LORD METHUEN, TRANSVAAL (SOUTH-WEST)
The Boers (who had been concentrating for a month at
Hartebeestefontein), before the enveloping columns of Lord Methuen and
General Mildmay Willson, now left their strong positions and scattered
to the west. On the 8th of May some were brought to a stand at
Leeuwfontein by General Babington with his smart New Zealanders,
Bushmen, and Imperial Light Horse, while others were driven into
General Dixon's net at Putfontein. Thus many captures were effected.
Besides the fight of the 8th there was another near Korannafontein on
the 10th with a detachment of Colonel Williams' force.
Lord Methuen and Sir Henry Rawlinson, after chasing the enemy in the
west, moved to Mafeking and Maribogo respectively. General Babington
and Colonel Williams by a southerly route returned to Klerksdorp, and
General Dixon on the 25th took up his old position at Naauwpoort
(south of the Magaliesberg). Seventy prisoners, twenty-six surrenders,
102 vehicles, and much stock were the results of these combined
operations.
Attention next turned to Wolmaranstad, where Delarey was reported to
be, and which place was now called by the Boers their capital.
Rawlinson from the west, and Williams, accompanied by General
Fetherstonhaugh (who had relieved General Babington) marched thither
from Klerksdorp, while Lord Methuen guarded the exits towards the
north. Colonel Rawlinson entered Wolmaranstad without opposition,
joined hands with General Fetherstonhaugh, and proceeded towards
Klerksdorp, after having marched (since the 6th of May) 387 miles. By
way of interlude he captured a small laager near Cyferkuil, thus
making his haul consist of 17 prisoners, 3000 head of cattle, 29,000
sheep, and 400 horses. Forty Boers and many families were also brought
in. At the same time Lord Methuen, working from Korannafontein, chased
a roving commando which was trekking towards Lichtenburg. The fruit of
the united activity represented 56 prisoners, 40 horses, and over 100
vehicles, besides stock in abundance. An animated fight took place on
the 23rd, over a convoy moving from Potchefstroom to Ventersdorp. The
Potchefstroom convoy got as far as Witpoortje, where it was met by the
Ventersdorp section. This section was about to leave Witpoortje on its
way to Ventersdorp when it was attacked by 300 Boers, who fought the
fight of the famished. Instantly the Potchefstroom section returned to
the rescue, and reinforced the Ventersdorp force with fifty men of the
Welsh Fusiliers and twenty of the Imperial Light Horse. The Boers
driven off, the convoy then proceeded, but again at Rietfontein Drift
the guerillas, some 400 of them under Liebenberg, made a desperate
rush upon the coveted supplies, three waggons of which had broken down
in the scrimmage.
The escort were hard pressed--losing four men killed and two officers
and thirty-one men wounded--but their endurance and gallantry stood
every test. The garrison of Ventersdorp sent out fifty men to clear the
front of the convoy, and finally brought it back in safety. At one time
it seemed as though the convoy was lost, but it was recaptured by dint
of hard fighting. Captain Purchas (2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers)
especially distinguished himself, Captain Hay (Royal Welsh Fusiliers)
was wounded, and Lieutenant Wells (Loyal North Lancashire Regiment),
Lieutenant Bankes (Imperial Yeomanry), and Second-Lieutenant Smith (78th
Battery R.F.A.), who were in the thick of the fray, had narrow escapes,
owing to the prodigious energy with which they tackled the marauders.
The work of clearing the right bank of the Vaal towards Klerksdorp was
next undertaken by General Fetherstonhaugh and Colonel Williams. A
successful action on the 24th against Van Rensburg's banditti enabled
the force to march into Klerksdorp with twenty-four prisoners, 6200
rounds of ammunition, and thirty ox waggons. Thirty-five Burghers
surrendered in course of the march.
