.During the night, Boer guns were relocated, and considerable reinforcements brought in. Throughout the next day the Boers kept Vaal Krantz under constant rifle and shell fire and assaulted the hill twice. That evening Hildyard’s 2nd Infantry Brigade relieved the 4th Infantry Brigade. Throughout 7 February, the 2nd infantry brigade was subjected to rifle and shell fire and in the evening, Buller ordered Vaal Krantz to be abandoned; it was evacuated that night. “Boer War Gazetteer” by Jones & Jones. From the “War Record of the York & Lancaster Regiment” “Next day [5 Feb] the third attempt to relieve Ladysmith began. The men were up and off very early on Monday morning. The York and Lancaster Regiment and South Lancashires formed first line. Closer and closer to the Boer position we advanced, but not a sign of life was visible. When within 1500 yards of the enemy’s position, the order was given to lie down… still no sign of the enemy until close on midday. Then the Boer guns spoke… the enemy’s gunners quickly got range of our exposed batteries and directed a perfect storm of fire against them. This awful display of artillery fire lasted two and a half hours. General Wynne gave the order to retire. The Boers, for the first time that day, showed themselves, thinking, no doubt, that our retreat meant we had lost the day. But in reality, we had shown where the Boer guns were, besides keeping the Boers occupied whilst the battle on our right was won. Calmly and steadily the men withdrew from that circle of fire… total losses were surprisingly small, mainly owing to the men being well extended. One killed and 22 wounded, 2 died of wounds, comprised the York and Lancs casualties.” Pte Randall was one of the two men who died of their wounds on 5 February.

The Battle of Spion Kop was the most ferocious and bloody of the Boer War and marked the end of Buller’s second attempt to relieve Ladysmith. Spion Kop was the natural strongpoint of the Tugela range and if occupied and held by the British, it was thought, would secure them the path to Ladysmith Attempting to make a two-pronged encirclement of Boer forces on the Tugela River, thus clearing the way to Ladysmith, the forces under General Sir Redvers Buller VC proceeded to the easterly flank, and those under General Sir Charles Warren took the westerly flank towards the crossing point at Trichardt‘s Drift. Met by Boer forces on the facing hill crest l of Thabanyama, a bombardment and subsequent infantry attack by Warren’s forces was easily repulsed by the entrenched Boer troops, and Warren looked toward taking the great hill of Spion Kop to allow him to turn the Boer flank.He ordered the hill to be taken on the night of the 23rd. A lightly equipped force of 1700 men, comprising eight companies of the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, six of the 2nd Royal Lancasters, two of the 1st South Lancashires, one-hundred and eighty men of Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, and half a company of Sappers, slowly climbed the hill. The Column overwhelmed the Boer picket on the “summit” and at 3.30am gave three resounding cheers to let the rest of Buller’s Army know that the hill was theirs. For the rest of the early morning, in a pitch black and swirling mist, the British dug a line of trenches some 300 yards long on what they thought was the crest of Spion Kop. Dawn showed that they were not on the summit of Spion Kop but rather 100 to 200 yards back from the crest. As hasty attempts were made to dig a new position, an even worse situation came to light. Conical Hill and Aloe Knoll on either side of Spion Kop gave the Boers a murderous field of fire onto the British trenches. Rifles on Green Hill and the Artillery on Aloe Knoll burst into life and raked the trenches with shot and shell, particularly those of the vulnerable Lancashire Fusiliers on the right, who bore the brunt of the Artillery barrage. As the Boers pounded the hill, the Carolina Commando embarked on a brave frontal assault to recapture the hill, resulting in a ferocious battle between the crest line and the British main trench. Woodgate was mortally wounded, which prompted the message back to Warren: “Colonel Crofton to G.O.C. Force. Reinforce at once or all lost. General dead.” While Warren digested this urgent plea for help, the close quarter battle on the summit became increasingly desperate, as described by The Times historian: ‘The incessant roar and crackle of musketry as it rose and fell; the whistling of bullets rising to a screech as they ricocheted among the rocks; the booming of the guns and shriek of bursting shrapnel; the constant undertone of human voices, the orders of the officers, the shouts for reinforcements, the guttural exhortations in the taal, the agonised cries of the wounded, the groans of the dying – all combined into one indescribable din in the glaring sunshine beating down on that little death-swept patch of stony hill-top. The little patch was probably no more than one acre in size. The main British trench became choked with dead and wounded and those living craved water in the stifling heat. Having taken the crest line, the Boers kept up their fire on the main trench and Louis Botha pushed the Utrecht Commando onto Green Hill to add weight to the firepower. The Pretoria Commando assaulted the hard-pressed Lancashire Fusiliers on the right and at about 1pm the first white flags appeared. Thorneycroft, now commanding on Spion Kop and leading the counterattacks on the crest, intervened to stop the white flags spreading across. In blunt terms he told the Pretoria Commando, “I’m Commandant here; take your men back to hell, sir! There’s no surrender.” In the ensuing melee the Boers pushed 167 prisoners down the slope. Reinforcements from Warren joined the firing line. The Scottish Rifles, 2nd Battalion Middlesex and Imperial Light Infantry joined the fray. Lyttleton, to the right of Spion Kop, attacked Twin Peaks with the King’s Royal Rifles; it was captured at heavy cost but still the pressure on the forces on Spion Kop could not be relieved. Acting as a courier between Spion Kop and Buller’s Headquarters that day, a young Lieutenant and journalist Winston Churchill reported of the scene: “Corpses lay here and there. Many of the wounds were of a horrible nature. The splinters and fragments of the shells had torn and mutilated them. The shallow trenches were choked with dead and wounded.” By nightfall of the 24th Thorneycroft ordered his remaining exhausted, unfed and thirsty troops to retreat to the foot of the hill, leaving the equally weary remaining Boer troops in control of the hill. In the course of the day’s fighting the British suffered approximately 380 killed, more than 1000 wounded and 300 taken prisoner. Boer losses were some 60 killed and 140 wounded. DCM (VR): Sgt. J. H. Jefferies, Thorneycroft’s M.I.’ (‘J.H. Jeoffreys’ privately engraved after unit); QSA, 5 clasps Tug H, OFS, RoL, Tyl, L Nek: 7139 Serjt., J.H Jeoffreys. Th’croft’s M.I.; 1914-15 Star: Capt. J.G. Jeoffreys S.A. Irish Regt.; BWM & AVM: Capt J.H Jeoffreys According to the South African Who’s Who (1908) Joseph Horace Jeoffreys was born on 14 April 1874 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. However, according to an obituary published in “The Star”, he was born in County Cork in 1873. He came to South Africa in 1896 and was employed on railway construction work in the Orange Free State. He enlisted in in “A” Company, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry on 27 October 1899 and was recommended as Sergeant J H Jeffries for the grant of the DCM for “Conspicuous gallantry: Colenso 15 December 1899 and Spion Kop: 24 January 1900” in Buller’s Despatch of 30 March 1900 (LG of 8 February 1901, p938 & 940). Jeoffreys’ detailed account of the difficult climb up Spion Kop and the subsequent fight can be found in W. Baring Pemberton’s Battles of the Boer War (p172, 181-2). He took his discharge from TMI in Pretoria on 15 Nov 1900 and joined the Transvaal Civil Service as Deputy Clerk of Customs in Boksburg on 1 May 1901. The award of his DCM was published 11 days earlier in the LG of 19 April 1901, p2709. Following the promulgation in the Transvaal of the “Volunteer Ordinance, 1904”, Jeoffreys was appointed as Lieutenant in the Volunteer Force on 1 April 1905 and subsequently as Captain on 20 August 1909. In this rank he was posted to the Reserve of Officers on 1 July 1913. On his initiative the S.A. Irish Regiment was formed five days after WWI broke out and he was appointed O/C of “C” Company. After serving in German South-West Africa he went to Europe at his own expense and joined the Middlesex Regiment as Captain, serving until the end of the War. He came back to South Africa after a severe gassing and a bad bout of trench fever and returned to his position as Inspector of Customs and Excise with the Union Government. The outbreak of WWII again sparked his Irish sentiment. The formation of the 1st South African Irish Regiment in 1940 followed representations by Jeoffreys to General Sir Pierre van Ryneveld that “Irishmen and South Africans of Irish descent be encouraged to form a special unit for services anywhere in Africa or overseas, according to the decision of the Union Government”. (Shamrock & Springbok refers). Captain Jeoffreys died in Johannesburg on 5 January 1940.

