SOUTH AFRICA.--THE V.C.’S OF THE SECOND BOER WAR.
The late war in South Africa, when--for the last time, it is to be
hoped--Briton and Boer strove for supremacy, is too recent to need
even an outline of its history being given here. It was a war of many
blunders and disasters, and its record does not make altogether pleasant
reading; yet against the gloom of it there is not a little to be set of
which we may be proud. After the war had entered upon its second phase
good generalship asserted itself; victory followed victory in swift
succession, and there was no more looking back.
Many reputations were lost, while others were gained, in this difficult
campaign, but there was one person whose prestige from the first suffered
no loss. That was the British soldier. In the face of a foe remarkable
for “slimness” and marksmanship, Tommy Atkins once more showed himself
the splendid fighter that he always has been. We have only to remember
the fierce battles on the Tugela River, at Colenso, at Magersfontein,
at Paardeberg, and elsewhere, to assure ourselves on this point. Under
the most terrible fusillade--and how terrible it was at times can hardly
be conveyed in words--our gunners and our infantry never hesitated or
winced. Throughout the ranks they fought with an indomitable courage that
compelled the admiration of the Boers, and in the pride we feel at their
bravery and devotion we are glad to forget the incompetency displayed by
many of their leaders.
Of the acts of individual heroism that were performed pages and pages
might be written without exhausting the subject. In the leading of
forlorn hopes, and in the succouring of wounded comrades under fire,
officers and privates alike were ever ready to risk their lives; and the
fact that no fewer than seventy-eight Victoria Crosses were won in the
war speaks for itself. How some of these rewards for valour were gained
it is my purpose to relate in the present chapter.
Among the first to be decorated was an Army surgeon, a worthy successor
to Jee, Home, and those others of whom mention has been made. At the
battle of Colenso, in December 1899, Major William Babtie, of the Royal
Army Medical Corps, received word that a number of wounded artillerymen
were in need of assistance. They lay in a donga, or hollow, close by the
guns of their batteries (the 14th and 15th), sheltered from the Boer
marksmen, but suffering considerable agony from their wounds.
Without loss of time, and quite alone, Major Babtie rode out to them. He
knew full well that the instant he appeared in the open he would become
a target for the enemy’s rifles, and few of those who watched him go on
his errand of mercy expected to see him alive again. But although his
horse was struck three times, he himself by good fortune escaped being
hit. Reaching the donga, he found a score of poor fellows badly needing
attention, and with wonderful coolness he set about dressing their
injuries. The Boers, who had no scruples about firing upon the wounded,
made repeated attempts to get within range of the intrepid surgeon and
his patients, but with ill-success. Babtie seemed to bear a charmed life,
and he was able to save many a gunner who but for his prompt help must
have died on the field.
The Royal Army Medical Corps, it may be mentioned, won three more
Crosses in South Africa, making the total placed to their credit seven.
Lieutenants Douglas, Nickerson, and Inkson were the other heroes, the
last-named being conspicuous for carrying a wounded comrade for over
three hundred yards under heavy fire to a place of safety.
It was at Colenso that the magnificent attempt to save the guns was made
which resulted in the sad death of Lieutenant the Hon. F. H. S. Roberts,
the only son of Lord Roberts, then Commander-in-Chief. Colonel Long, with
the 14th and 66th Batteries of the Royal Field Artillery, had pressed
forward to drive the Boers from their trenches along the bank of the
Tugela, expecting to be supported by reinforcements. But under the deadly
fire directed upon him he was obliged to retire, leaving many dead and
wounded behind him, and leaving, too, twelve guns standing ready for use,
with their breech-blocks still in them.
For a long time the guns stood deserted thus, while the battle raged to
right and left of them. Then, as General Hildyard’s infantry, including
the Devons, the Queen’s, and the Scots Fusiliers, made their dashing
advance upon the Boer positions, a trio of staff officers who were with
Generals Buller and Clery volunteered to save the guns if possible.
These three were Captains Schofield and Congreve, and Lieutenant Roberts.
