20 JANUARY 1900 - VENTERSPRUIT / THREE TREE HILL

[archie777]

“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.