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THE SECOND BATTALION ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
With a Description of the Operations in the Aden Hinterland
by
MAJORS C. F. ROMER & A. E. MAINWARING
[Illustration: _W. & D. Downey._
H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, K.G.,
Commander-in-Chief of The Mediterranean Forces, and Colonel-in-Chief
of The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.]
[Illustration: E Libris, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers.]
London: A. L. Humphreys, 187 Piccadilly, W.
1908
PREFACE
The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers is one of the oldest
regiments in the service. It was raised in February and March, 1661,
to form the garrison of Bombay, which had been ceded to the Crown as
part of the dowry of the Infanta of Portugal, on her marriage with
King Charles II. It then consisted of four companies, the
establishment of each being one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign,
two sergeants, three corporals, two drummers, and 100 privates, and
arrived at Bombay on September 18th, 1662, under the command of Sir
Abraham Shipman. Under various titles it took part in nearly all the
continuous fighting of which the history of India of those days is
principally composed, being generally known as the Bombay European
Regiment, until in March, 1843, it was granted the title of 1st Bombay
Fusiliers. In 1862 the regiment was transferred to the Crown, when the
word 'Royal' was added to its title, and it became known as the 103rd
Regiment, The Royal Bombay Fusiliers. In 1873 the regiment was linked
to the Royal Madras Fusiliers, whose history up to that time had been
very similar to its own. By General Order 41, of 1881, the titles of
the two regiments underwent yet another change, when they became known
by their present names, the 1st and 2nd Battalions Royal Dublin
Fusiliers.
The 2nd Battalion first left India for home service on January 2nd,
1871, when it embarked on H.M.S. _Malabar_, arriving at Portsmouth
Harbour about 8 a.m. on February 4th, and was stationed at Parkhurst.
Its home service lasted until 1884, when it embarked for Gibraltar. In
1885 it moved to Egypt, and in 1886 to India, where it was quartered
until 1897, when it was suddenly ordered to South Africa, on account
of our strained relations with the Transvaal Republic. On arrival at
Durban, however, the difficulties had been settled for the time being,
and the regiment was quartered at Pietermaritzburg until it moved up
to Dundee in 1899, just previous to the outbreak of war.
The late Major-General Penn-Symons assumed command of the Natal force
in 1897, and from that date commenced the firm friendship and mutual
regard between him and the regiment, which lasted without a break
until the day when he met his death at Talana. The interest he took in
the battalion and his zeal resulted in a stiff training, but a
training for which we must always feel grateful, and remember with
kind, if sad, recollections. It was his custom to see a great deal of
the regiments under his command, and he very frequently lunched with
us, by which means he not only made himself personally acquainted with
the characters of the officers of the regiment, but also had an
opportunity of seeing for himself the deep _esprit de corps_ which
existed in it, and without which no regiment can ever hope to
successfully overcome the perils and hardships incidental to active
service.
As the shadow of the coming war grew dark and ever darker on the
Northern horizon, the disposition of the Natal troops underwent some
change, and General Penn-Symons' brigade, of which the regiment formed
part, was moved up to Dundee, and was there stationed at the time of
the outbreak of hostilities. In spite of the long roll of battle
honours, of which both battalions are so justly proud, the South
African Campaign was the first active service either had seen under
their present titles, and the first opportunity afforded them of
making those new titles as celebrated as the old ones which had done
so much towards the acquisition of our Indian Empire. Imbued with
these feelings the regiment lay camped within full view of Talana
Hill, waiting the oncoming of the huge wave of invasion which was so
shortly to sweep over the borders, engulf Ladysmith, and threaten to
reach Maritzburg itself. But that was not to be. Its force was spent
long ere it reached the capital, and a few horsemen near the banks of
the Mooi River marked the line of its utmost limit in this direction.
The present work only claims to be a plain soldier's narrative of the
part taken by the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in stemming
this rush, and its subsequent efforts, its grim fights on the hills
which fringe the borders of the River Tugela, its long and weary
marches across the rolling uplands of the Transvaal, and its
subsequent monotonous life of constant vigil in fort and blockhouse,
and on escort duty.