“In accordance with an order from the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, communicated by Major-General Hart to him, Colonel Kitchener 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment, took command of the force on Sugar Loaf Hill, and against the enemy’s right flank. In this operation the 2nd Bn. Queen’s, 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire, and 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment were engaged. His plan was to work round the western slope of Sugar Loaf Hill with the four companies of the 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment, which had been sent up there at 4.30am, covering their advance by the fire of the 2nd Bn. Queen’s from the neck east of the hill, and to attack the enemy’s right. Simultaneously, two companies 2nd Bn. Queen’s were to advance along the plateau, covered by the fire of the 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment. Two companies of the 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment were to push forward on the left of that portion of the enemy’s position attacked by the 2nd Bn. Queen’s. The four companies 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment were unable to make headway in face of the fire brought against them from the enemy’s position. They were, consequently, halted on the west face of the Sugar Loaf Hill in a fire position, where they remained. The two companies 2nd Bn. Queen’s had, in the meantime, advanced, at 10:30am, and immediately encountered a heavy fire. As soon as it was reported that the flank attack by the 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment had been stopped they were withdrawn. This advance and subsequent retirement occupied about an hour. The two companies 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment had also advanced when the movement of the 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regiment was brought to a stand, and Colonel Kitchener then ordered the advance to be discontinued. One company 2nd Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment, which had reached the donga referred to above, remained there till the evening, so as to avoid loss in retiring.” Report from Major-General H Hildyard on the 2nd Brigade operations of 21st January 1900. DCM (VR): C.Sgt. F. Kingsley, 2nd W. York Regt.; QSA, 5 clasps Tug H, OFS, RoL, Tvl, L Nek: 1957 Col Sejt. F. Kingsley, W. York. Regt.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: Serjt.-Maj. F. Kingsley. W. York. Regt. Frank Kingsley was born at Stamford Hill, London in 1865. He enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regt on 22 August 1887, giving his trade as “groom”. After service at home, he was stationed with the 2nd Battalion in India from 1888 to 1896. He was considered to be a good soldier: his fourth promotion, viz. to Colour Sergeant, was in October 1894. In June 1894 he extended his service to 12 years. Serving at home again from 1896, he immediately re-engaged when his time was up in August 1899. He arrived with his Regiment at Durban in mid-December 1899. Along with the 2nd Queen’s, 2nd Devons and 2nd East Surreys, they formed the Second Brigade under Major-General Hildyar. During the Spion Kop operations the 2nd West Yorkshires had some very severe fighting on the left of Warren’s force, particularly at the south eastern slope of Tabanyama on 21 January 1900. One company got so far in advance of the general line that they had to remain isolated till nightfall. During the afternoon Capt Charles Ryall was mortally wounded and brought under cover by C/Sgt Kingsley. Sir Charles Warren, in his Despatch of 1 February 1900 (LG 8 Feb1900, p950), stated: “Col F W Kitchener, Commanding 2nd Bn West Yorkshire Regiment, reports that: Col Sgt Kingsley, when his company was unexpectedly caught by a very heavy cross fire which wounded both his Officers, showed coolness and intelligence in withdrawing his men steadily to cover, and gallantry in bringing his Captain under cover when mortally wounded. His case is an exceptional one, worthy of recommendation for the Medal for Distinguished Conduct.” Frank Kingsley was also the recipient of one of the eight scarves crocheted by Queen Victoria as an award of honour from the reigning monarch for gallant conduct in the field. He received his scarf at Standerton on 7 August 1900 when the following diary entry was made by 2699 Pte W Sykes of C Company, West Yorks: “On the 7th we had a parade at 9 o’clock, this was in clean fatigue dress, when we got on parade the Commanding Officer told us that the Queen had sent four mufflers which she had knitted herself to Prince Christian and she said they was to be given to rank and file and Prince Christian elected to give them to the 2nd Brigade as the most deserving of them, one to each Regt as he had done all his soldiering with the 2nd Brigade and in our Regt C.S. Kingsley was presented with it afterwards, three cheers for the Queen was given and an issue of whisky to drink the Queen’s health with which we did heartily. In the afternoon we were ordered to strike camp at 2.30 as we were for Pretoria, we got all packed up and ready when the order was cancelled till next morning.” Kingsley’s DCM was gazetted on 19 April 1901 and he was promoted to Sergeant Major on 1 May 1902. He stayed on in South Africa after the end of the war, only returning to England in June 1904. He took his discharge in September 1906, being assessed as “a very able clerk and a very good manager”. His final days were spent as a pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where he later died on 26 October 1952.

