CHAPTER X.

ALIWAL NORTH AND FOURTEEN STREAMS.

'But thus much is certain: that he that commands the

sea is at great liberty, and may take as much,

and as little of the war, as he wish.'

_Bacon._

After marching through Ladysmith, the battalion proceeded with the

11th Brigade to a camp about three miles to the north of the town and

on the left bank of the Klip River. It remained here until March 7th,

when it rejoined the 5th Brigade, which was encamped on the south side

of the Klip River, and about one mile nearer Ladysmith. On the same

date, Colonel Cooper was given the command of the 4th Brigade, and

accordingly handed over the battalion to Major Bird.

[Illustration: Sergeant Davis in Meditation over 'Long Cecil' at

Kimberley. 'Shall I take it for the Officers?']

There was another change of camping-ground on March 12th, the brigade

moving to the north-east of Ladysmith, under Surprise Hill. It was an

uneventful time, although outpost duties were somewhat severe.

In recognition of the gallantry displayed by the Irish regiments in

the Natal campaign, the Queen had directed that the shamrock should be

worn by all ranks on St. Patrick's Day. Accordingly, on March 17th,

every man wore a piece of green, since shamrock was unobtainable, and

the tents were decorated with boughs. A telegram was dispatched to the

Queen, who sent the following message in reply:--

'The Queen desires to thank her Dublin Fusiliers for their expression

of loyalty.'

[Illustration: St. Patrick's Day in Camp. Private Monaghan, the regimental

Butcher, in foreground.]

The battalion also received many congratulatory telegrams from Irish

associations and individuals in various parts of the world.

The detachment of the 1st Battalion was sent back to Colenso on March

21st. It had been just over four months with the 2nd Battalion, and

had borne its full share of the casualties. Originally numbering

eight officers and 287 rank and file, it returned with only two

officers and 92 rank and file.

The 5th Brigade moved on the 23rd to Modderspruit, and thence on the

next day to Elandslaagte, where it encamped a short distance to the

west of the battlefield. Here it stayed for ten days, and, as there

was little to do beyond outpost work, the battalion resumed ordinary

parades and route marching.

On April 4th, General Warren's Division relieved General Hunter's at

Elandslaagte, and the brigade marched back to Modderspruit. The 10th

Division (General Hunter), which consisted of the 5th and 6th

Brigades, was to proceed to Cape Colony for the relief of Mafeking.

On April 7th, Major Tempest Hicks, 1st Battalion Royal Dublin

Fusiliers, arrived from Colenso, and assumed command of the battalion.

The 5th Brigade began to move by train to Durban on the 9th, and we

were ordered to entrain at 1.45 p.m. on the 10th. But during the

morning, heavy firing broke out at Elandslaagte, and, as the enemy

seemed aggressive, the troops at Modderspruit were directed to be

ready to move to Elandslaagte.

We had struck camp and packed all the baggage in the train, and had,

therefore, to lie out in the hot sun for several hours, and await with

patience the development of events. The Boers apparently contented

themselves by a demonstration, and at 6 p.m. the battalion was allowed

to depart. The train reached Colenso at 9 p.m., where the 1st

Battalion was encamped, and Maritzburg about 4 a.m. Here, in spite of

the early hour, a number of friends, together with a band, were on the

platform, and the regiment received a warm greeting. The men were

given cigarettes and tobacco.

Durban was reached about 10 a.m. on April 11th, and the battalion at

once commenced to embark. The headquarters and about six companies

were carried by the _Cephalonia_, while the remaining two companies

went in the _Jamaica_. They were both slow ships, but the absolute

peace, the good food, the clean baths, and many other luxuries, made

everybody regret that they were not even slower.

East London was reached on the 12th, and the battalion was ordered to

disembark, since the 5th Brigade was urgently required to relieve

Wepener, which was surrounded by the enemy. General Hart, with the

Border Regiment and Somersetshire Light Infantry[7] started for Aliwal

North at once, but the battalion remained on board during the whole of

the 13th, although 'H' company, under Captain Romer, disembarked in

the afternoon, and was at once dispatched by train. The other

companies landed on the 14th, and left East London in two trains,

starting at 4 and 6 p.m.

[Footnote 7: This regiment had joined the 5th Brigade after

the relief of Ladysmith in place of the Inniskilling

Fusiliers.]

Lieutenant Le Mesurier, who had been captured on October 20th, but

had, with Captain Haldane (Gordon Highlanders), effected a plucky

escape from Pretoria, rejoined us at East London. Unluckily he at once

developed typhoid fever, and had to be left behind.

Aliwal North was not reached until 10.30 a.m. on April 16th. 'H'

company had arrived the previous afternoon, and was encamped near the

station, but the remainder of the battalion crossed the Orange River,

and pitched camp about 600 yards from the bridge, with its outpost

line pushed forward on the high ground to the north.

Major Hicks became commandant of Aliwal North, and had no easy task.

The town was General Hart's base during the operations for the relief

of Wepener, and there was consequently much to be done. Moreover, the

surrounding country was disturbed, the Dutch population had to be

watched, and there were constant rumours of the approach of

commandoes. In the early hours of the 21st, a report reached the

commandant that a large body of Boers was marching on the town. He

therefore decided to bring the regiment back to the south side of the

river, only leaving the piquets on the north bank. We therefore at

once struck camp, and, crossing the river, bivouacked near the bridge.

But as the report proved to be misleading, camp was re-pitched on a

square in the middle of Aliwal North. The outskirts of the town were

put into a state of defence, and a series of trenches covered the

approaches to the bridge. Although this necessitated much labour,

everybody enjoyed their stay at Aliwal. It was a pretty place, with

trees and gardens full of roses, with plenty of water, including a hot

stream running through the camp, with a well-stocked library, and

lastly, but by no means leastly, with a hotel possessing excellent

lager beer.

[Illustration: A Wash in hot Water. Aliwal North.]

The time passed, in fact, too quickly, for on the 26th news was

received of the relief of Wepener, and orders were issued for our

movement to Kimberley. We started at once in two trains, the first

leaving at midnight the second at 1 a.m. on the 27th. It was a long

and monotonous journey, the only breaks in which were stops for the

purpose of cooking meals. Kimberley was reached at 10 p.m. on the

28th, and the train stopped the night in the station, going on at 6

a.m. on the 29th to Doornfield, about eight miles north of Kimberley,

where the Connaught Rangers and the 6th Brigade were already encamped.