All five battalions took part in the war. The 1st sailed from Ireland
on November 10th, 1899, and sent three companies under Major Hicks to
strengthen the 2nd Battalion. They arrived in time to share in the
action at Colenso on December 15th, and all the subsequent fighting
which finally resulted in the relief of Ladysmith, after which they
returned to the headquarters of the 1st Battalion, which formed part
of the Natal army under General Sir Redvers Buller, and later on
advanced through Laing's Nek and Alleman's Nek into the Transvaal. The
3rd Battalion sent a very strong draft of its reserve, and the 4th and
5th Battalions volunteered and came out to the front, where they
rendered most excellent service. In addition to the battalions there
were a good many officers of one or other battalion employed in
various ways in the huge theatre of operations. Major Godley and Major
Pilson had been selected for special service before the war, and the
former served in Mafeking during the siege, while the latter served
under General Plumer in his endeavours to raise it. Captain Kinsman
also served with the latter force. Major Rutherford, Adjutant of the
Ceylon Volunteers, arrived in command of the contingent from that
corps. Lieutenants Cory and Taylor served with the Mounted Infantry
most of the time, as did Lieutenants Garvice, Grimshaw, and Frankland,
after the capture of Pretoria, while Captain Carington Smith's share
in the war is briefly stated later on. Captain MacBean was on the
staff until he was killed at Nooitgedacht. The M.I. of the regiment
served with great distinction, and it is regretted that it is
impossible to include an account of the many actions and marches in
which they took part, but the present volume deals almost exclusively
with the battalion as a battalion.
The authors are desirous of expressing their most hearty and cordial
thanks to all those who have assisted them in the preparation of this
volume. They are especially indebted to Colonel H. Tempest Hicks,
C.B., without whose co-operation the work could not have been carried
out, for the loan of his diary, and for the sketches and many of the
photographs. To Colonel F. P. English, D.S.O., for the extracts from
his diary containing an account of the operations in the Aden
Hinterland and photographs. To Captain L. F. Renny for his Ladysmith
notes. Also to Sergeant-Major C. V. Brumby, Quartermaster-Sergeant
Purcell, and Mr. French (late Quartermaster-Sergeant), for assistance
in collecting data, compiling the appendix, and for photographs,
respectively.
C. F. ROMER.
A. E. MAINWARING.
CONTENTS
PART I.--FIGHTING.
CHAP. Page
I. Talana 3
II. The Retreat from Dundee 16
III. From Colenso to Estcourt 22
IV. Estcourt and Frere 28
V. The Battle of Colenso 34
VI. Venter's Spruit 42
VII. Vaal Krantz 55
VIII. Hart's and Pieter's Hills--The Relief of Ladysmith 61
IX. The Siege of Ladysmith 76
X. Aliwal North and Fourteen Streams 83
PART II.--TREKKING.
I. From Vryburg to Heidelberg 97
II. Heidelberg 111
III. After De Wet 121
IV. September in the Gatsrand 141
V. Frederickstadt--Klip River--The Losberg 164
VI. Buried Treasure--The Eastern Transvaal--The
Krugersdorp Defences 182
VII. The Last Twelve Months 193
PART III.
I. The Aden Hinterland 205
II. The Return Home and Reception 217
III. The Memorial Arch 229
APPENDIX 239
ILLUSTRATIONS
FULL-PAGE PLATES.