Other volunteers were soon forthcoming when it was known that the attempt
was to be made, and corporals, linesmen, and some drivers of ammunition
waggons, with two or three spare teams, galloped out after their leaders.
The guns were reached, but at once Boer shells and bullets began to drop
thickly around. Captain Congreve was almost the first to be hit, being
wounded in the leg. Then young Roberts was struck, at the same time that
a shell burst under his horse, inflicting severe wounds upon him. “He was
looking over his shoulder at Schofield,” says an eye-witness, “laughing
and working his stick with a circular motion, like a jockey, to encourage
his horse,” when his first bullet found him, and he fell mortally
wounded. In the meantime the gallant gunners and drivers were limbering
up with all speed, and thanks to Captain Schofield’s exertions, two of
the guns were hauled back in safety.
Later on, Captain Reed of the 7th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, made
another and partially successful effort to rescue some of the remaining
ten guns, receiving a bad wound in his thigh in the attempt; but almost
all of them had to be abandoned. For their gallantry, however, Captains
Schofield, Congreve, and Reed, with Lieutenant Roberts, were all
recommended for the V.C., the three first-named alone surviving to
receive the decoration. Poor Lieutenant Roberts, as will be remembered,
died at Chievely, two days later.
[Illustration: THE GUNS WERE REACHED, BUT AT ONCE BOER SHELLS AND BULLETS
BEGAN TO DROP THICKLY AROUND.--_Page 242._]
As to the bravery of the men who helped them to save the guns, both
Captain Schofield and Captain Reed have borne eloquent tribute. “Bosh!”
said Reed, when he was complimented on his exploit; “it was all the
drivers.” And if you ask Captain Schofield, you will find he will make
much the same answer. While the rain of bullets poured on them the
drivers limbered up in a calm, business-like fashion, as if there wasn’t
a Boer within a dozen miles of them.
“Just to show you what cool chaps those drivers were,” says Captain
Schofield, “when I was hooking on one of the guns, one of them said,
‘Elevate the muzzle a little more, sir.’ That’s a precaution for
galloping in rough country, but I shouldn’t have thought of it--not just
then, at any rate. Pretty cool, wasn’t it?”
They were gallant men those drivers without doubt, as gallant as Colonel
Long’s gunners, who fell one by one by their guns until only two were
left, two who continued the unequal battle alone, and when the ordinary
ammunition was exhausted fired their last shot, the emergency rounds of
case; after which they stood at attention and waited for the end that
came swiftly. All could not be decorated, however, though all deserved
equal honour, and so Corporal G. E. Nurse, of the Royal Field Artillery,
was elected to receive the V.C. as the most fitting representative.
The next heroes on the list are two brave men of the Protectorate
Regiment, Sergeant H. R. Martineau and Trooper (now Lieutenant) H. E.
Ramsden. During a sortie from besieged Mafeking Sergeant Martineau’s
attention was called to Corporal Le Camp, who had been struck down by a
Boer bullet. The latter was lying in the open less than a dozen yards
from the enemy’s trenches and bleeding profusely from his wound. Not far
away were some bushes which offered ample shelter, so making a dash for
the corporal, the sergeant carried and dragged him thither as best he
could. Then, kneeling by the wounded man’s side, he carefully bandaged
the gaping shot-hole and stanched the flow of blood.
Despite the shelter of the bushes, Martineau did not escape being hit. He
was shot in the side as he stooped over the corporal, and he was struck
yet twice more when, at the order to retire, he picked up Le Camp and
carried him after his comrades, who were falling back upon the town. That
plucky rescue cost the sergeant an arm, but it won him--though small
compensation, perhaps--a V.C.
The same honour fell to Trooper H. E. Ramsden in this fight, for
carrying his brother out of danger in very similar circumstances. The
list of those who figured in gallant actions of this kind, indeed, is
a long one. There was Second-Lieutenant John Norwood (now a captain),
of the 5th Dragoon Guards, who while in charge of a small patrol party
outside Ladysmith, in October 1899, was nearly cornered by the Boers. In
retiring one of the troopers fell, whereupon the lieutenant, galloping
back, dismounted, lifted the wounded man on to his shoulder, and with
his horse’s bridle over his arm walked back to rejoin his comrades. And
there was Lieutenant Sir John Milbanke of the 10th Hussars, who saved
the life of one of his men while out on a reconnaissance near Colesberg.