Since General Hart, with the Borders and Somersetshire Light Infantry

were still near Wepener, Colonel Brooke assumed the command of the

brigade.

General Hunter's division had been ordered to relieve Mafeking, and

the General decided to cross the Vaal near Windsorton with the 6th

Brigade, and to advance up the right bank; while General Paget with

the Royal Munster Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers, and Royal Dublin

Fusiliers, faced the Boer position at Fourteen Streams. Colonel

Mahon's mounted column was to move by Barkley West, and reach Mafeking

by sweeping round the Boer flank.

The battalion accordingly left Doornfield by train at 9 a.m. on May

2nd, and about mid-day reached Content, where it detrained and

encamped. The next day it marched with the Connaught Rangers to a

position about two miles south of Warrenton. The opposite bank of the

Vaal was held by the Boers, who were strongly entrenched and had

field-guns. On the south bank of the Vaal were the Munster Fusiliers,

a battery of field artillery, a six-inch gun mounted on a railway

truck, and a balloon, the whole detachment being under Major-General

Paget.

[Illustration: Taking XIV STREAMS on 7th May 1900 at 9.30 a.m. very

bad ford. _From a sketch by Col. H. Tempest Hicks, C.B._]

As all tents had been left at Content, the regiment bivouacked, and

remained more or less idle. The Munsters were holding Warrenton, and

there was constant sniping between their posts and the Boer trenches.

The balloon ascended daily, and the six-inch gun fired an occasional

shot, while the enemy's field-guns came into action at intervals. It

was a monotonous and unpleasant time for the Connaught Rangers and

ourselves, since there was nothing to do, while it was very hot by day

and cold by night.

[Illustration: The regimental Maxim in Action at Fourteen Streams.]

A little excitement was afforded on May 6th, when the Connaught

Rangers and half the battalion made a demonstration against a drift to

the east of Fourteen Streams. The object apparently was to draw the

Boers' attention from the 6th Brigade, who, after a victory at Rooi

Dam, were moving up the right bank. The movement caused a slight

amount of sniping, and the detachment returned to the bivouac soon

after 2 p.m.

The approach of the 6th Brigade, aided, perhaps, by this

demonstration, caused the enemy to evacuate hurriedly their trenches

during the afternoon of the 6th. Early on the morning of the 7th, the

Connaught Rangers and the right half-battalion started to ford the

Vaal at Warrenton.

The river at this point was broad and swift. The ford was a difficult

one, being beset by rocks and holes, and it took a considerable time

for the column to cross, since the water was up to the men's waists.

The left half-battalion under Major Bird moved one and a half miles up

the river near Fourteen Streams, where there was a ferry-boat. The

latter had been rendered useless by the Boers, but as they had left

the wire hawser, it was easy for the Royal Engineers to construct a

raft, on which the left half-battalion crossed comfortably and

quickly.

The right half-battalion joined the left half at the ferry, and

breakfasts were cooked. Before leaving the river-bank everybody made

an inspection of the Boer trenches, which formed an exceedingly strong

position. They were very deep, and so well adapted to the ground, that

it was no easy matter to discover them from the opposite bank.

Evidences of the hurried Boer retreat were plentiful in the shape of

full ammunition-boxes, half-cooked food, blankets, and kettles. One

Boer, who was too ill to march, was captured in the trenches.

After breakfasts, the battalion moved through a piece of ground

thickly covered with bush, and eventually bivouacked about one mile

from the Vaal, near the railway line. The 6th Brigade halted near the

same place, and the whole force was occupied for the next fortnight in

covering Fourteen Streams. The important railway bridge at this point

had been destroyed by the Boers, and the Royal Engineers, aided by

large working parties from the infantry, at once commenced to

construct a deviation bridge. This necessitated a great amount of

labour, and since, in addition, defensive works had to be made, we

were all kept very busy.

The stay at Fourteen Streams was interrupted on May 15th by a movement

on Christiana, a town in the Transvaal, reported to be held by a

strong party of Boers. The whole of the 10th Division took part in the

operations, and were thus the first regular troops to enter the

Transvaal. The frontier was crossed at 9 a.m. The advance was through

an undulating country, at times thickly covered by bush. Towards the

afternoon the brigade halted, as news was received that the mounted

troops had entered Christiana. A bivouac was formed in a clearing

among the bush, and dinners were cooked.

The next day the brigade marched back to Fourteen Streams, and reached

that place early on May 17th, having done some twenty-six miles in

nineteen hours. Work on the railway bridge was resumed, and, as the

6th Brigade had not returned, the battalion had to watch a more

extensive area. Each company was given a section, and constructed a

redoubt.

[Illustration: Captain Jervis, General Fitzroy Hart, C.B., C.M.G., and

Captain Arthur Hart.]

About May 24th, Second Lieutenant Bradford, with twenty-nine men, was

sent up the line to garrison Border Siding, where they were picked up

three days later.

The deviation bridge over the Vaal having been completed, the

battalion was sent forward by train to Vryburg, travelling in two

trains. Camp was pitched just outside the station, and for the next

two days every one spent their time in buying _karosses_ and in

shooting partridges.

The 10th Division, when Mafeking had been relieved by Colonel Mahon,

was ordered to march to Johannesburg via Lichtenburg. As the first

part of the route lay through a country very deficient in water, the

division marched in several columns, which followed each other at a

day's interval. The battalion left Vryburg on May 30th at 7.30 a.m.,

and proceeded to Devondale, and on the next day made a march of

twenty-two miles to Dornbult, where Captain Mainwaring, with Second

Lieutenants Newton and Smith, joined.