H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn,
K.G., Commander-in-chief of the
Mediterranean Forces, and Colonel-in-chief
of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers _Frontispiece_
Regimental Book-Plate _Title-page_
Casualties at Talana _Facing page_ 8
Major-General C. D. Cooper, C.B., commanding
2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers in Natal " " 24
Captain C. F. Romer and Captain E. Fetherstonhaugh " " 32
General Hart's Flank Attack from the
Boers' Point of View (Plan) " " 34
Casualties at Colenso " " 36
Group of twenty Sergeants taken after the
Battle of Colenso, all that remained
of Forty-Eight who left Maritzburg " " 40
Casualties at Tugela Heights " " 56, 64
Taking Fourteen Streams (Plan) " " 88
Miscellaneous Casualties " " 104
Colonel H. Tempest Hicks, C.B., commanding
2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, March, 1900--March,
1904 _facing Page_ 112
Plan of Position at Zuikerbosch " " 120
Plan of Battle of Frederickstadt " " 168
Sketch Plan of Kilmarnock House and Fortifications " " 184
Krugersdorp from Kilmarnock House " " 200
Officers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin
Fusiliers who embarked for Aden " " 216
The Memorial Arch, Dublin " " 232
The South African Memorial, Natal " " 238
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT.
The Last Rites 10
Armourer-Sergeant Waite--'Delenda Est Carthago' 18
Railway Bridge at Colenso 23
Boer Trenches, Colenso 36
Bringing down the Wounded 41
After the Fight 65
The Grave of Colonel Sitwell and Captain Maitland,
Gordon Highlanders (attached), near Railway
at Pieter's Hill 67
Pieter's Hill, Feb. 27th, 1900 69
Pontoon Bridge, River Tugela, Feb. 28th, 1900 70
2nd Royal, Dublin Fusiliers, heading Relief Troops,
marching into Ladysmith, March, 1900, 72
General Sir Redvers Buller, V.C., entering Ladysmith 73
The Dublins are coming--Ladysmith 74
Sir George White watching Relief Force entering
Ladysmith 75
Sergeant Davis in Meditation over 'Long Cecil' at
Kimberley. 'Shall I Take it for the Officers?' 83
St. Patrick's Day in Camp. Private Monaghan, the
Regimental Butcher, in Foreground 84
A Wash in hot Water--Aliwal North 87
The Regimental Maxim in Action at Fourteen
Streams 89
Captain Jervis, General Fitzroy Hart, C.B., C.M.G.,
and Captain Arthur Hart 91
Issuing Queen Victoria's Chocolate. Colour-Sergeant
Connell, 'G' Company, on left 93
First Entry into Krugersdorp. Captain and Adjutant
Fetherstonhaugh in Foreground 99
'Speed, Dead Slow' 104
Hoisting the Union Jack at Krugersdorp 106
Johan Meyer's House, five Miles outside Johannesburg 107
Sergeant Davis, evidently with all we wanted 108
Paardekraal Monument, Krugersdorp 110
The Officers' Mess 120
Corporal Tierney and Chef Burst 123
Fourth Class on the Z.a.s.m. 125
Fifth Class on the Z.a.s.m. 127
The Vaal River, Lindeque Drift 133
The R.D.F. Bathing in Mooi River, Potchefstroom 136
Father Mathews 142
Funeral of Commandant Theron and a British
Soldier, Sept. 6th, 1900 149
Buffelsdoorn Camp, Gatsrand Hills 152
A Group of Boer Prisoners taken at the Surprise
of Pochefstroom 153
Colour-Sergeant Cossy issuing Beer 154
'Come to the Cook-house Door, Boys!' 163
Sergeant French and the Officers' Mess, Nachtmaal 170
4.7 crossing a Drift, assisted by the Dublin Fusiliers 172
Boy Fitzpatrick waiting at Lunch 178
'The Latest Shave.' Captain G. S. Higginson (mounted)
and Major Bird 181
The Hairdresser's Shop 192
Kilmarnock, Krugersdorp 193
A Blockhouse 196
The 'Blue Caps' relieving the 'Old Toughs' 201
Dthala Camp 210
Dthala Village, From Camp 211
A Frontier Tower--Abdali Country 213
Homeward bound at last, after twenty Years'
Foreign Service 219
PART I.
FIGHTING.
THE 2ND BATTALION
ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS
CHAPTER I.
TALANA.
'The midnight brought the signal sound of strife,
The morn the marshalling in arms, the day--
Battle's magnificently stern array.'
