24 FEBRUARY 1900 - VAALKOP / KUILFONTEIN

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On 24 February the two mounted squadrons of Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guard were sent out to reconnoitre towards Kuilfontein, north of Arundel: a position which the enemy had been occupying in great strength. 

 

When they were between Vaalkop and Kuilfontein, they were suddenly fired on from both flanks and front and had to take refuge in a donga (gully) which was just deep enough to afford cover for the men, but not for the horses.

 

The men of the Guard held their ground under heavy rifle fire for almost 3 hours, but they had to retire when the Boers turned a 1-pounder pom-pom, followed by a 120 mm Krupp howitzer, on them. 

Nine men were taken prisoner by the Boers.