General Dixon, veering west from Naauwpoort, made a search for guns
and ammunition, which had been buried in the neighbourhood. From his
camp at Vlakfontein[3] he moved on the 29th of May to Waterval, where,
on a farm, he found the spot where the guns had been buried. The
weapons themselves had been removed. Near here ammunition was found,
but it was too late in the day to attempt to unearth it. The enemy was
hovering all round the region, and it was deemed advisable to return
to camp before making a lunge at them. The camp in the absence of
General Dixon was well guarded, and in a good defensible position, and
there was no reason to believe that the hovering Boers could quickly
mass in any large number.
[Illustration: THE ENGAGEMENT AT VLAKFONTEIN: THE DERBYSHIRES
RE-TAKING THE GUNS AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET
Drawing by R. Caton Woodville]
As the centre (with which was General Dixon) was crossing the valley
towards camp, the firing which had all day been going forward in the
direction of the rearguard[4] became louder and louder. Then
suddenly the hilly ground on which was the rearguard became apparently
enveloped in fire, the veldt blazing and smoking, and seeming to
impose a flaming curtain between one portion of the force and the
other. The rolls of artillery now increased, and presently a messenger
from Major Chance reported that he was hard pressed. The Boers, under
cover of the smoke, had come up in great numbers, rushed upon and
surrounded the guns, killing the gun teams and--after a desperate
struggle--most of the section in charge. According to the
much-contested statement of Reuter's Correspondent: "A lieutenant and
a sergeant-major were made prisoners, and on their refusing to give
information as to the working of the guns they were shot. Their
gallant conduct undoubtedly saved many lives, for the enemy actually
turned the guns on our troops, but the shells failed to explode, as
the pins had not been withdrawn." This statement could not be
corroborated, as those concerned were dead, but support for it is
found in the assertion of a private, who stated: "They asked the
officer in charge to surrender, but he replied, 'A British soldier
does not know the meaning of surrender, and if you want guns you will
need to shoot me and my gunners!' Thereupon the enemy shot the officer
and gunners, and captured the two guns, and then turned them on us."
At this juncture General Dixon, who had sent off Colonel Duff and his
troops to the succour of Major Chance, and himself had been galloping
across the valley to the scene of action, came to the rescue. On
arrival at the west picket of the camp, he found the situation was
critical in the extreme. The two guns and howitzer which had been with
him were in action west of the picket, and these, together with the
company of the Derbys which had been on picket and the details left in
camp, were hotly engaged. Some of the enemy were within 800 yards of
the picket, while others at 1600 yards range were shelling the British
camp and guns. It now became evident that the guns of the rearguard
were captured! Colonel Duff, advancing with two guns (8th Battery),
200 Scottish Horse, and two companies of the King's Own Borderers with
a Maxim, now hastened across the valley, and a general advance was
made. The Derbyshires were ordered to retake the guns, and this was
brilliantly accomplished. By successive rushes they swept on and on,
till the Boers, hearing the roar and seeing the red flash of bayonets
in the firelight, took to their steeds, mounted and galloped off as
hard as legs would carry them. The guns were recaptured, but the
ground was littered with wounded and dead, some of whom had met their
fate at the hands of the Boers after they were stricken helpless on
the veldt. A trooper of the Imperial Yeomanry, writing of this, said:
"It was an awful affair; I thought every one of us was going to get
killed. There were dozens of poor fellows murdered after they were
wounded. I expect the newspapers have told all about it. I hope,
please God, I shall never see anything like this again. It was an
awful sight. We had been on the trek all last month with General
Dixon's column.... The night after the fight we had to saddle up in
quick time and do a night flit, as the Boers were surrounding our
camp. We got away quite safe without the Boers knowing it. We left all
the tents standing, so as to make them believe we were still there,
but we had to leave our wounded."
General Dixon marched from Vlakfontein on the night of May 30 to
Naauwpoort, leaving the hospital, which contained many serious cases,
to be moved by daylight on May 31 along a good road leading to
Krugersdorp.