“At 7am the batteries on Three Tree Hill opened fire at 2500-3000 yards’ range on the Boer sangars, which presented a perfect target. The Boers, crouching securely behind the thick stone walls or breast-deep trenches, made no reply till half an hour later, when the advance of two companies of the Royal Lancasters to occupy a small kopje north-east of Three Tree Hill drew a crashing volley from all the eastern sangars. From this time the rifle-fire was continuous, though as yet no troops were within effective range. At 10am the 7th and 73rd Batteries came up to join the rest, and the intensity of the bombardment was redoubled. At 11am Hart began his advance, the Lancashire Fusiliers leading on the right and the York and Lancasters on the left, each with a front of two companies. The Borders and Dublin Fusiliers supported; the Inniskilling Fusiliers were in reserve.” “At 1.15 two Boer guns and a pom-pom which had lain low all the morning, suddenly opened fire on Three Tree Hill scattering the crowd of generals, staff officers, and spectators assembled there. For twenty minutes they engaged in an artillery duel with the six batteries on the hill, and then turned aside and devoted their attention to Hart’s advance.” Times History, Vol III, p231& 232. DCM (VR): 4671 Pte. W.L. Savage. York & Lanc Regt. In the London Gazette of 8 February 1901, p950, Lt-Col W J Kirkpatrick, commanding 1 st. Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment reported, with regard to the action of the 20th, that “Lieutenant L Brandreth, 2nd. Bn. Welsh Regiment, attached and 4671 Pte. W Savage, carried a wounded man to a place of safety under a heavy fire”. Savage’s Military History Sheet notes that he was wounded 4 days later at Acton Homes (the SAFF Casualty Roll incorrectly notes him being wounded on 22 Feb, Natal). He was posted home on 23 May 1900 and the award of his DCM was published in the LG of 27 September 1901, p6318. According to the relevant Roll, a QSA with 2 clasps CC & RoL was issued on 22 March 1902 for “Presentation”. This probably refers to a ceremony during which he received his DCM and QSA.

“On the 19th there was a skirmish at Robinson’s Drift in which six of the South African Light Horse were taken prisoner.” Times History, Vol III, p242-3. The above sentence was based on two reports in Cd 968 (P39-41), the so-called ‘Spion Kop Despatches’, presented to Parliament in 1902. The first report was from Lt. Col. C Thorold, Commanding the 1st Btn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and the second from Maj. Gen. G Barton, Commanding at Chieveley. This second report detailed the circumstances under which the six men surrendered to the Boers, and also listed their names. The Natal Field Force Casualty Roll lists Cpl. Eustace and Tprs. Elder, Jolliffe, Gilbanks and Brown as ‘Missing-Released, Natal 19/01/1900’ and Tpr. Lilly as ‘Wounded, Natal, 20/01/1900’. Opposite Tpr. Elder’s name the date of release is given as 06/06/1900. The incident was covered in an article “A Forgotten Action of the South African Light Horse” by David Gruber in the OMRS Journal, Spring 1997, p12-13 which gave the names of the 6 “prisoners” as they were noted in the SAFF Casualty Roll. However, four of the men, viz. 26 Pte A W M Brown, 451 Cpl J. Eustace, 31 Pte H E Gilbanks and 450 Pte J. Jollife were actually killed and only 371 Pte H W Eldred and 803 Pte C F M Lilly were taken as prisoners of war to Pretoria. The names of the 4 casualties are shown on the Memorial Tablets in All Saints’ Church in Ladysmith and also appear in the handwritten Natal FF Casualty Roll.