_Byron._
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers left India for
Maritzburg, Natal, in 1897, and therefore, on the outbreak of the war
between Great Britain and the South African Republics, had the
advantage of possessing some acquaintance with the topography of the
colony, and of a two years' training and preparation for the long
struggle which was to ensue.
The political situation had become so threatening by July, 1899, that
the military authorities began to take precautionary measures, and the
battalion was ordered to effect a partial mobilisation and to collect
its transport. On September 20th it moved by train to Ladysmith,[1]
and four days later proceeded to Dundee. Here Major-General Sir W.
Penn-Symons assumed the command of a small force, consisting of 18th
Hussars, 13th, 67th, and 69th Batteries R.F.A., 1st Leicestershire
Regiment, 1st King's Royal Rifles, and 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Each infantry battalion had a mounted infantry company. The brigade
was reinforced on October 16th by the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers.
[Footnote 1: It was at Ladysmith that the battalion adopted
the green tops on the helmets, a distinguishing badge which
was worn throughout the war. The 1st Battalion painted theirs
blue on account of the historic nickname, 'Blue-caps,'
acquired by them at the time of the Mutiny.]
The country was still nominally at peace, but the Dundee force held
itself ready for emergencies, and sent out mounted patrols by day and
infantry piquets by night, while the important railway junction at
Glencoe was held by a company. The General utilised this period of
waiting in carrying out field-firing and practising various forms of
attack. As he was a practical and experienced soldier, he succeeded in
bringing his command to a high state of efficiency, and the battalion
owed much to his careful preparation. It was due largely to his
teaching that the men knew how to advance from cover to cover and
displayed such ready 'initiative' in the various battles of the Natal
Campaign. The opportunity of putting into practice this teaching soon
presented itself, for on October 12th news was received that the South
African Republics had declared war on the previous day.
Consideration of the advisability of pushing forward a small force to
Dundee, and of the reasons for such a movement, does not fall within
the scope of this work; but a glance at the map will show that Sir W.
Penn-Symons had a wide front to watch, since he could be attacked from
three sides. Although precise information regarding the Boer forces
was lacking, it was known that commandoes were assembling at
Volksrust, along the left bank of the Buffalo River, and on the far
side of Van Reenan's Pass.
Early in the morning of October 13th a telegram was received from Sir
G. White, asking General Penn-Symons to send a battalion to Ladysmith
at once, as the Boers were reported to be advancing on that town. The
General paid the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers the compliment of
selecting them for this duty, and they entrained accordingly, about
4.30 a.m., reaching Ladysmith some four hours later. They detrained
with the utmost haste and marched at once towards Dewdrop, whither the
Ladysmith garrison had been sent; but the report of a Boer advance was
discovered to be without foundation, and the battalion was halted five
miles outside Ladysmith, and ordered to return. It did not reach the
camp at Dundee until 11 p.m.
On the following day Sir W. Penn-Symons moved his detachment closer to
the town of Dundee, and placed his camp three or four hundred yards
north of the road to Glencoe Junction. It soon became clear that the
Boers meant to invade Natal, and Newcastle was occupied by them on the
15th, while the mounted patrols of the Dundee force were already in
touch with the commandoes on the left bank of the Buffalo. The
detached company at Glencoe was withdrawn on the 18th, and on the 19th
three companies of the regiment, under Major English, were sent to the
Navigation Colliery in order to bring away large quantities of mealie
bags stored there.
Colonel Cooper, commanding the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers,
had been given an extension of his command, and was hurrying back from
a short period of leave in England, so the battalion was at this time
under the command of Major S. G. Bird.
It was now evident to every one that we were on the eve of
hostilities, and a spirit of keen excitement and anticipation ran
through all ranks. After a long tour of foreign service, during which
the regiment had not had the good fortune to see active service,
though on three occasions they had been within measurable distance of
it, they were now to have the long-wished-for chance of showing that,
in spite of altered denominations and other changes, they were
prepared to keep their gallant and historical reputation untarnished.