Several notable acts of gallantry were performed, among them that of
Captain Field (Scottish Horse), who went back at the risk of his life
to extricate two men who were unable to retire from the flames. It was
a day of many heroes--McDougal, a noble fellow who gave his life;
West, another splendid officer of Field Artillery; Captain Browne of
the Border Regiment; young Manby, who charged with the dashing
"Derbys"; and Willyams of the Imperial Yeomanry, who was among the
missing--these are only some of the number who made themselves
distinguished in this bloody hour. The officers killed besides
Lieutenant McDougal (28th Battery R.F.A.) were Captain Armstrong, 7th
Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, and Lieutenants Laing, Noke, Campbell,
Campion (Imperial Yeomanry). Among the wounded were Captain Sadler,
Lieutenants Gibson, Armstrong, Rimington (Derbyshire Regiment),
Surgeon-Captain Welford, and Lieutenant Hern (Imperial Yeomanry). Of
the men, forty-four were killed and seventeen succumbed to their
injuries. The total wounded was 115.
A trooper wrote the following description of the day's fighting:
"About midday the Boers fired the veldt, and we were stationed just in
front and could not see. Suddenly the enemy rushed through, after
giving us a volley. Dozens of our men and horses went down, and I had
the worst two hours of my life. Just as we had the order to retire a
chap close to me was thrown from his horse. I caught the animal with
the intention of taking it back to the owner, but a bullet passed
through my coat and grazed my horse, making the animal turn sharply,
with the result that the other horse pulled me clean out of the saddle
and knocked the wind out of me. I lay there with our men being shot
down by dozens. The sights I saw were beyond description. Boers shot
our fellows down in cold blood. Dozens of them were simply murdered.
They threw down their arms, and the Boers walked up to them and shot
them in cold blood. I lay for some time as if dead, but eventually I
joined some foot soldiers and we captured our guns again. An awful
thing was that many wounded were burned to death in the veldt fire.
The devils used explosive bullets, and some of the wounds were
dreadful."
One of the Scottish Horse said: "We rushed up the ridge and shot down
any one who came in front of us, and managed to recapture the guns. It
was a most bloodthirsty and murderous battle. The enemy were not
content with wounding our men, but they started shooting and clubbing
our wounded." On this subject Lieutenant Duff (Imperial Yeomanry)
collected the evidence of various officers and privates of the
Yeomanry and the Derbyshire Regiment, who were eye-witnesses to the
acts of atrocity committed by the Boers. He provided Lord Kitchener
with the following information. The day after the fight at
Vlakfontein, on May 29, he was conversing with Lieutenant Hern, also
of the Imperial Yeomanry, who had been badly wounded in that
engagement and has since been invalided home to England. Lieutenant
Hern told him that while he was lying wounded on the ground he noticed
about twenty yards from him Lieutenant Spring and Sergeant Findlay,
both of the Imperial Yeomanry. They were both slightly wounded, and
were binding up each other's wounds, when a young Boer, wearing a pink
puggaree round his hat, came close up to them and shot them both dead.
This Lieutenant Hern saw himself. He lay quite still, and the Boers,
thinking him dead, contented themselves with taking his spurs and
leggings.
Lieutenant Hern also said that the same day others of our wounded were
deliberately shot by the Boers.
The enemy, numbering 1500, were under the command of General Kemp.
* * * * *
On receipt of the news of this engagement General Fetherstonhaugh,
with the columns under Colonels Sir H. Rawlinson, Williams, and
Hickie, hurriedly pushed north from Klerksdorp so as to deal with
Commandant Kemp's barbarians, while General Gilbert Hamilton's force
moved by rail from Greylingstad to Krugersdorp, and General Methuen
marched from the neighbourhood of Zeerust towards Doornkop. But on the
approach of the troops the Boers began flying westward. Subsequently
it was reported that Kemp and Beyers intended to join hands in the
Waterberg district, consequently General Dixon proceeded through
Olifants Nek to block the passes north of Rustenburg, while General
Fetherstonhaugh continued to scour the rugged region west of the
Magaliesberg. Near Roodeval on the 9th of June he caught them, seized
seventeen prisoners, thirty-three waggons and a quantity of
ammunition, and sent the rest scudding northwards. Still scouring the
country he dispersed Boers right and left, and finally returned to
Klerksdorp with Colonels Rawlinson and Hickie, while Colonel Williams
was directed to Krugersdorp to refit. Curiously enough, in the course
of these operations over country which had for some months been
unexplored by the British, Boers in certain regions were discovered
peacefully ploughing and sowing on their farms. They effected to
believe the war had ended in their favour, but made no demur on being
invited to surrender. Reuter's Correspondent gave the following sample
of a conversation which ensued when the Magistrate announced his
intention of administering the oath of allegiance to Burghers of the
conquered territories desirous of taking it.