The lieutenant himself was badly wounded with a ball in his thigh, but
disregarding this, he went to the aid of the wounded man, who was exposed
to the Boer fire, and successfully brought him out of range.
Both these heroes gained the V.C., as, too, did Private Bisdee and
Lieutenant Wylly, of the Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, for gallantry of a
like order. Having run into an ambuscade, the scouting party of which
the Tasmanians were members had to get out of it as best they could. The
Boers from their cover kept up a hot fire, and men and horses dropped
quickly. Out of the eight in the party all but two were hit, and one of
the officers had his horse shot beneath him. Seeing his predicament,
Private Bisdee offered him a stirrup leather to hold on to, but the other
was more badly wounded than he had supposed. Jumping off his horse,
therefore, he put his officer into the saddle, and mounting behind him,
galloped out of action. Lieutenant Wylly in his turn gave up his horse
to a wounded private, afterwards taking up a position behind a rock, and
using his rifle to good purpose to cover the retreat of the little party.
It does one good to read of heroism such as this, for it helps to keep
alive our faith in those fine qualities which have made Englishmen what
they are. If we still find something inspiring in the records of the old
sea-dogs, such as Benbow, who was carried on deck in a basket after he
had lost his leg, so that he might continue to direct the fight, we may
treasure in our memories with no less reverence the deeds of many humbler
heroes. There is about them, too, often enough, a truly British touch of
dare-devilry, cheek, pluck--call it what you will--that cannot but strike
one’s imagination.
Take the story of Sergeant T. Lawrence of the 17th Lancers, the “Death
or Glory Boys.” He was in charge of a patrol in the neighbourhood of
Lindley, in August 1900, while the Lancer Brigade was chasing De Wet.
Suddenly attacked by a body of fourteen Boers, the patrol was obliged to
retire. In the gallop for safety Private Hayman’s horse was bowled over,
and down came its rider to the ground with a dislocated shoulder and
broken collar-bone. In a twinkling the sergeant saw what had happened.
The Boers were hard upon their heels, but taking his chance, Lawrence
rode back to Hayman’s assistance. The private’s horse being useless,
Lawrence dismounted and raised the wounded man on to his own steed, a
dun pony, it is recorded. Then, setting the animal’s head for the picket
and bidding Hayman hold on for his life, the sergeant gave the pony a
vigorous kick and started him off. This done, Lawrence made his way back
on foot, keeping up a warm fire with his carbine; and for _two_ miles he
retired thus, successfully holding off the Boers, until a party which had
ridden out in search of him brought the plucky fellow into our lines.
There is a true British ring about Sergeant Lawrence’s action which
is unmistakable, and few South African heroes more deserved the V.C.
which was eventually bestowed upon him. He, thanks to his skill with
the carbine, and perhaps owing something to luck, escaped without a
scratch, but not all were so fortunate. Writing of Lawrence reminds me of
another hero, Lieutenant and Adjutant G. H. B. Coulson, of the King’s Own
Scottish Borderers, who won glory and death at the same time.
It was during the rearguard action near Lambrecht Fontein, in May 1901.
A corporal of the Mounted Infantry was wounded and helpless, so the
lieutenant pulled him up on to his own horse. As they rode along the
animal was itself struck, and it became evident that a double burden
was more than it could carry. There was only one thing to be done.
Slipping off the horse, Coulson told the corporal to “hang on” and save
himself; then, revolver in hand, he stayed behind, in the faint hope
that he might win back to safety on foot. It was a vain hope. The Boers
rode down upon him, and--one man against a hundred--he fell riddled with
bullets. Afterwards, when the corporal had told his story, they gazetted
Lieutenant and Adjutant Coulson V.C., as one to whom the decoration would
have been awarded had he lived.