Our advanced patrols had already seen the first signs of the coming
torrent of invasion, and one and all were seized with that feeling,
common to all mankind, of longing to get the waiting and the
preparation over, and to commence the real business for which they had
been so carefully and so thoroughly prepared. Full of the most
implicit confidence in their brave leader, the regiment knew to a man
that they would soon be at hand-grips, and their two years' residence
in the country and knowledge of the history of the last Boer War, and
the stain to be rubbed out, made every pulse tingle with the desire to
show that the past had been but an unfortunate blunder, and that the
British soldier of the present day was no whit inferior to his
predecessors of Indian, Peninsular, Waterloo, and Crimean fame.
On the night of the 19-20th October, Lieutenant Grimshaw was sent with
a patrol of the Mounted Infantry company of the battalion to watch the
road to Vant's and Landsman's Drifts, ten miles east of Dundee. About
2 a.m. on October 20th this officer reported that a Boer commando was
advancing on the town. At a later hour he forwarded a second message
to the effect that he was retiring before superior numbers, one man of
his party having been wounded, and that the enemy were in occupation
of the hills to the east of the town. On the receipt of this message
General Penn-Symons ordered two companies of the Dublin Fusiliers to
support Lieutenant Grimshaw. 'B' and 'E' companies, under Captains
Dibley and Weldon, accordingly left camp at 4 a.m., and, moving
through the town, took up a position in Sand Spruit, which runs along
the eastern edge of Dundee. The whole brigade stood to arms, as usual,
at 5 a.m., but was dismissed at 5.15 a.m. At about 5.30 a.m. the mist
lifted, and everybody's gaze was directed on Talana Hill, where
numbers of men in black mackintoshes could be seen. The general
impression was that they were members of the town guard, but the
arrival of the first shell soon dispelled this illusion.
Soon after 5.30 a.m. the Boer artillery opened fire on the camp. Their
fire was accurate enough, considering that the range was near 5400
yards, but the damage done was practically nothing, as very few shells
burst, and these only on impact. Our own artillery (13th and 69th
Field Batteries, with 'D' company of the battalion as escort) did not
immediately respond, as they were at the time engaged in watering
their horses; but as soon as possible they were in position to the
east of the camp, and began to shell the crest of Talana Hill. They
obtained the range almost immediately, and in a short time overpowered
the hostile guns, which were thus prevented from playing an important
part in the day's battle.
As soon as the Boers started shelling the camp, the battalion fell in
on its parade-ground in quarter-column and waited for orders. But when
a shell fell just behind the ranks, Major Bird moved it at the double
through the camp to a donga which afforded good cover. The men then
removed their great-coats, and stayed for some minutes watching the
Boer shells passing over their heads. Eventually the King's Royal
Rifles, Royal Irish Fusiliers, and the battalion were ordered by the
General to move in extended order through the town, and to concentrate
in the spruit already occupied by 'B' and 'E' companies. The
Leicesters and 67th Battery were left near the camp to watch Impati
Mountain, since it was probable that the Boer force which had occupied
Newcastle would appear from that direction. The mounted troops (18th
Hussars and the Mounted Infantry company of the Dublin Fusiliers,
under Captain Lonsdale, less Lieutenant Cory's section, which,
fortunately for it, was sent off in another direction), under the
command of Colonel Moeller, were sent to turn the right flank of the
Boers' position on Talana Hill and so threaten their rear.
As the extended lines of the infantry moved through the town they were
greeted by pompom fire, which, however, did no damage. It was their
first introduction to this hated and under-rated weapon, whose moral
effect is so great that, even if the casualties it inflicts are small
in number, it is always likely to exercise a marked influence, more
especially on young troops and at the commencement of a campaign. Men
heard it in wonder, asking each other what it was, and why had we
nothing like it, and similar questions. By 6.30 a.m. the three
battalions were assembled in the bed of the spruit, and the General
rode up with the Staff in order to give his orders for the attack. The
2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers were to form the firing line, with the 60th
Rifles in support and the Royal Irish Fusiliers in reserve. Under
Talana Hill is a wood surrounding a small house known as Smith's Farm.