Their wanderings before they succeeded in doing so are sufficient

evidence how little was known, even to our own staff officers of the

whereabouts of the several columns. On arrival at Cape Town in the

s.s. _Oratava_, they were transhipped to the s.s. _Ranee_ and sent to

Port Elizabeth. On reporting themselves there they were entrained and

sent to Bloemfontein. No one there seemed to know where the regiment

was, but at that very time the report arrived of the march on

Christiana. Captain Mainwaring then met Captain Carington Smith of the

regiment, who was at that time serving in Roberts' Horse (which he

later on commanded), and as that officer was shortly going north with

some men of his corps, it seemed to both that the speediest way to get

to the Dublin Fusiliers was for Captain Mainwaring to be attached to

Roberts' Horse. An application to that effect was made to the staff

and granted, but shortly afterwards the news of the Christiana

column's return to the railway came to hand, so the three officers

once more entrained, and proceeded via De Aar to Kimberley.

Although Captain Carington Smith did not serve with either battalion

during the war, it would not be out of place here to mention the great

part he took in it. He commenced by serving in Roberts' Horse, and was

with them throughout Lord Roberts' advance to Bloemfontein. In the

action at Sanna's Post he was shot through the knee, but resolutely

refused to be invalided home. His recovery from this severe wound was

little short of marvellous, and he actually managed to rejoin the

headquarters of his corps in time to share in the entry into

Pretoria. Shortly after this he was again shot at Heidelberg, this

time through the other knee, and again made a second and equally

marvellous recovery. Towards the end of the war he commanded Roberts'

Horse, and later on the South African Light Horse, and his trekking

during the campaign amounted to no less than 9000 miles.

[Illustration: Issuing Queen Victoria's Chocolate. Colour-Sergeant

Connel, 'G' Company, on left.]

PART II.

TREKKING.

CHAPTER I.

VRYBURG TO HEIDELBERG.

'None of us put off our clothes.'

_Neh._ iv. 23.

Now commenced a different phase of warfare. If, in the constant

fighting of the Natal campaign, the regiment had been called upon to

prove its fighting capabilities--a call to which their noble response

earned them encomiums wherever they went--they were now to be called

upon to prove another essential of the true soldier--their mobility.

And well they proved it. Day after day, week after week, the tired,

footsore, but stout-hearted column-of-route made its slow and

wearisome way over the apparently limitless expanse of the swelling

veld. And how monotonous that veld can be none can appreciate save

those who have experienced its deadly sameness. Ahead, behind, all

round, nothing but veld, veld, veld. No trees, no hills, no rivers, no

lakes, no houses, no inhabitants! Here and there, perhaps, a miserable

shanty of the sealed-pattern South African type: rough stone walls and

corrugated-iron roof, a room on each side of the door, a narrow

verandah--occasionally occupied by a quiet, peaceful-looking old

patriarch, with a grey beard, and an air savouring rather of the

pulpit than the sheltered side of a boulder--a scraggy tree or two,

and a lick of water in a 'pan'--or pond as we should call it--hard by;

a woman, some children, and a couple of goats; a few mealie cobs

yellowing on the roof, and a scared, indignant, and attenuated fowl.

Alas! how those quiet-looking, quiet-spoken old gentlemen, open Bible

on knee, deceived us. Oh, no! they had never wished for war. Fight?

yes; they had fought, and surrendered, and taken the oath, and hoped

never to fight again. Peace? yes; they wanted peace, and urged us to

hasten on and conclude it. The same story everywhere: in the villages

as in the solitary hamlets. A vast, empty, forsaken wilderness, with

nothing more bellicose than a lean and hungry boar-hound or two. And

yet for two long years to come this very country, over which the

battalion trekked so peacefully, fifes and drums playing, officers out

on the flanks shooting, mess-president cantering miles away in quest

of eggs and their producers, was to be the scene of many a hard-fought

fight and many weary nights of outposts. Indeed, it never really

succumbed to the very end; the happy hunting-ground of the gallant De

la Rey, it was a thorn in the side of our leaders up to the day the

Delegates came in.

One day's march varied little from another. Up at dawn, and off after

the scantiest of scrappy breakfasts. Good marching while the dew was

on the grass, and the sun a welcome ally after the clear, crisp,

frosty nights; soon, however, to get hot enough, until the welcome

mid-day halt and meal, after which tighten up belts once more and on,

and on, one horizon following another with wearisome regularity, and

never a sign of the long-looked-for water, till at last, as the sun

set behind our backs, its last rays would glint on the miserable 'pan'

by whose side we were to halt for the night. And then what bitter

feelings of depression and disgust when sometimes the fiat would go

forth 'Water for cooking purposes only,' and one had to turn into

one's blankets grimy, dusty, clammy, and miserable.

On May 31st, the regiment, having arrived at the railway, was told

they would halt there next day. But on the morning of June 1st, the

order was given for the column[8] to march at 2 p.m. to Marigobo Pan,

a distance of eight miles only, but quite ten by the route taken. The

evenings soon close in at this time of year in South Africa, and it

was almost dark when the column arrived. As it was a fine mild night,

every one hoped to be allowed to bivouac, but tents were pitched after

all, and naturally enough pitched anyhow.

[Footnote 8: Border Regiment, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Bearer

Company, and Supply Detachment.]

In this matter of pitching tents, the battalion particularly prided

itself. On arrival at the selected site of the camp the Sergeant-Major

blew a whistle, when all those whose duty it was to assist ran towards

him, the men to mark the tent-poles, bayonets in hand, and two others

with the mekometer, to ensure a true right-angle. Every one knew his

particular job, so no time was wasted, while the symmetrical lines

obtained by the use of the instrument were a joy to the General's

eye.[9]

[Footnote 9: _Vide_ General Hart's letter in Appendix.]

[Illustration: First Entry into Krugersdorp. Captain and Adjutant

Fetherstonhaugh in foreground.]

In the same way, whenever a halt was ordered, it was the regiment's

custom to lay out their kits, mess-tins, belts, &c., in lines outside

their tents. Each Colour-Sergeant had a ball of string, which was

stretched between a couple of pegs; the kits were laid along it, the

string was rolled up and pitched into a tent, and neatness and

regularity prevailed without any extra trouble to any one. This

neatness in camp, in addition to its other soldierly qualities,

endeared the battalion in the eyes of General Hart, a soldier of the

old school, to whom order and regularity particularly appealed.

On the 2nd the column made another short march to Greysdorp, where

there were two or three good wells, but where the water in the pan was

of a most peculiar green colour.