Among other dead heroes of the South African War, place must be found for
Lieutenant Parsons of the Essex Regiment and Sergeant Atkinson of the
Yorkshires. At Paardeberg, where a fierce battle was fought in February
1900, many poor wounded fellows lay in the sweltering heat suffering for
want of water. Water there was within reach, in the river that wound
round by the enemy’s trenches, but the task of fetching it was attended
with considerable danger. Some four or five men made the attempt, only
to fall under the hail of Boer bullets. Nothing daunted, however, both
Parsons and Atkinson made several dashes for the precious water, the
former venturing twice, and rendering much-needed relief to those wounded
near him.
Atkinson, who had distinguished himself in the fight by rescuing
Lieutenant Hammick of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, went down to
the river no fewer than seven times, being under fire all the while.
At the seventh venture his fate found him. A bullet struck him in the
head, and the brave Yorkshireman fell mortally wounded. He was a son of
Farrier-Major James Atkinson, of the Royal Artillery, who is stated to
have been one of the party who captured the original Sebastopol cannon
from which the Victoria Crosses are now cast. Although Lieutenant Parsons
survived Paardeberg, he never lived to receive his Cross, being killed
later at Driefontein.
For bravery that distinguishes itself in the storming of apparently
impregnable positions and in the leading of forlorn hopes, the Highland
regiments perhaps bear the palm. One remembers their deeds in the Mutiny
days and, more recently, at Dargai. In South Africa they wrote their
names large, at Magersfontein, Paardeberg, and in many a minor action.
One of their most dashing exploits was the capture of Thaba Mountain, in
April 1900, by the Gordons. In this engagement Captain E. B. Towse, with
but a dozen men at his back, charged in the face of a hundred and fifty
Boers, who had climbed the hill from the opposite side, and routed them.
The position was won and held, for the Highlanders--and especially the
Gordons--are men who like to have their own way, but their brave leader
paid dearly for his victory. During the brief but fierce encounter he
was shot through both eyes and blinded for life. This action at Thaba
Mountain, together with his well-remembered gallantry at Magersfontein,
where in the very fore-front of the battle he was seen helping Colonel
Downman, who was mortally wounded, gained Captain Towse the V.C. Little
wonder is it that as she pinned it on the hero’s breast Queen Victoria
was moved to tears of sympathy and pity.
There were several V.C.’s gained in and around Ladysmith during the
memorable siege of that town which well deserve mention. Listen to the
story of how Privates Scott and Pitts of the Manchester Regiment won
the coveted decoration. In one of the Boer assaults early in 1900 the
Manchesters were given the task of holding Cæsar’s Camp, a position in
the long ridge of hills to the north-east of the town. Here they erected
circular stone sangars, in each of which a few men were posted with a
plentiful supply of ammunition.
When the attack was delivered, Cæsar’s Camp and Waggon Hill in the
vicinity received the brunt of it. Before the Boer fire the Manchester
Regiment in particular suffered great loss, many of their sangars being
captured and occupied by the enemy; but there was one spot in the
defences that the Boers failed to carry. In the little sangar where they
had been stationed Privates Scott and Pitts swore an oath that they would
never give up while breath was left in their bodies, and for fifteen
long hours their deadly rifle fire kept the Boers at bay. In the end,
as we know, the enemy were compelled to withdraw baffled, whereupon the
two plucky privates who had “held the fort” so manfully returned to camp
smoke-blackened and--in Scott’s case--wounded, to receive the due reward
of their heroism.
Yet another brave man of Ladysmith fame was Private J. Barry of the
Royal Irish. In the night attack on Monument Hill in January 1901, he
was helping to work a Maxim when the Boers surrounded the little party.
His comrades having been all shot down, Private Barry was called on to
surrender, but this word was not in his vocabulary. He neither intended
surrendering nor yielding his gun to the enemy, so hurling a defiance at
the latter, he proceeded to smash the breech of the Maxim and render it
useless. A few quick blows were sufficient for the purpose, and the work
was done ere the infuriated Boers raised their rifles and shot him dead.