Between this wood and Sand Spruit is a long stretch of veld, which on
the day of the battle was intersected by several wire fences. The
battalion received orders to cross this open ground by successive
companies, 'H' company, under Lieutenant Shewan, formed the right of
the line, and was the first company to leave the shelter of the
spruit. It made for the south-east corner of the wood, where it was
afterwards joined by the maxims, and at once opened fire on Talana and
Dundee Hills. 'B' company under Captain Dibley, 'A' company under
Major English, and 'E' company under Captain Weldon extended to ten
paces, and followed in succession. The enemy had by this time
developed a vigorous fire, but the range was long and the casualties
small. The advancing companies moved on steadily, reached the edge of
the wood, and entered it. They now became somewhat separated. 'A,' 'G'
(Captain Perreau), and 'F' inclined to the left, 'C' and 'E' remained
in the centre with 'B' on their right, while 'H' was held back at the
corner of the wood. The latter was bounded on the far side by a stone
wall, beyond which stretched an open piece of ground until, further up
the hill, there was a second wall. At this point there was a sudden
change in the slope of the ground, which rose almost precipitously to
the crest. Immediately opposite the point where 'B' company issued
from the wood a third wall ran up the hill, connecting the two already
mentioned. When the attackers reached the far end of the wood, they
came under such a well-directed and heavy fire that their progress was
at first checked, in spite of the support afforded by our artillery,
which rained shrapnel on the hostile position. The Boers, lying behind
the boulders on the crest of Talana Hill, found excellent cover; while
from Dundee Hill they could bring an effective enfilade fire on the
open space between the two parallel walls. Opposite 'A' company a
donga ran up the hill, and at first sight seemed to offer an excellent
line of approach for an attacking force. Major English, in command of
the company, rushed forward and, in spite of a heavy fire, succeeded
in cutting a wire fence which closed the mouth of the donga. He then,
at about 8 a.m., led his company into the latter, and was followed by
'G' and 'F' (Captain Hensley) companies; but the donga proved almost a
death-trap, since it was swept by the rifles of some picked marksmen
on the right of the Boer position.
[Illustration: Casualties at Talana.
Capt. G. A. WELDON. _Killed._
Second Lieut. GENGE. _Died of Wounds._
Capt. A. DIBLEY. _Wounded._
Major LOWNDES. _Wounded._
Lieut. C. N. PERREAU. _Wounded._
Ser.-Maj. (Now Qr.-Mr) BURKE. _Wounded._]
It was impossible for these three companies to advance any further,
and they were therefore forced to limit their efforts to an attempt to
keep down the Boer fire. Meanwhile, General Penn-Symons had, about
9.15 a.m., come up to the far edge of the wood, and crying, 'Dublin
Fusiliers, we must take the hill!' crossed the wall. Shortly
afterwards he received a mortal wound. Captain Weldon was also killed
near the same spot in a gallant effort to help a wounded comrade, No.
5078 Private Gorman. Captain Weldon, together with several men of his
company, had surmounted the wall in face of a heavy fire, and had
taken cover in a small depression on its further side. Private Gorman
was hit in the very act of surmounting the obstacle, and was falling
backwards, when Captain Weldon, rushing out from his cover, seized him
by the arm, and was pulling him into safety when he himself was
mortally wounded. Privates Brady and Smith dragged him in under cover,
but he only lived a few minutes. His dog, a fox-terrier named Rose,
had accompanied him through the fight, and when his body was later on
recovered, the faithful little animal was found beside it, and was
afterwards taken care of by the men of 'E' company. There was no more
popular officer in the regiment than George Weldon, and his loss was
deeply felt by all ranks. He was the first officer of the Dublin
Fusiliers to fall in the war, which thus early asserted its claim to
seize the best. He was buried that same afternoon in the small
cemetery, facing the hill on which he had met his death.
[Illustration: The Last Rites.]