The Mafeking relief column was met on the way, and very hard and

serviceable they looked, while several officers met old friends,

amongst others Prince Alexander of Teck, whom we had known at

Maritzburg before the war.

A longish march of nineteen or twenty miles on the 3rd, with a halt

midway, brought us in the evening to a place called Barber's Pan,

somewhat superior to the generality of these places. There was a

certain amount of water in the pan, but brackish and unpleasant to

drink. Round it were scattered some half-dozen houses, but the most

remarkable thing in connection with it was the sunset. As the light

faded, a mist rose from the veld, which after a few minutes began to

change colour, until at last it settled down to a most beautiful shade

of light green. None of us had seen anything similar before, nor did

we ever see anything like it again.

A march of about fourteen or fifteen miles on the 4th brought us to a

most uncomfortable camp. On the way, Captain Fetherstonhaugh (acting

Adjutant since Captain Lowndes was hit at Talana) rode off some

distance to a flank to try and get some supplies. He returned with a

great story of his reception by crowds of women and one or two men;

the latter stated they had been reluctantly compelled to fight against

us at Modder River, on pain of being shot, but that their sympathies

were entirely with us, &c. They even gave him a pound of butter. And

we believed this story at the time.

But, for that matter, who would not have been taken in? Every one

coming up the line brought better and better news. Lord Roberts was

close to the capital, and, thought we in our simplicity, that of

course must end the war. No one guessed there was extra time--two

solid years extra time--to be played. So we enjoyed the butter, and

said they were sensible people after all, and hoped we'd be in time

for the siege of Pretoria.

The next day's march was a pleasanter one than usual, the halts being

better arranged, with the result that the troops and transport got

into camp quite as early as they would have done under the ordinary

circumstances, but very much fresher and fitter. The fact is, staff

officers do not understand marching. They go tittuping gaily past long

straggling columns, passing the time of day cheerily to friends, and

momentarily halting to deliver some ironical knock to acquaintances on

the subject of their transport, or their sections of fours, or

something of the sort. But the regimental officer, who foots it

alongside his company, he understands marching right enough. He will

tell you when the going is good, and when it only looks good; he will

tell you the effects of five-minute halts, and how much benefit the

closing-up rear of the column derives from them; he will tell you when

a steady, swinging pace is being set that the men could keep up for

ever; and he will also tell you when some long-legged officer in front

is going four miles an hour, till some one suggests it is too fast,

and he sinks into a slow and tiring two and a half. Colonel Hicks

commanded the column on the 5th, and let us march our own way, with

the beneficial results already recorded.

And that cheery rumour about Pretoria. French reported to be there,

and Mr. Kruger gone off with a couple of millions. What did we care

about the latter? We should not have got any of it.

Another short march of a little over ten miles brought us to a camp

where there was actually a stream. Here the men got the chance of a

much-needed bathe, and how they enjoyed it! Every one, in fact, was in

excellent spirits, for the news about Pretoria turned out to be true,

and though some of us were disappointed at not being up in time to

share in the triumphant entry into the capital, the majority were all

for England, home, and beauty.

On the 7th we arrived at Lichtenburg, a small town or village that was

to see some heavy fighting later on in the war. On the present

occasion all seemed most peaceful. The houses were of the stereotyped

South African pattern, with the invariable half-stoep, half-verandah

running half-way along their fronts. Clear streams of water ran coolly

and pleasingly by the sides of the streets, shaded by the ubiquitous

weeping-willow. There was nothing to be bought, and no one to be seen,

however, and those of us who went into the town next morning were very

soon satisfied, returning to camp minus the various articles we had

set forth to buy. It was interesting, however, to see the Boers

handing in their rifles and taking the oath of allegiance.

Captain MacBean, who was now on General Hunter's staff, turned up

here, and dined with the regiment, and very glad we were to see him.

He gave us all sorts of news, too, which we were very deficient of, as

the system of daily bulletins had not then started.

After having halted for the 8th and 9th, we resumed our desert march

on the 10th, but only made some ten miles. It was most bitterly cold

all the way.

The next day proved far pleasanter, and another short, easy march of

about ten miles saw us in camp by 1.30 p.m.

On the 12th we made a march of sixteen miles. We were then within

about thirty-three miles of the railway from Johannesburg to

Potchefstroom, and, when a wire came ordering us to do it in two days,

we thought a lot of the task, whereas a few months later we were doing

that distance in one day, and, curiously enough, almost in the same

neighbourhood.

In consequence of this we marched right through Ventersdorp, to our

regret, as it looked quite a nice place, and there was a regular

trout-stream flowing past it, in which a bathe would have been most

welcome. We did eighteen miles before halting.

As indicative of the curious state of the war even in these early

days, General Hunter's experience at Vryburg was a good example. He

had ridden on with only thirty cavalrymen to Ventersdorp, when

suddenly some two hundred and fifty of the enemy appeared on the

scene. Fortunately for the General, their only object was to give up

their arms and take the oath.

Starting at 7.30 a.m. next day, we made short work of the march to the

railway, which we struck at Frederickstadt, a place that many of us

were destined to become very well acquainted with before we had done.

It is rather prettier than most Boer villages, being situated on the

pleasant little Mooi River, whose clear, rapid current reminded us of

our home streams. There are a few trees in the vicinity, whilst on the

further bank and beyond the railway rise the serrated, well-wooded,

and extremely picturesque Gatsrand Hills.

There was only one man to be seen, peacefully hoeing his potato-patch.

But if the men were scarce and polite, the same could not be said for

the fair sex, who, despite the fact that their knowledge of English

was only to be compared with our ignorance of Dutch, did not fail to

let us know their opinions of things generally. Indeed, the

mess-president, who had gone on ahead on a pony in search of

farmyard products, had a battle-royal with an elderly Dutch lady who

asked six shillings a dozen for her eggs.

We heard more detailed accounts here of the relief of Mafeking, and of

the gallant part Major Godley of ours had taken in its defence, while

Major Pilson and Captain Kinsman (also Royal Dublin Fusiliers) had

assisted in the relief. As Carington Smith had arrived in Kimberley

with the cavalry, we were able to claim representation in all three of

the great sieges and reliefs of the war.

