DIAMOND HILL, FIRST DAY.
The attack begins--Description of ground--Capture of Boer advanced
position--Night-fall.
On Monday, the 11th of June, began two days' heavy fighting; the
operations were on a large scale against a strong and well-found enemy,
posted, as we saw afterwards, in a position almost impregnable, along a
front of six or eight miles, with his line of retreat open.
On the first day, the 11th of June, we were the leading battalion of the
column, the Camerons being on baggage and rear guard and the Derbyshire
and C.I.V's. with us. We marched at six o'clock and moved off towards
the west; after trekking for a few miles we halted for some time under
cover of a rise in the ground, from which we could see that the mounted
troops were pretty heavily engaged in our front, over a considerable
area. Away to our right front there was a plateau of great extent with a
kopje of some size rising out of it; this kopje was being shelled with
much spirit by the enemy, and on looking through our glasses we could
see a fairly large party of mounted troops, either cavalry or mounted
infantry, who were ensconced under cover of the kopje. To all appearance
they were hung up in a state of compulsory inaction, as they could
neither leave its cover nor take any offensive steps. They appeared to
be quite safe, however, as regards shell fire, for the shrapnel seemed
to burst beyond them or on the far side of the hill each time.
After a time we were put in motion again, but now in extended order,
moving in columns of companies at wide intervals, G company, under
Lieut. Nelson, leading, followed by H under Captain Wisden and A under
Captain Blake (Major O'Grady being temporarily on the sick list), and
the remaining companies in the usual order.
The three leading companies moved along towards a deep ravine, at the
head of which they halted in accordance with orders; but from there G
and H, under command of Captain Wisden, were directed to advance across
the open and occupy a kopje to the left front. On the left of this
ravine were some farm houses lying under the lee of two small hills,
from the summit of which a fairly extensive view would be obtained. The
ground in front of these two hills was quite open for about a mile, but
to their left a smooth grassy range of hills rose and extended back for
some considerable distance, swinging round, about a mile and a half
away, to the left and diminishing in elevation until the plain was
reached, and thus forming a deep re-entrant angle, the inside of which
was very fairly wooded and looked rocky on the top.
On our left the ground remained open, though undulating; but a wooded
kopje rose out of the plain about a mile away, with two other kopjes of
a lesser elevation on its right, and bearing off towards the re-entrant
angle already mentioned.
This wooded kopje was the one that Captain Wisden was ordered to seize,
and accordingly he sent off his companies in succession, in the usual
widely extended formation, while Captain Blake followed with A company
as a support, at a considerable interval. Captain Wisden met with a
pretty wide and deep donga when he had gone about half way, and, while
crossing this, a dropping fire was opened on him, but at a very
considerable range (perhaps, 1,200 or 1,500 yards), apparently from the
thickly wooded range of hills on his right. One or two sections were
promptly formed to the right and replied to this fire, being relieved by
A company, who came up very shortly and devoted themselves to pouring
in a steady fire on the enemy, thus leaving Captain Wisden's two
companies at liberty to continue their advance.
Just about this time, five mounted men were seen to leave this kopje and
to move towards the range of hills, so G and H companies pushed on,
while our battery, from the rear, opened fire and shelled the kopje over
their heads. The companies led on steadily, and, when the guns had
finished shelling, they rushed the hill and climbed to the top, where
they remained, holding it for some little time.
Directly they showed that they were in possession of the hill, a move
was made by A company towards the low kopjes on the right of that held
by Captain Wisden; in this they were supported by the advance of B, C,
and D companies under Major Panton, with Lieut. Nelson and Lieut.
Ashworth in command of the latter two companies; the machine gun under
Captain Green came along also. A company reached and occupied these
small hills, and, the other companies coming up, fire was opened on the
wooded and rocky hill beyond, which, it was now seen, was separated from
us by a grassy valley about half-a-mile in width. The Maxim came into
action also, and remained at this spot firing over our heads and
covering our advance for some little time, after which it followed us. A
consistently steady dropping fire was maintained on us all the time, and
nothing could be done except to rush across the open, gain the end of
the spur in front, and then, turning to the right, swarm up the hill in
the hopes of taking the Boers in flank. We moved down the valley and
across, and, when within a long run of the foot of the spur, the bugle
sounded and off we dashed, shoving on our bayonets as we went, yelling
and shouting like fiends. Breathless, we reached the foot of the hill,
turned to our right, and commenced to climb it; the enemy had gone, and
we were quite free from annoying Mauser bullets for a time; at least so
we thought, until someone went a little too far and showed himself on
the edge of the hill, facing the east, when one or two shots soon came
whistling over his head.
Seemingly, the majority of the enemy were in position on an appalling
high and continuous range of hills, stretching to north and south, as
far as we could see. A deep and grassy valley about 1,500 to 2,000 yards
in width separated us, but we had no time to waste in looking about us,
as we had yet to reach the top of the spur, at whose foot we had only
just arrived; so, keeping on the lee side of the hill, we ascended the
spur until we reached the top, where we halted to await orders. In our
rush across the little valley three or four men had been wounded.
While this little attack was being carried out, the Volunteer company
had moved out in support of G and H companies, then in occupation of the
wooded kopje, but had somehow left the kopje on their right and had gone
off in a north-easterly direction towards the tremendous range of hills
to which we found that the enemy had retired. The Volunteers met with
some firing on their way, but were allowed by the enemy to come within
about 800 yards, when suddenly a furious outburst of fire descended on
the unfortunate company, compelling it to retire somewhat precipitately,
until it got beyond range. The Boers must have watched their approach
and concentrated their fire in anticipation of the Volunteers coming
within medium range, for the number of rifles employed against the
Volunteers was very large: the ground all round and amongst the men was
covered with spirts of dust, while the noise was perfectly deafening and
reminded one of the last stage of the attack at a field-day when every
man is anxious to finish his ammunition. Wonderful to relate, only two
men were wounded; but this was doubtless due to the very extended line
maintained, both in the advance and the retirement. The enemy had a
pom-pom on the hill which also contributed its quota of noise and clouds
of deadly fragments and flying splinters.[7]
The battalion, after remaining until dusk on the top of the hill,
received orders to march back to camp near the farm from which it had,
earlier in the day, advanced to the attack. Three companies, however,
had to remain on picket, including H company, which was to stay on the
kopje it had originally occupied. G company was therefore sent for and
posted on the top of the hill, and A was directed to remain about half
way down the spur, while the remaining companies made the best of their
way back to camp, which they reached about six o'clock.
We had to wait some time for our baggage; E and F companies, who were
escort to the two five-inch guns, did not come into camp at all that
night, but joined us late the next morning.
FOOTNOTE:
[7] Our casualties during the day were as follows:
WOUNDED.
Lce-Cpl. G. Washer, B Company.
Private A. Hobden, C "
" J. Clapshaw, B "
" E. Baker, Vol. "
" J. Caldwell, Vol. "
" J. Miles, G "
" T. Gainsford, A "
MISSING.
" Ebsworth, F Company.
This man of F Company seems to have wandered off, without permission, to
a farm, where he was promptly sniped by some Boers, wounded and taken
prisoner: a lesson to others: some men, however, will only learn by
bitter experience.