By this time, 9.30 a.m., the Rifles and Irish Fusiliers had closed up
and become merged in the firing line. Slowly, and by the advances of
small parties at a time, the attackers gained ground, principally by
creeping along the transverse wall which afforded cover from the enemy
on Dundee Hill, Helped by the incessant fire of the artillery, which
at 11.30 a.m. moved up to the coalfields railway, the infantry
gradually collected behind the second wall. They were now within 150
yards of the crest, and the roar of battle grew in intensity. About
11.30 a.m. Colonel Yule came up and ordered the hill to be assaulted,
directing the battalion to charge the right flank of the hill, and the
Rifles the centre. Captain Lowndes, who was with the companies on the
right, led them across the wall and over an open piece of ground. He
gave the command 'Right incline,' and so well were the men in hand
that the order was promptly obeyed, shortly after which he was badly
wounded. Meanwhile, in the centre, men of all three regiments, led by
the Staff and regimental officers, dashed over the wall and began to
clamber up the steep and rocky slope. The artillery quickened its fire
and covered the crest with shrapnel. But the Boers still remained
firm. Many of them stood up, their mackintoshes waving in the wind,
and poured a deadly fire on the assaulting infantry. Though most of
these brave burghers paid for their daring with their lives, they
repulsed this first gallant charge. The Dublin Fusiliers suffered many
casualties in this first assault. Captain Lowndes, the Adjutant, had
his leg practically shattered, as he, with the other officers, ran
ahead to lead the charge. Captain Perreau was shot through the chest;
Captain Dibley was almost on the top of the hill when hit. He had a
dim recollection of the gallant Adjutant of the Royal Irish Fusiliers
racing up almost alongside him and within a few paces of the summit,
when he suddenly saw an aged and grey-bearded burgher drawing a bead
upon him at a distance of a few paces only. He snapped his revolver at
him, but only to fall senseless next moment with a bullet through his
head. Marvellous though it seems he made a comparatively speedy
recovery, and was able to ride into Ladysmith, at the head of his
company, in the following February, having been in the hospital in the
besieged town in the interval. Evidence of the temporary nature of
the discomfort caused by a bullet through the head is afforded by the
fact that he is to-day one of the best bridge-players in the regiment.
Poor young Genge, who had only recently joined, was mortally wounded,
and died shortly after the battle, killed in his first fight and in
the springtime of life.
Sergeant-Major Burke's (now Quartermaster) experiences may be best
told in his own words: 'It must have been shortly after poor Weldon
was killed that I came across "E" company; finding no officer with
them I assumed command, and on arrival at the donga handed them over
to Major Bird, and accompanied Colonel Yule, who had just arrived, and
was ascending the hill. We had only gone a few yards, and were about
six paces from the top wall, when I was bowled over, hit in the leg.
It was a hot place, for as I lay there another bullet hit me in the
shoulder. I crawled as well as I could to a rock, and sitting up
underneath it lit a pipe. Scarcely had I got it to draw when a bullet
dashed it out of my hand, taking a small piece of the top of my thumb
with it. Two men were shot dead so close that they fell across my
legs, effectually pinning me to the ground, while two more were
wounded and fell alongside of me. At this juncture Colour-Sergeants
Guilfoyle (now Sergeant-Major) and James dashed out of cover, and,
picking me up, carried me to a more sheltered position, whence I could
see what was going on all round, without myself being seen.' He was
left at Dundee with the wounded, and subsequently taken to Pretoria
with other prisoners of war.
Whilst the men and officers were thus recovering their breath for a
renewed attack, a large number were undoubtedly hit by our own
shrapnel, as they clung closely to the hillside to avoid coming under
fire from the enemy, who still held the top. It was imperative to draw
our gunners' attention to their situation, to effect which purpose, an
intrepid signaller, Private Flynn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, jumped
up, and at the imminent risk of his own life freely exposed himself in
his endeavour to 'call up' the guns. Finding, after repeated attempts,
that he could not attract their attention, he boldly walked back down
the hillside, torn as it was by mauser fire, and personally delivered
his message, a glorious and courageous example of that devotion to
duty which proved so strongly marked a characteristic of our N.C.O.'s
and privates throughout the war.