[Illustration: 'Speed Dead Slow.']

But a disappointment was in store for us all the same. The column did

not move next day (the 15th), but although engine after engine came

puffing up from Potchefstroom they all failed to bring the carriages

which our aching legs made us so anxiously look for. We heard of the

strike of forty engine-drivers at Potchefstroom, but as they had all

been cast into durance vile, and the engines still continued to

arrive, that could not have been the reason. However, any doubts we

entertained were soon set at rest by an order to continue our march to

Johannesburg next day.

[Illustration: Miscellaneous Casualties.

Lieut. ELY. _Died at sea of Enteric._

Capt. H. CARINGTON SMITH. _Wounded at Sanna's Post and Heidelberg._

Capt. WATSON. (_Attached to Scottish Horse_). _Killed at Moedwil._

Capt. H. J. KINSMAN. _Wounded in Transvaal._

Capt. J. A. MACBEAN. _Killed at Nooitgedacht._

Lieut. ADRIAN TAYLOR. _Severely wounded when serving with M.I. near

Parys._]

Starting on the 16th, an uneventful march of twelve miles brought us

to Wolverdiend, a place which had not then attained the importance it

afterwards assumed.

It was another fifteen on to Blauw Bank Station next day. This march

was remarkable in that it was the first occasion since this trek

started that the column moved with any military precautions worth

mentioning.

Leaving Bank, as it got to be called later on, we struck off from the

railway, left shoulders up, in a bee-line for Johannesburg, the city

of our dreams, which it was hard to believe was not paved with gold,

if one listened to the reports of those who had been there before the

war. After a short march of ten miles we halted at a farm called

Gemsbokfontein, and looked with longing eyes at the distant ridge,

peeping over which could plainly be seen the huge mine-chimneys, like

sentinels along the hills, duly noting our arrival.

A fierce grass-fire broke out here, which necessitated the active

co-operation of all hands, and all blankets, to oppose it, one

too-adventurous officer getting rather scorched for his pains.

As we sat at lunch we could see General Mahon's mounted column

ascending the long rise to Randfontein, on our left front, and heard

they had gone to Krugersdorp.

'Krugersdorp! Where's that?' 'Let's look at your map,' and so on.

Well, we undoubtedly knew where it was a few weeks later. Moreover,

there must be Boers there, for had not a party on an engine come out

that very day, and after destroying a small bridge, and firing a

couple of shots, snorted their way back to the Dorp.

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers supplied the advanced guard on the 19th,

and duly started for Johannesburg, but a message very shortly came

ordering a left incline, and nominating Krugersdorp as our objective.

It was disappointing, but General Mahon had reported the

Krugersdorpers 'truculent,' and we had to make a demonstration. This

we most certainly did, halting above the railway, just outside the

town, and then--producing drums and fifes--forming up and marching

through to 'St. Patrick's Day' and the 'British Grenadiers.' But,

unlike the peaceful and amiable agriculturist, these townsfolk had no

smiles of reciprocation to our advances, and we marched through long

lines of scowling male faces, with here and there one or two of the

fair sex, but also, alas! sombre to a degree.

[Illustration: Hoisting The Union Jack at Krugersdorp.]

After emerging on the far side of the town we passed the famous

Paardekraal Monument on our right, and finally camped about half a

mile further on. It appears it was a very close thing whether they

opposed us or not, and the peaceful solution that eventually took

place was largely due to the tactful intervention and determination of

an Englishman, Mr. W. Bruce Honman, who had considerable influence

amongst the Dutch.

The troops halted at Krugersdorp next day, and the town was formally

taken over in the Queen's name, an impressive parade for that purpose

being held in the market square. Each regiment furnished a Guard of

Honour of 100 men. The Royal Dublin Fusilier Guard was under the

command of Major English, with Captain Higginson and Lieutenant

Haskard. It was extremely interesting for those of us who were not on

duty to watch the faces of the large numbers of Boers, male and

female, who watched this ceremony and the hoisting of the Union Jack.

On the whole they took it extremely well, and for the most part

behaved like brave men, who, having fought and lost, were content to

make the best of the situation.

[Illustration: Johan Meyer's House, five Miles outside Johannesburg.]

The trek commenced again on the 22nd, and this time we felt convinced

our destination must be Johannesburg, as we were marching along the

Witwaters Rand straight for it. A halt was made after some ten miles,

at Florida, rather a pleasant sort of Saturday-to-Monday resort of

Johannesburgers, with a nice lake and pleasant woods.

At last we seemed about to receive our reward, only to have our hopes

dashed rudely to the ground. True, we marched to Johannesburg, and

even through it, but only through the most miserable of its slums,

seeing nothing of its fine buildings, nothing of the wealth and

magnificence we had confidently expected. But, indeed, even the

finest part of it was only a sorry spectacle in those days, and for

many a weary month afterwards. Skirting the racecourse, we marched on

to a spot some six miles from the town, near the house of Johan Meyer,

a brother of Lucas Meyer. Colonel Hicks and Captain Fetherstonhaugh

called on this gentleman, and got a lot of interesting information

from him. His house was one of the finest we saw in the whole

Transvaal, and from its site--at the head of a fine valley--commanded

a magnificent view of the country almost as far as Heidelberg.

But, as some set-off to our disappointment and long, tiring march of

fifteen miles, Captain Sir Frederick Frankland, who had gone on to

Joh'burg, as it is universally called, to buy what stores he could,

turned up just before dinner, not only with a large amount of

provisions, but also with a case of excellent champagne, which he

presented to the mess, God bless him! We were very proud of our noble

Baronet that night, and he had to reply to the toast of his health

over and over again.

[Illustration: Sergeant Davis, evidently with All we wanted.]

Sergeant Davis, champion forager of the Army, also put in an

appearance here, having met with no end of adventures and

misadventures since the Colonel had sent him back to the

Kimberley-Mafeking Railway. As usual, he had a fine lot of stores,

and, also as usual, just what we wanted: baccy, chocolate, biscuits,

sjamboks, stamps, etc., etc.