After a long-range attack on Wagon Hill on 7 November 1899 it was permanently garrisoned by three companies of the 1 st King’s Royal Rifle Corps and two squadrons of the Imperial Light Horse. Early on the morning of 6 January 1900 some 1000 burghers from the Heidelberg and Harrismith Commandos with a number of foreign volunteers launched a determined attack on the Wagon Hill end of the Platrand. At that time, in addition to the normal garrison, there was also a working party building a gun emplacement and positioning a 4.7 in naval gun comprising Royal Engineers, sailors from the Naval Brigade, some 170 men of the 2nd Gordon Highlanders as escort as well as 50 men from the 1st Manchester Regt. The burghers gained the hill and a confused battle took place in which attackers and defenders became intermingled. At daylight the Imperial Light Horse arrived soon followed by eight companies of the 1st and 2nd King’s Royal Rifle Corps and later by the 18th Hussars. About midday another Boer attack led by acting Veg-Gen C J de Villiers and Field Cornet Z de Jager charged over the crest, but a determined defence forced the burghers back. The situation on Wagon Hill was now critical for the defenders and three squadrons of the 5th Lancers and two of the 19th Hussars were also sent to Wagon Hill. Later in the afternoon, three companies of the 1st Devonshire Regt under Lt-Col C W Park arrived to make a bayonet charge through a raging storm over open ground and eventually forced the burghers to retire. Lt J E I Masterson, 1st Devonshire Regt, Lt R J T Digby Jones, RE, and Tpr H Albrecht, ILH, were each awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry on this section of the Platrand. WAGON HILL In the middle of the Platrand overlooking Ladysmith is the Burgher Memorial, unveiled in 1979 in honour of 781 Burghers who died during battles in Natal during the Anglo Boer War. The group of massive hands, six reaching up in faith and the seventh pointing downwards to symbolise “here” (see illustration attached). The communal crypt in the centre contains the remains of 310 re-interred Burghers.

On 1 January 1900 General French attacks the Boer forces at Colesberg, attempting to work around their right flank and threatening both their rear and their line of retreat to the Colesberg bridge. Simultaneous attacks on Jasfontein and Skietberg are launched to keep Schoeman’s forces occupied and to divert their attention from the flanking move. The attack is only partially successful and the British lose 6 killed and 22 wounded compared to nine Boers wounded. The Boers, however, do not follow up their success. The next day French again attacks the Colesberg position, keeping the defenders pinned down with shelling and rifle fire while an 800-strong column cuts the telegraph line to the Colesberg road bridge. French also succeeds in pushing his positions and outposts closer to Colesberg. On 4 January General Piet de Wet launches a counterattack against French’s troops threatening Colesberg. A group of his men surrounds a British detachment but due to a lack of support by General Schoeman and effective countermeasures by French, a group of burghers is cut off and forced to surrender after fighting a rearguard action. De Wet loses five killed, ten wounded and 21 captured while the French lose seven killed and 15 wounded. On 5 January, while personally reconnoitring positions west of Colesberg in preparation for an attack on Graskop, General French and his bodyguard are fiercely attacked by a group of Johannesburg Police. French loses three seriously wounded and five taken prisoner. Trying to force the Boers to abandon Colesberg, General French attempts outflanking their positions by sending some 300 men of the Suffolk Regiment under Lt-Col Watson to occupy Graskop (Grassy Hill). Setting out in the early hours of 6 January the troops scale the supposedly unoccupied hill but clash unexpectedly with 100 men of the Heilbron Commando near the summit. The Boers are joined soon afterwards by some 15 crack shots of the Johannesburg Police. The Suffolks fight on gamely, but, at 4:30 when they come under “friendly fire” from their own artillery, a number of the British retire and those left behind surrender at sunrise, losing 37 killed and 52 wounded with 99 taken prisoner. The Boer casualties are 7 killed and 15 wounded. “The attack [on 1 January] was carried out in every detail as ordered. The four companies of the Berkshire Regiment rushed the hill most gallantly, driving off a strong picquet of the enemy, who retired in great disorder and with loud shouts. They were completely surprised. The hill to the east of this, immediately overlooking Colesberg town, was strongly occupied by the enemy, and a hot fire was for some minutes poured on the column in the darkness. The Berkshire Regiment commenced their assault at 3.45am, and the dawn of day found our troops in possession of this important outwork of Colesberg.” Lt Gen French’s Despatch. (LG 4 May 1900, p2839).

On the outbreak of war, the garrison (35 Cape Police under Capt Bates) at Kuruman, a mission station in British Bechuanaland, was unable to retire on Kimberley. Preparing the station’s defences, Bates recruited 33 civilians as special police and 60 locals for military and other duties. Field Cornet J.H. Visser, with 200 (burghers from the South African Republic and rebels from Vryburg district) arrived on 12 November 1899, and unsuccessfully demanded the garrison’s surrender. After a week of investment, the Boers retired to Phokwane. Returning on 5 December with some 500 burghers, the siege restarted and Visser was joined by Field Cornet Wessels with some 130 rebels from Griqualand; the latter left on 26 December. Eventually, shelling from a 7 pdr muzzle-loader, which had arrived on 30 December, destroyed the garrison’s defences and it was forced to surrender on 1 January 1900. Cape rebels then held the station, but it was reoccupied on 24 June 1900. Source: Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, HM Jones & MGM Jones 1999.