Major English now extricated his company from the donga and managed to
reach the second wall, where he collected all available men, including
'F' and 'G' companies, and maintained an incessant fire on Dundee and
Talana Hills. The artillery behind had never slackened in their
efforts to support the infantry, and their shrapnel searched the whole
length of the crest line. This combined fire began at last to tell.
The rattle of the enemy's musketry, which had lasted since 6.30 a.m.,
gradually grew feebler, until about 1 p.m. our infantry made a second
dash across the wall and this time reached the top of the hill. Below
them they saw the stream of flying Boers hurrying across the veld. It
was the moment for a vigorous outburst of musketry, but 'some one
blundered,' and the fleeting moment sped without being taken advantage
of. It is true that those men who first arrived on the summit were
firing away, and were joined in doing so by every other man who
breathlessly arrived. The company officers had just got their men well
in hand, and were directing the fire, when to every one's disgust, and
sheer, blank amazement, the 'Cease fire' sounded clear above the din
of the fight. There was nothing for it but to stop, but the sight of
the enemy streaming away in dense masses just below them, that enemy
who had up to now been pouring a relentless hail of bullets on them
for hours, was too much. Captain Hensley rushed up to Major English,
and after a brief conference, feeling certain the call must have been
blown in error, the latter gave the command to re-open fire. Barely
was it obeyed when the imperative bugle once more blared forth its
interference, and the company officers, the commanders of the
recognised battle-units, had nothing left them but compliance.
The guns with 'D' company as escort had come to the neck between
Talana and Dundee Hills, but did not fire. The fight was over and
Major English formed up the battalion. It then marched back as a
rearguard to the brigade, through Dundee to the camp, much as if after
a field-day, halting half-way to receive an issue of rations sent out
by the A.S.C. It had lost two officers and six men killed, and three
officers and fifty-two men wounded. As the troops passed through the
town they were warmly cheered by the inhabitants. Late in the
afternoon news reached the camp that the Mounted Infantry company,
together with a squadron of the 18th Hussars, had been captured, but
this was kept from the rank and file of the battalion. As already
stated above, Colonel Moeller had been sent with the mounted troops
round the right flank of the Boers. He succeeded in his task, but
proceeded too far, and when the enemy retreated from Talana Hill he
found himself with some 200 rifles attempting to stop a force of 4000
Boers. He was roughly handled, but managed to get clear. Then,
unluckily misled by the mist, he lost his way, and, instead of
returning to camp, moved towards Impati Mountain, where he stumbled
into the Boer main commando advancing from Newcastle. He took up a
defensive position, placing the cavalry in a kraal and the mounted
infantry on some rising ground near. The enemy brought up artillery
and soon surrounded him, finally forcing him to surrender.
Talana Hill, in point of numbers, may not rank as a great battle, but
its moral effect can scarcely be exaggerated. It was the first
conflict of the war. It was Majuba reversed, and the issue had
far-reaching consequences. The news of the victory spread quickly
through South Africa, and had considerable influence on the Dutch
Colonists, who were, to use an expressive colloquialism, 'sitting on
the fence,' and kept them sitting there, at a time when had they
descended on the wrong side their action could not have failed to be
extremely prejudicial to the interests of the Empire; but over and
above all else it showed to the world that the British infantry could
still attack and carry a position in face of modern rifle-fire, a
lesson which was never forgotten by Boer or Briton, in spite of after
events. Moreover, Talana must ever be a memorable name in the annals
of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, since it was the first battle in which
they had fought under their new title, which was from that day on to
become as well known as that of any regiment in the army.
The other regiments engaged had also suffered very severely, the 60th
Rifles losing, amongst other officers, their gallant chief, Colonel
Gunning. It was curious that on the last occasion the 2nd Royal Dublin
Fusiliers had seen active service--the siege and capture of
Mooltan--they should then have fought alongside the 60th, as they did
in the present instance.