An uneventful march of fifteen miles, with a halt at Reitfontein, was

only noticeable for a particularly cold night and the final splitting

up of the Irish Brigade, the Connaughts and Borders being ordered to

Pretoria.

On the 25th our long march came to an end with a twelve-mile step into

Heidelberg. The band of the Derbyshire Regiment played us in, while

our old friend, General Bruce Hamilton, rode out to meet us. We halted

on a slope about three-quarters of a mile outside the town, which in

its essential features is remarkably like Krugersdorp, the streets

being lined with tall blue-gum trees, and the plan of course

rectangular, with the usual market square in the centre.

There had been a fight here, and we found Captain Carington Smith

again amongst the wounded; this time, as already mentioned, with a

bullet through his other knee, but as cheery as ever, and smiling away

at seeing us all again. Lieutenant Adrian Taylor, of the regiment, was

also here, and very glad we were to see him once more. Like Captain

Carington Smith he was detached from the regiment throughout the

campaign, serving with the M.I., and was about a month later very

severely wounded near Parys when De Wet crossed the Vaal with Lord

Kitchener at his heels. Still another Dublin Fusilier met us at

Heidelberg--Major Rutherford, Adjutant of the Ceylon Volunteers, who

had come over in command of a detachment of that corps.

In addition to all these, General Cooper (our late C.O.) and his

A.D.C., Lieutenant Renny, R.D.F., were also coming up from the south,

while the 1st Battalion, who had helped to win Alleman's Nek, were not

far off.

On arrival at Heidelberg we had marched just 300 miles in

twenty-seven days, and although we had not pressed in any way, we had

come along fairly well seeing that we were not bound on any specific

object, such as the relief of a town, or the participation in a siege

or battle. We averaged just over eleven miles a day, including halts

at Lichtenburg (two days), Frederickstadt and Krugersdorp (two days),

or just a shade under fourteen miles for each marching day.

[Illustration: Paardekraal Monument, Krugersdorp.]

CHAPTER II.

HEIDELBERG.

'Wherever a man's post is, whether he has chosen it of his own

will, or whether he has been placed at it by his commander, there

it is his duty to remain and face the danger, without thinking of

death, or of any other thing except dishonour.'--_Socrates._

'Such officers do the King best service in the end.'--_Hamlet._

A considerable force had now assembled at Heidelberg, but it was not

to remain there long. General Hunter took over command from General

Ian Hamilton, who had had a bad fall from his horse, and shortly moved

off to the Free State, where he and his men soon covered themselves

with distinction by the rounding-up of Prinsloo's commandoes near

Golden Gate, on the Basuto border.

The 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, a half-battalion Somersetshire Light

Infantry, and the 28th Field Battery Royal Artillery, with some

details, were left to garrison Heidelberg.

The battalion was soon split up into a number of small detachments,

and posted at various places along the railway line, which had

suffered considerably at the hands of the Boers. Scarcely a bridge

remained intact, while the presence of wandering bodies of the enemy

in the neighbourhood necessitated the utmost caution and continual

vigilance on the part of the companies, half-companies, and even

sections, into which some of the companies were at length subdivided.

Headquarters and those companies not on detachment in the meantime had

plenty of work cut out for them too. In order to defend the place two

hills to the west of the town were occupied, one by the Royal Dublin

Fusiliers, known as Dublin Hill, and the other by the Somersetshire

Light Infantry. Our hill was put into a most thorough state of

defence by many hours of hard labour and efficient work under the

direction of Colonel Hicks. Sangars were built on every spur and knoll

which afforded a good field of fire; traverses and shelters were

numerous; in case of a night attack whitened stones along well-made

tracks showed the nearest way to the various posts; while not only

every company, but every section, had its well-defined trench or wall

to rally on and hold.

To some of us, indeed, all these precautions at the time seemed

somewhat excessive, and it is true that no attack was ever made; but

just as example is better than precept and practice better than

theory, so prevention is better than cure, and there is little doubt

that the fortification of that hill, in full view of many a Boer

field-glass in the town, whence our movements were of course fully

reported as frequently as possible to the enemy in the field, had a

deterrent effect on any designs our very active foes might otherwise

have contemplated.

On the morning of the 26th the left half-battalion, under Major Bird,

was suddenly ordered off to Nigel Road Station, about three miles out

on the railway to Johannesburg. The Boers having blown up a bridge

between this station and Heidelberg, all stores, &c., arriving from

Johannesburg had to be dumped down on the veld here, and it was

necessary to have a force on the spot to load them into waggons, as

well as to guard them and the trains. These soon began to arrive in

large numbers, and as each came up the sides of the railway waggons

were opened, and their heterogeneous contents chucked out anyhow into

a huge mass. In the mean time R.E. construction trains also arrived,

and the quiet little siding was soon a scene of wild bustle and

excitement. The R.E. went to work on the broken bridge, and made a

most excellent job of it in a surprisingly short time, though a casual

inspection of the temporary structure they built for trains to

pass over gave the lay mind the impression that an extra strong puff

of wind would blow the whole thing over. However, it answered its

purpose very thoroughly, and reflected much credit on its

constructors.

[Illustration: Colonel H. Tempest Hicks, C.B. Commanding 2nd Royal

Dublin Fusiliers March 1900 to March 1904.]

In the meantime Major Bird soon produced law and order out of chaos.

The coolies were made to put mealie-bags in one place and

biscuit-boxes in another, while the soldiers built both up into a very

serviceable sort of fort for the time being, an example of soldierly

adaptability which was not lost on any one who saw it or took part in

its erection.

We spent two or three very cheery days at Nigel Siding, the

stationmaster's house (two rooms) forming an ideal officers' mess, but

on the 28th 'E' and 'F' companies, under Captains Shewan and G. S.

Higginson, were recalled to headquarters, 'H' company, under Captain

Romer, was sent nine miles nearer Johannesburg to guard Reit Vlei

Bridge, while 'G' company remained at Nigel Road to watch over such

stores as had not yet been removed. This company was shortly further

subdivided by the left half-company, under Lieutenant E. St. G. Smith,

being sent to guard a culvert half-way to Reit Vlei Bridge.