Early on 1st January, LtCol Pilcher’s Flying Column (1st Queensland Mtd Infy with its machine guns, 100 Canadians, 2 guns of the Royal Field Artillery and a Maxim gun) set out to find a Boer Commando on the farm Sunnyside near the small town of Douglas. The Commando, consisting of Cape Rebels under Commandant Scholtz, was tasked with preventing the British re-occupation of Douglas, which marked the extreme of Gen Piet Cronje’s right flank. However, most men had left the previous day to celebrate the New Year with their families and the remainder left in the camp were not expecting an attack.At dawn, the Column was approaching some low hills at Sunnyside and two QMI patrols went ahead to establish the enemy camp’s location. One patrol was ambushed (resulting in the first Australian casualties of the Boer War) but with the enemy’s location fixed, Pilcher sent the remainder of the QMI onto the hills to block any Cape Rebel retreat whilst directly assaulting the camp. At short range across a ditch the QMI and retreating Rebels collided. The QMI hardly hesitated: with fixed bayonets and “yelling like Indians”, they swept forward and the outnumbered and outgunned rebels gave way. In the skirmish the Boers lost 6 killed, 12 wounded, and 40 captured, while 2 men of the attacking force (Tprs V S Jones and D McLeod of the QMI) were killed: the first Australian casualties of the Boer War. There was talk that some rebels had fired in a “white flag incident” and some indignant QMI men had to be restrained from taking action. The skirmish at Sunnyside, whilst a small affair, did have some noteworthy consequences. The Times History saw it as having strategic importance by helping to check rebellion in the area, securing Methuen’s line of communications and lifting British morale after a series of reverses. It was also noted that Lt. Col..Pilcher had given the QMI a key role in the attack when he had a trained Company of Regular MI in reserve. Clearly, he had placed his trust in his “confident and dashing irregulars”. Bombr G E G Wieck, 1st QMI, writing to his father on 14 January 1900, said: “We left here on 31st December, to attack rebels at Sunnyside. We were told that there were about 500 of them, and as we were only about three hundred, we anticipated a lively time. We went about twenty miles and camped nine miles from the enemy. On New Year’s Day we started out through prickly bushes, to surprise them. We stopped about three miles from their camp, and sent the R.H.A. round some hills, so as to take their attention from us. We were anxiously waiting to advance, when we heard the first shot from the twelve-pounders. It struck the Boers’ laager when they were getting their dinner ready, and caused a great commotion, as they were taken completely by surprise. They started running up the Kopje, and the next shell drove them down again. The third one burst in among their tents, killing a few, and clearing them out on the hills, where we met them. The M.I. were then ordered to advance. After climbing over places with the guns where a goat could hardly walk, we met them, and a hot fire started on both sides. We got a good line on some of them with the Maxims, and when we looked afterwards to see what damage we had done, we found one man with nine holes in him, and another with six holes in him, and a lot of blood leading from the spot. After firing at them for about half-an-hour, they raised the white flag and laid down their arms, and we got forty-one of them alive. The next thing was the wounded. We found McLeod was dead, shot through the spine. He was in the battery with me, and I was sorry for him. The Boers lost twenty odd killed and wounded, whilst our loss was two dead and two wounded.” Sunnyside was the first British success after the “Black Week” earlier in December 1899, when the Boers defeated the British at Stormberg, Magersfontein, and Colenso. The action received accolades from around the Empire. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, sent a message to the Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland congratulating the Colony on the gallant behaviour of the Queensland troops in the engagement.

30-31 DECEMBER 1899 LABUSCHAGNE’S NEK On 24 Dec 1899 Dordrecht, which had been in Cape Rebel hands for some time, was occupied by a British force under Col Dalgety.“But on the 29th Gatacre came to the conclusion that Dordrecht, forty miles from Sterkstroom, was too far out to be permanently tenable, and ordered Dalgety to draw in to Bird’s Siding, seventeen miles nearer and within supporting distance from Penhoek. Before retreating, however, Montmorency with the Dordrecht force successfully engaged some 500 Boers with a gun at Labuschagne’s Nek, north of Dordrecht, on the 30th, renewing the fight before daybreak next morning in order to rescue a party of 35 men who had been left behind in a donga” (Times History, Vol III, p119/120) This note about the action is in contrast with the detailed descriptions in Cassell’s History of the Boer War (Vol 1, p 531-7) and in “With Seven Generals in the Boer War” by Major A W A Pollock (p99-107) of the gallant conduct of Lt Milford (FMR) and his party who retreated with the severely wounded Lt Warren (CMP) and refused to leave him although under attack. Pollock stated, “The defence of their post in the donga by Milford and his thirty-five men against some 800 Boers with two guns was a fine performance, and contrasts somewhat sharply with many cases in which parties that had been “cut off’ have surrendered without much ado.” DSO (VR), complete with top riband bar; QSA, one clasp CC: Lieut A Milford, D.S.O. Frontier M.R. Alfred Milford served as a Trooper in the Frontier Mounted Rifles in the early 1890’s and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 12 June 1894. In a Divisional After Order (2 January 1900), the General Officer Commanding 3rd Division placed on record his appreciation of the conduct of the party of 2 Cape Mounted Rifles, 22 Frontier Mounted Rifles and 13 Cape Mounted Police under Lt Milford. The Order concludes with: “Lieut.General Gatacre congratulates Lieutenant Milford, F.M.R. and his party on the courage displayed and the work done.” Milford was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 16 April 1901 and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 19 April, 1901.