A distinguished fellow-soldier of Barry’s was Colour-Sergeant (now
Captain) Masterson, the hero of Waggon Hill. In the furious hand-to-hand
fight on the hill he was a conspicuous figure, only being overborne at
last by sheer force of numbers, and falling with ten wounds in his body
and limbs. None of his injuries were mortal, however, and he survived to
receive the V.C. and a commission.
Captain Masterson’s name and rank, by the way, vividly recall to one’s
mind the exploit of a Royal Irish Fusilier of earlier days, Sergeant
Masterton, the hero of Barossa. Masterton was known as “the Eagle Taker,”
for the dashing capture of a French Eagle standard after a charge up a
hill much in the fashion of the Fusiliers at Waggon Hill, and he too was
rewarded by promotion.
With another story of the gallant gunners I must bring this chapter to
a close. The scene is Korn Spruit, on the road between Thaban’chu and
Bloemfontein. On March 31st, 1900, two batteries of the Royal Horse
Artillery were making their way to the Orange Free State capital, when
they fell into a Boer ambush. Before the alarm could be raised five guns
of the leading battery and a large section of the baggage train had been
captured.
Q Battery, under the command of Major Phipps-Hornby, meanwhile was some
three hundred yards away from the spruit when the Boers opened fire, and
had time to wheel about into position. The enemy’s force far outnumbered
the British column, but Major Phipps-Hornby and his gunners had no idea
of deserting their comrades. Having gained the shelter of some railway
buildings near at hand, the battery--minus one gun which had had to be
abandoned--re-formed and at full gallop came again into action. Within
close range of the Boers they unlimbered and opened fire, while the teams
of horses were taken back to the rear of the buildings for safety.
For a long time the gunners served their pieces in splendid style, but
the order came at last to retire. Realising how difficult it would be
to hook the teams on to the guns under the terrible fusillade that the
Boers were maintaining, Major Phipps-Hornby decided to do without them.
Under his direction the men put their shoulders to the wheels literally,
helped by some officers and privates of the Mounted Infantry, and by much
pushing and hauling they eventually got four of the five guns round to
the back of the buildings under cover, saving some of the limbers at the
same time.
To rejoin the main body now entailed the crossing of a couple more
spruits and a donga which lay within easy range of the Boer guns, a
veritable zone of fire. But the gunners had faced danger like this
before, and at the call for volunteers many drivers stepped forward. As
quickly as possible the horses were put into the traces, the guns hooked
on, and off they set, one at a time, on their perilous journey. It was a
wild dash for safety, but they got home--all, that is, save one gun and
one limber, which after several attempts had to be left behind, all the
horses belonging to it being shot down.
It was a V.C. business, this saving of the guns, but when it came to a
question of making the award a difficulty arose. Every man of the battery
might be said to have an equal claim to be decorated. As a few Crosses
only could be awarded, however, Rule 13 of the original Warrant had
to be enforced, under which the honour was conferred upon the battery
as a whole, one officer, one non-commissioned officer, one gunner and
one driver being elected by their comrades as recipients. Of the two
officers, Major Phipps-Hornby and Captain Humphreys, who had taken the
leading part in the affair, each had displayed conspicuous gallantry,
and each with characteristic generosity nominated the other for the
decoration. One would like to have seen both of them gazetted, but the
rule had to be adhered to, and, as senior officer, the V.C. was presented
to Major Phipps-Hornby. Sergeant Parker, Gunner Lodge, and Driver Glasock
hold the other three Crosses of the corps for this notable action.
Yet another hero of Korn Spruit is Lieutenant (now Lieut.-Col.) F. A.
Maxwell, of the Indian Army, then attached to Roberts’ Light Horse.
When the Boer fire was concentrated on Q Battery, he volunteered his
assistance and faced the blizzard of lead five times, helping to save
two guns and three limbers. It was he, too, who aided in the gallant
but futile attempt to bring in the fifth gun, remaining exposed to shot
and shell until the last moment. For his bravery Lieutenant Maxwell was
awarded the V.C., and it is worthy of note that in announcing the fact the
_Gazette_ refers to his gallantry during the Chitral campaign, when he
recovered the body of Lieut.-Col. F. D. Battye, of the “Guides,” under a
heavy fire from the enemy.