In the meantime Colonel Hicks never for a moment relaxed the soldierly

precautions which it was his custom to observe, whether the Boers were

reported in the neighbourhood or not; and several times rumours of

intended attacks did arrive, though they invariably proved false.

The town of Heidelberg itself was very Dutch and seething with

malcontents and treachery. One could easily forgive them for not being

exactly content, but what one could not forgive was their slimness,

their plausible exterior, and their inner mass of falsehood. No class

were more bitter than the clergymen, and one of these gentry was

strongly suspected of being in constant communication with the Boers

in the field, though his oath of neutrality was taken and he was

availing himself of our hospitality. On one occasion Captain G. S.

Higginson spent the night in an empty house in the town in an attempt

to mark this fox to ground, but unfortunately his vigil was

unproductive of result.

Lieutenant Haskard was now acting as Railway Staff Officer, and having

a very busy time of it, as in addition to hundreds of other duties he

had to send rations up and down the line to the various detachments.

On the 9th, Sergeant-Major Burke rejoined the regiment, having been a

prisoner since he was wounded at Talana, and left at Dundee. During

this time his duties had been ably performed by Colour-Sergeant C.

Guilfoyle, now Sergeant-Major, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Lieutenants Marsh and Weldon also joined here, as Lieutenant Supple

had done a few days before. The two former had followed the regiment

up the line to Mafeking, and thence across the Western Transvaal in a

cape-cart, following very nearly in our tracks. They had an

adventuresome journey, and were delighted to reach us at last. Captain

Clarke, R.M.L.I., who was attached to the regiment, escorted an

important Boer commander, named Van Rensburg, to Johannesburg, on his

way to St. Helena.

It is necessary to explain briefly here the situation of the three

companies, 'A,' 'E,' and 'F,' under Major English, Captain Shewan, and

Captain G. S. Higginson, which had been sent out to guard various

points on the line from Heidelberg to Standerton.

'A' and 'E' companies had originally gone out, and were posted at

Botha's Kraal. Later on it became necessary to hold Zuikerbosch as

well. Major English, with Lieutenant Newton as his subaltern, was sent

to garrison it. Taking 'E' company with him and leaving Captain

Higginson at Botha's Kraal, Major English, with some 110 Royal

Engineers, occupied the post, and at once set about to put it into a

thorough state of defence. He fully recognised the inherent weaknesses

of his situation, and saw that unless well entrenched he was

practically at the mercy of an enemy armed with artillery, as he had

none to reply with, while the nearest reinforcements were miles away,

and liable themselves to be attacked in force at any moment. He

therefore spared no ingenuity in strengthening the position. Having

Royal Engineers and a considerable number of Kaffirs at his disposal,

he very soon effected his purpose and dug himself comfortably in.

In the meantime signs were not wanting of approaching Boer activity. A

large commando, under Hans Botha, was known to be hovering about the

neighbourhood, and as it was also known that Botha was occasionally in

the habit of spending a night under his own roof--not three miles

away--Captain G. S. Higginson made two efforts to catch him napping.

But on neither occasion was the chieftain at home, and the unfortunate

Higginson, who had selected the darkest and wildest nights as most

suitable for his purpose, was foiled each time, and had to withdraw

somewhat crestfallen, under a fire of raillery from the ladies of the

establishment. He collected some valuable information, nevertheless,

and sent in reports of Boers in the vicinity, which, however, were not

sufficient to induce General Hart to take any extra precautions.

Such was the situation of affairs when, on the misty morning of July

21st, we at Heidelberg heard the hoarse barking of the accursed

pompom, varied by the duller and more menacing note of heavier guns.

Anxiously we asked each other what it could be, and reluctantly we

came to the conclusion that our comrades were being submitted to

shell-fire with no possible chance of reprisal. As the sun rose, the

mist did the same, and very soon cheerful messages came twinkling over

'the misty mountain-tops,' announcing that a considerable force of

Boers were attacking them, but that they had little fear of not being

able to keep them off.

General Hart hastily assembled a small column[10] and marched to Major

English's assistance, leaving Colonel Hicks in command of the camp,

and as it was quite possible the main attack might be intended for

Heidelberg, we took all necessary precautions for the safety of the

town.

[Footnote 10: 130 Somersets, 2 guns, 1 pompom, 140 Marshall's

Horse.]

Before General Hart's force arrived, the Boers had commenced to

withdraw, having discovered that on this occasion they had attacked a

veritable hornet's nest.

The hill on which Major English had dug his entrenchments is situated

in the angle made by the Zuikerbosch River where it turns sharply to

the south, and was on the left bank of the stream. On the other side

of the river was the hill occupied by the Royal Engineers. Between

these two was the new deviation bridge then under construction. The

Kaffirs lived in the hollow between the hills, as did also the

Yeomanry, of whom there were about ten, under a very young officer.

Major English had given this officer orders that, on any attack taking

place, he should at once lead his horses down to the river, where

there was a kind of hollow place which would have afforded them

excellent cover. This order, however, probably from the suddenness of

the attack, was not complied with in time, and the horses were in

consequence stampeded almost immediately. The natives also were not

long in effecting a rapid southerly movement, for which, of course,

they cannot be blamed, and the Boers shelled them lustily as they

streamed away.

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers' camp was on the southern slope of the

hill, the summit being occupied at night by alternate companies, who

stood to arms shortly before dawn. Captain Shewan was on the hill, and

on the point of letting the men fall out, when the attack commenced.

The trenches were at once manned without the slightest noise or

confusion, and the Boers' rifle-fire vigorously replied to.

The two Boer guns were in position on the hills to the north, some

3400 yards off, while the pompom came into action near the Fortuna

coal-mine. Owing to the excellent disposition and construction of the

defences, the enemy's fire made little or no impression, until after a

time they began to move round to the flanks of the position. Their

rifle-fire then began to have some effect, but at the same time the

fire of the defence had a better target, and after a short time the

burghers commenced to withdraw from the rear face of the work. In the

meantime they had swung round to the west of the Engineers' hill, and

under cover of a grass fire, which was lighted by them and spread

right up to the trenches, endeavoured to attack this part of the

position, in which, however, they also failed. The enemy continued his

endeavours until mid-day, when he commenced to withdraw, his movement

being somewhat expedited by the arrival of the reinforcements under

the General.