Two squadrons of the Protectorate Regiment, supported by an armoured train and the Bechuanaland Rifles, were ordered to attack the enemy’s works from the left flank under Major Godley, while three guns and a Maxim prepared the way from the right front of the work. On pressing home the attack a heavy fire killed or wounded most of the officers and leading troops. These succeeded in gaining the parapet, but the work was found to have been strongly roofed in and so closed as to be impregnable. The British losses were this time very serious. Captain R. J. Vernon, Captain H. C. Sandford, Lieutenant H. P. Paton, and 21 non-commissioned officers and men were killed, Captain FitzClarence and 22 men wounded, and 3 missing. Colonel Baden-Powell said: “If blame for this reverse falls on any one it should fall on myself, as everybody concerned did their part of the work thoroughly well and exactly in accordance with the orders I had issued. Both officers and men worked with splendid courage and spirit.” “The Colonials in South Africa 1899-1902” refers. BSA Co Medal, reverse Mashonaland 1897: 586 Troopr. S. Hempseed. B.S.A. Police; QSA, 1 clasp DoM: 64 Tpr. S. Hempseed. Protectorate Regt. Samuel Hempseed from Dunfermline, Scotland was wounded on 26 May 1897 at Soswe’s Kraal, Marandellas while serving with the BSAPolice. He served in ‘C’ Squadron of the Protectorate Regiment during the Siege of Mafeking and died of wounds on 27 December 1899, the day following the costly action fought at Game Tree Hill.

Extract from “With the Inniskilling Dragoons” by Yardley, 1904: “Late afternoon, a patrol under Captain Jackson, 7th Dragoon Guards, attached to the Inniskillings, reconnoitred towards Rensburg. They came under heavy fire and Captain Jackson was mortally wounded. Sgt Broadwood and Pte McKinnon gallantly stuck with him, amidst a hail of bullets, and successfully carried him in.” DCM (Edw VII): 2980 Pte McKinnon. 6th Dragoons; QSA, 5 clasps CC, OFS, Jhburg, D Hill, Belf: 2980 Pte D. McKinnon 6/Drgns. On the QSA Roll page (dated 9 May 1903) McKinnon was initially shown as entitled to only the SA’01 clasp. This was subsequently altered and the issue of a 2-clasp KSA was authorised on 15 Sept 1905. However, it is noted that the KSA was returned on 5 March 1914.

Hi Megan, All I know is that they were officially awarded by the MK Military Veterans, but I never saw any Warrants. My friend Mike Evert designed them, as all the SAPS and Metro Police awards. I will find out if he have any documentation Regards Archie

DCM (VR): 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A.; QSA, 3 clasps OFS, RoL, Tvl: 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, 14th Bty, R.F.A.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 77668 Dvr. W.T. Bodill, R.F.A. WO 132/16 contains important correspondence regarding acts of gallantry during the attempts to save the guns at Colenso. In a memo from Col Downing, dated 9 March 1900, he noted: “Drivers Bodill & Parmenter appear to have been one of two parties that tried to get the guns away & I understand that their names had not been previously noted for the D.S. Medal…” On 16 March 1900 Lt Grylls, 66th Bty. RFA clarified the two Drivers’ involvement: “These two Drivers Bodill & Parmenter belongs to 14th Bty and came up with a limber from their Battery to try and rescue the guns. Their horses were shot & Dr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner. Dr Parmenter was wounded…” Both Drivers were awarded the DCM in the London Gazette of 8 February 1901 (p938): ‘Conspicuous gallantry in attempting to rescue the guns of their battery on 15th December at Colenso’. Dvr Bodill was wounded and taken prisoner at Colenso and then held at the Waterval Camp, north of Pretoria. He was released on 6 June 1900. DCM (VR): Driver E.W. Lucas. R.A.; QSA, 5 clasps CC, TugH, OFS, RoL, Tvl: 6473 Br. E.W. Lucas, 66th Bty. R.F.A.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 6473 Bomb. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.; 1914/15 Star: 7705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.F.A.; BWM & AVM: 17705 Cpl. E.W. Lucas. R.A. DCM impressed in serif capitals. The day after the Colenso disaster General Redvers Buller wrote to the Under Secretary of State, War Office, London to report ‘cases of Distinguished Service in the Field’. After recommending Congreve, Roberts and Nurse for the Victoria Cross, he stated ‘Drivers H Taylor, Young, Petts, Rockall, Lucas and 30661 F Williams, all of the 66th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, rode the teams, each team brought in a gun. I recommend all six for the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.’ The award of Lucas’ DCM was published in the London Gazette of 2 February 1900 (p689). A photo of Lucas and 4 other “Colenso Guns Heroes” appeared in the Black and White Budget of 7 April 1900. In a letter home to his father he wrote: ‘I saw Lord Roberts’ son killed; I was close to him when it happened’. Lucas did WWI service as Corporal in the RGA as well as the RFA, entering the French Theatre of War on 17 June 1915.

