16 OCTOBER 1900 - TEVREDEN (LAKE CHRISSIE)

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“On the 16th General French directed an advance on Ermelo by different routes, the columns being widely extended to sweep the country. Our 1st Cavalry Brigade, under General Gordon, took the left, via Tevreden and Lake Chrissie; at daylight we moved off, the Inniskillings being advanced regiment, with Major Dauncey, Captain Yardley, and Captain Hamilton commanding the advanced squadrons. 

We drove a good many sniper out of the farms, and early in the afternoon reached the Tevreden Hills. Advancing along these, our advanced scouts surprised the Boer main laager and at once became heavily engaged; supporting them, we reported and awaited reinforcements.

 

Unfortunately, the brigade had suddenly changed its direction, halted, and was making arrangements to bivouac! Meantime the enemy, about 1000 strong, with two guns in position behind their laager, rallied. Our advanced scouts exhausted their ammunition.

 

The enemy got our range accurately with several belts of pom-pom and shell from their guns; one man was horribly mutilated, a pom-pom shell bursting full in his stomach. Under cover of this fire about 600 made a bold attack; our advanced scouts were driven back, galloping, mixed up with the enemy, who were firing at them from their horses.

 

Major Allenby at this juncture, coming to the firing line, informed me that the hill must be held, otherwise the enemy would rush the bivouac. Major Dauncey, with a few men of B Squadron, was holding the centre, whilst I was holding an advanced position on his right, with Lieut. Swanston and nine men only of my A Squadron.

 

I considerably checked the enemy’s rush, which came direct on my post, for some time stopping it altogether, and enabling the advanced scouts to get back clear, whilst reinforcements and two guns at last got out from the brigade to support. Finally, my small party was overwhelmed, the Boers, with Commandant Smuts at their head, getting right amongst us.

I ordered those who could to escape being made prisoners, and fired my last shot at the Boer leader, who sprang from his horse as I pulled the trigger. Men and horses were falling fast under a hail of bullets, but I seemed to bear a charmed life. Vaulting on my horse, which, like myself, bore a charmed life, I galloped twenty yards off, and then pulled up to see if anyone was left. 

Immediately I did so I was shot high in the thigh, the bullet passing through me and just missing the spine. Gripping the pommel, I galloped away, my clothes riddled with bullets; but the one only had struck me. I found Major Allenby leading the regiment on, supported at last by two guns, and one squadron preparing to charge. The enemy almost reached the guns, which were firing case, but they were driven back, and our old positions were reoccupied. 

All our men whose horses had been shot, and who would have been taken away prisoners, were rescued.

 

My wound and loss of blood prevented my taking further part. Lieut. Walton, A.M.D., came to my aid, and, still mounted, I reached an ambulance.”
“With the Inniskilling Dragoons”. By Lieutenant Colonel J Watkins Yardley.

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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.

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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.