Does taking the oath render military service against our own people
compulsory?--No; but British subjects are expected to defend their
town in case of attack.
What difference is there between the oath of neutrality and the oath
of allegiance?--The first effaces a man's nationality; the second
renders him a British subject.
Will the oath prejudice any claim against Great Britain?--No.
Will the oath confer the full rights of a British subject?--Yes.
(Here the Boer could study the policy of the British _versus_ that of
the late South African Government. Political equality on the one side,
and long years of apprenticeship as subject of the Republic on the
other!) The next question was:--
Will those taking the oath now have any advantages over those taking
it later?--No.
If a Burgher takes the oath now, and his property outside is destroyed
by the enemy, will he receive any compensation?--Great Britain
repudiates legal liability, but invites claims, which will be brought
before a commission.
To resume. Colonel Allenby and General G. Hamilton had meanwhile been
clearing the Hekpoort Valley and Breedts Nek in the Magaliesberg. That
work successfully accomplished, they moved _viâ_ Tafel Kop and
Ventersdorp to Klerksdorp. The rest of June was spent in operations
against Kemp's guerillas in this region, and the month ended with the
breaking up of a commando which had gathered in the Hartebeestefontein
Hills. Lord Methuen, after the dispersal of the enemy, employed his
troops in escorting convoys to Zeerust.[5] Early in July he attacked,
on the north-east of Zeerust, a gang of Boers, with stock and
waggons, captured forty-three prisoners, thirty-seven rifles, and
forty-six waggons. His casualties were two wounded. The Boers lost
three killed, while three surrendered.
[Illustration: A NON-COMBATANT HERO--AN ARMY DOCTOR AT WORK IN THE
FIRING LINE.]
At this time, 7th July, Colonel Allenby was moved to the north of
Krugersdorp for the purpose of sweeping, in co-operation with General
Barton and Major C. Williams, the line of Crocodile River, which was
harassed by Boers, who were doing their best to oppose the
establishment of posts which were to be occupied by the South African
Constabulary.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] For composition of force see beginning of volume.
[4] Two guns 28th Battery, one pom-pom, 230 Imperial Yeomanry, one
Company Derby Regiment 100 strong, under Major Chance, R.A.
[5] The siege ended about the 22nd of May, when Lord Methuen arrived
with a large convoy and dispersed the Boers from the neighbourhood. As
an instance of the change which was taking place may be quoted the
resolutions passed by some ex-Burghers in regard to the attitude of
the leaders of the Bond and of the Dutch Reformed Church towards the
peace delegates. "Considering the magnitude of the suffering which has
already occurred from the war, the fearful loss of life and treasure,
the thousands of prisoners in exile in other lands or in bondage in
South Africa, and the multitude of refugees, both British and Boer,
whose homes have been broken up and who are surely being reduced to
penury, and considering further the loss and ruin in ever-increasing
measure falling on the country, this meeting thanks the Peace
Committee for its benevolent efforts, and trusts that it will
endeavour to continue them, expressing at the same time its deep
regret and indignation at the attitude of Messrs. Andrew Murray,
Theron, Sauer, and Merriman towards the peace envoys and the future of
the war. Their conduct must tend powerfully in the direction of
further bloodshed and increasing misery, and this meeting urges the
military necessity of absolutely suppressing all sedition by all the
force which martial law affords, and of using the utmost firmness to
end this long protracted war, believing that peace alone can bring
true prosperity."