Buller and his Staff proceeded to Natal where a force of 20000 troops and five Field Batteries awaited, the intention being to cross the heavily defended line of the Tugela River and advance to relieve Ladysmith. Hildyard’s 6th Infantry Brigade supported by the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, and six Naval 12 pounder guns under Colonel Long, Royal Artillery, held the centre of the British position. The objective of 15 December was to cross the Tugela by the bridge at Colenso and dislodge the Boers beyond the river. Colonel Long, who had been responsible for the disaster to an armoured train a month before, had a theory that artillery was most effectively used at close quarters, or, in his own words, ‘the only way to smash the beggars is to rush in at ‘em’. Early in the action, Long employed his theory bringing his guns into a dangerously exposed position not more than 1000 yards from the enemy. ‘To see those 18 gun teams riding out far ahead of the infantry battalions supposed to screen them, was to return to some scene from Balaklava.’ No sooner were the guns unlimbered than an enemy shell burst among them hailing the onset of a continuous and murderous fire. After half an hour of firing on the Boers at Fort Wylie both Batteries had run short of ammunition and the little they had left was kept to cover the expected advance of 6 Brigade. Casualties had been severe and nearly all the officers including Colonel Long were wounded. The surviving men and officers withdrew to take cover in a donga to the rear of the position, leaving their guns exposed and unattended. Shortly afterwards Buller and his Staff appeared on the scene, having that heard the guns supposedly in support of Hildyard’s Brigade were out of action. The Boers recognising the Staff in an unusually forward position trebled their fire, but Buller, unperturbed, finished his sandwich and ordered the immediate recovery of the guns. From the surrounding group of officers emerged ‘one of the most gallant trio’s that ever tried to win the Victoria Cross’. They were Captain Harry Schofield, Captain Walter Congreve of the Rifle Brigade, and Lieutenant the Hon. F. H. S. Roberts, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, only son of the Field-Marshal. The following narrative is taken from Schofield’s pocket diary: ‘We went back to the donga where all the horses and drivers were, which was under a hot fire and the General tried to get some of them (men and horses) out to try and recover the guns but there were no officers there; so General and Congreve (RB.) and self-set to work to get some out and we got 2 teams and a corporal and hooked in the teams to limbers just in front; doing this was no easy matter as it was difficult without N.C.O’s to get men on foot to come and help to hook in; Gerard was coming out when I shouted to him to send me a man or two to help; we got the teams hooked in somehow, I forget how (except I saw Congreve doing his) and then I started off at a gallop with the limbers for the two guns on the right and Roberts, 60th, joined in; also Congreve came on tho ‘I did not find this out till after; the impression I had going on was galloping on a carpet spotted thick with spots, it was a very hot fire; after we had gone about 400 yards Roberts on my left was shot, he had just before been looking at me and smiling, waving his stick in a circular motion like one does one’s crop sometimes when one goes away from covert, thinking to have a good burst; Congreve tells me he was shot just before this and also his horse and the latter plunging badly, threw him; so the Corporal and self were left. When on the way, I saw the lead driver riding very wildly; I shouted to him to keep his horse in hand, which I think took them off thinking of the bullets; on getting to the guns I howled out ‘wheel about on your guns’, which they did as if on parade; Corp. Nurse and self jumped off our horses and ran to hook on the guns, I found mine too far off to drag up alone so told the Corporal to come and help me, which he did and then he put his own gun on which was just in the right place; while he was doing this my wheel driver turned round and said ‘elevate the muzzle Sir’, which I did; they all kept their heads; we then mounted, galloped for the centre sunken road running across the far donga and I left them in a place of safety some way behind; after crossing the Donga a spent bullet hit me on the thigh, only a tap and didn’t leave a mark. Corporal Nurse, drivers Henry Taylor, Young, Potts, Rockall, Lucas and Williams, all of the 66th battery were not touched; 3 or 4 horses got hit; luckily not enough to make them falter or we should not have got off that particular plain,I think. The corporal and drivers behaved most admirably and no doubt if they had bungled in their driving on to the guns we could not have got out, they were nailers.’ Congreve had crawled into the donga to seek shelter and later went out to bring in Roberts. He eventually remained in the donga with the other wounded until the Boers, who took the position, allowed their evacuation. A second attempt to recover the remaining guns was mounted by Lieutenants Grylls and Schreiber of the 66th Battery but their efforts were unavailing and both officers were killed. A third dash for the guns by Captain Reed of the 7th Battery ended with the loss of half his men and two-thirds of his horses. Eventually Buller, resigning himself to the loss of the guns, forbade any further attempts. Later, he went to the survivors of the abandoned batteries and personally thanked them for their gallantry. Buller’s final orders of the day were to recall Lord Dundonald’s force from Hlangwane. At 11:00, all the British soldiers were on their way back to camp. The naval guns maintained a long-range barrage on the bridge until they were also limbered up and hauled away at 14:30. The burghers crossed the river in small groups and captured the artillerymen in the donga behind the guns. At 17:00 they hooked up the 10 guns and 9 ammunition wagons and drag them across the bridge in full view of the retreating British army. The abortive action to take the village of Colenso- part of the disastrous ‘Black Week’ of the Boer War- struck the world with the manifest determination of the British soldier under fire, and was recognised by the award of 5 Victoria Crosses and 24 DCM’s for gallantry in attempting to extricate the guns, together with a further Victoria Cross and 21 DCMs for acts of gallantry at or near Colenso. The British lost 143 killed in action, 756 wounded and 240 missing. The Boers captured 38 men and 10 serviceable guns. Their own losses included 7 killed in action, 30 wounded and one drowned. DCM (EVIIR): 787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. 2nd Rl. W. Surrey Regt.; QSA 5 clasps TugH, OFS, RoL, Tvl, L Nek: 787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. The Queen’s.; KSA, 2 clasps SA’01, SA’02: 787 Clr.-Serjt. W. Ewer. The Queen’s.; Army LS&GC Medal (EVIIR): 787 Clr.-Sergt. W. Ewer. Rl. W. Surrey Regt. While the drama at Long’s guns enfolded on the outskirts of Colenso, there was some determined fighting inside the village. “The fire now became intense, but in spite of bursting shells and whistling bullets, the men advanced as steadily as on a Long Valley field day, and no halt was made until the foremost ranks were within 1000 yards of the Tugela. Here a few volleys were fired at the crest of the low hills behind Colenso, and the advance was then continued, first by section, and, as reinforcements came up, by half-company rushes, until the men on the left of the line halted in the cover of a small shelter trench 400 yards to the south west of Colenso. So rapid had been the attack that a gap now appeared between the right of the Queen’s and the left of the Devons, owing to the slower movement of the troops in the donga, and this was at once filled by A and B companies, which crossed the railway line under a storm of bullets. Soon afterwards, as the men of the Devons advanced, the Queen’s re-crossed the line, and pushing gradually forward portions of A, B, C, D, and E companies succeeded in establishing and maintaining themselves in Colenso, in face of heavy rifle fire, being from time to time reinforced by driblets of men from a hut on the railway about 250 yards in rear, where a considerable number of the men of the Battalion had found cover. In the course of one of these forward rushes by a section of Captain Croft’s company, led by Lieutenant Watson, a man fell severely wounded in the village street. Seeing this, and in spite of the heavy fire which swept the roadway, 2nd Lieutenant Wedd at once rushed out of a house, which he was holding with about 5 men, and, with the help of Sergeant Ewer, succeeded in carrying the wounded man to a place of safety.” Regimental History: The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, p225. Sgt Ewer’s name was among those specially brought to notice by LtCol Hamilton for service at Colenso and he was awarded the DCM in the London Gazette, 27 September 1901, p6311. According to Ewer’s Service Papers he enlisted on 2 November 1883 and saw service in Burma and India between 1885 and 1894 (India Medal with clasp Burma 1885-87). He received a gunshot wound to the head at Colenso and received the LS&GC Medal on 3 November 1902. He was finally discharged in England on 1 November 1904.

The Battle of Magersfontein was fought near Kimberley on the borders of the Cape Colony and the independent republic of the Orange Free State. British forces under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen were advancing north along the railway line from the Cape in order to relief the siege of Kimberley, but their path was blocked at Magersfontein by a Boer force that was entrenched in the surrounding hills. The British had already fought a series of battles with the Boer, most recently at Modder River, where the advance was temporarily halted. BOERS IN TRENCHES AT FOOT OF MAGERSFONTEIN HILLS Lord Methuen failed to perform adequate reconnaissance in preparation for the impending battle and was unaware that Boer General De La Rey had entrenched his forces at the foot of the hills rather than the forward slopes as was the accepted practice. This allowed the Boers to survive the initial British artillery bombardment, when the British troops failed to deploy from a compact formation during their advance, the defenders were able to inflict heavy casualties. The Highland Brigade suffered the worst casualties, while on the Boer side, the Scandinavian Corps was destroyed. The Boers attained a tactical victory and succeeded in holding the British in their advance on Kimberley. The battle was the second of three battles during what became known as Black Week. 1. Schalk Willem Meintjes was born in 1852. When he applied for his awards in Feb 1924, he stated that he had served under Gen de Wet. He was wounded at Magersfontein on 11 Dec 1899 (according to Vorm “C” Acting Commandant, 6 bullet wounds: no limbs lost; and according to ZAR Casualty Report Acting Commandant Kroonstad Laager; slightly wounded: flesh-wound in leg). Meintjes was one of the senior Boer Officers taken prisoner when Gen Cronje surrendered at Paardeberg on 28 Feb 1900. His PoW number was 5950 and he was recorded as Commandant, Kroonstad Field Cornetcy. He was not sent to St Helena but was held at the Cape for the duration of the war: initially at Simonstown and later at Greenpoint. It would seem that the Medal Application Board had some misgivings about Meintjes. There is a scribbled note “Further facts” on his Vorm “A” and they finally approved the awards, but with the rank of Captain. Pictures if his medals attached. 2. DCM (VR): 4896 L.Corpl. D. Fraser. 1st Highland L.I: QSA 3 clasps Mod R, Witt, SA’01: 4896 Cpl. D. Fraser, 1st Highland Lt. Infy. “1ST” in DCM naming corrected unofficially. DCM: LG 27 September 1901 (p6318). Awarded for Magersfontein with details in London Gazette of 16 March 1900 (p1788): ‘Lance-Corporal Fraser… Specially brought to notice for cheery conduct under fire and helping to rally men’. The HLI Chronicle for July 1900 reported that ‘Lance-Corporal D. Fraser was conspicuous by his coolness during the advance and his cheery remarks of encouragement to all around him’. Fraser joined the Highland Light Infantry in 1893. He served with the regiment in Crete and was slightly wounded in the chest at the hospital during rioting at Kandia on 6 September 1898. Pictures of medals attached. I visitthe battlefields at Magersfontein many times and walked through the trenches, picking up empty shells, which I handed in at the museum. That was really a hygh experience.

Hi Marci, I'm glad I could help a bit The correct name should be Hector Pieterson. Mike also had it incorrect. I really don't know the Sabotage Campaign Medal, but will ask Mike. I found the attached picture somewhere, but don't know what it was Regards Archie