Considering the numbers of the attacking force, and the resolute

manner in which they had persevered, the casualties were

extraordinarily small, two officers and three men wounded, one of the

former being Major English himself; he was struck by a shell splinter

in the eye, but most fortunately did not lose the sight of it.

This gallant defence called forth a most eulogistic order from the

Commander-in-Chief. The success had come at a time when it was badly

needed. The guarding of the railways necessitated the splitting-up of

forces, and in more than one recent instance a commander of less

foresight than Major English had failed to realise the responsibility

of his position, with the result that more additions were made to the

already-far-too-long list of 'regrettable incidents.'

The following telegrams passed between General Hart and Major

English:--

Helio message received at Zuikerbosch Fort on July 22nd, 1900, from

General Hart: 'Received following wire from Lord Roberts.

Begins--"Please convey my congratulations to Major English, and all

concerned on the gallant manner in which they defended their post on

the Zuikerbosch."'

Major English made the following reply:--'All in the Zuikerbosch

command thank our General for forwarding Lord Roberts' telegram, which

they consider a great honour.'

The following is an extract from Army Orders in South Africa, dated

Pretoria, July 26th, 1900:--

'_Engagement._--The Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief desires that the

following account from Major-General A. Fitzroy Hart, C.B., Commanding

5th Brigade, of the successful defence of a post by a small force of

infantry against a determined attack of the enemy with guns, be

published as an example of what can be accomplished by a small body of

resolute men, well commanded and skilfully and judiciously

entrenched:--

'From General Hart, Zuikerbosch, to Lord Roberts, Pretoria, July 21st:

"Enemy made a determined attempt to destroy my advanced post at

Railhead, Zuikerbosch, to-day. Major English, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,

commands the post, with two companies of Dublins, ten Yeomanry, and

110 Royal Engineer reparation party, defending the new railway bridge

which replaces destroyed one. Boers began attack at daybreak with two

or three guns and a pompom, shelling the position hard. They then

advanced, and completely surrounded him with mauser fire, keeping it

up from 6.20 a.m. to 11.45 a.m., and it was hotly returned. English

signalled early to me at Heidelberg, thirteen miles off, that he was

surrounded, and holding his own confidently. I started from Heidelberg

with two guns, a pompom, 130 Somersets, and 140 Marshall's Horse and

Yeomanry, and, on approaching English's position, found he had already

beaten off the enemy, and saw them assembled on the heights N.E. of

his position, and beginning to ride off N.E. My guns opened fire, and

Boers broke into a gallop. The complete repulse of the Boer attack is

entirely due to the skill with which Major English had fortified his

position, his vigilant arrangements, and the good fighting of the

garrison. Casualties: wounded--Lieutenant Greig, severely; Privates

Mallon, Stanton, and O'Brien, slightly. The bridge and train not

injured. Line only injured to the extent of three rails taken up.

Numbers of enemy's casualties not known. Boers sent out an ambulance

for wounded, and were seen burying dead."'

The following extracts from a letter from Sapper F. Adcock, published

in a home newspaper, are also of interest. After a brief description

of the situation, he continues:--'It was at this time that the

heliographers of the Dublin's showed their pluck, for, fixing up their

stand amidst shot and shell, they got their message through to

Heidelberg.... We could watch every move of the Dublins, as the ditch

ran in the line of their kopje.... Another bit of pluck well worth

seeing happened just as there was a lull in the firing. Two of the

Dublins ran from their entrenchments to their tents, quite a quarter

of a mile, and carried all their bread in a blanket between them to

the entrenchments. The Boers fired three shells at them when they were

going back, but two fell short, and the other was right between them.'

The sapper was right, and it is pleasant to read letters like the

above when emanating from an entirely independent source. Major

English reported most favourably of the signalling, which was

necessarily conducted practically in the open, the enemy's projectiles

falling all round the operator and Major English, who stood close

beside him. For this service Private Farrelly, who sent the message,

was awarded the distinguished conduct medal. The two brave men who

went out for the bread were Privates Hayes ('A' company) and Townsell

('E' company).

The remainder of our stay at Heidelberg was uneventful except for what

might very easily have been a most unpleasant accident. We were all

seated at lunch one day when there was a sudden and loud report close

at hand. Investigation proved that it came from Captain Pomeroy's

revolver (an officer belonging to a West Indian Regiment who was

attached to us). He had carelessly left it in his tent loaded, while

his servant had still more carelessly fired it off. The only sufferer

was an unfortunate animal, Major Bird's charger, which was shot in the

hoof.

On our departure on the 27th, Major-General Cooper's Brigade took over

the defence of the town.

[Illustration: The Officers' Mess.]

[Illustration: Position at Zuikerbosch. 12 m. below Heidleburg;

attacked on 21st July by 1000 Boers with 4 guns. Defended by 180. 2

R.D.F, 110 Engineers, 10 Yeomen, no guns.

Under Major English 2 R.D.F.

_From a sketch by Col. H. Tempest Hicks, C.B._]

CHAPTER III.

AFTER DE WET.

'It is vain for you to rise up early.'--_Ps._ cxxvii. 2.

Having been for a month at Heidelberg, we had begun to quite make it

our own, and felt as if we should finish the war where we were. And

although there were still any amount of commandoes in the field, we

could scarcely be blamed for thinking that the back of the business

was broken, and that a few weeks, or at the outside months, must see

us returning to England. Well, we reckoned without our host, or rather

the hosts of Messrs. Botha, De Wet, De la Rey, & Co., and if we made a

mistake we made it in good company.

The Colonel had never ceased fortifying and improving Dublin Hill, and

there is no doubt that at the end of July his efforts had resulted in

a very sound and efficient post.

Everything pointed to peace and quiet when, late on the afternoon of

July 27th, the ominous 'order' call broke the stillness of the crisp

wintry evening.

'Come for orders! Come for orders! Hurry up, hurry up; come for

orders!'

Who, that soldiered through those long weary months, but must remember

that infernal call? For it was characteristic of the war, and owing,

doubtless, to the immense tract of country over which it was waged,

that not only the rank and file, but even the officers, with one or

two exceptions, knew little or nothing of what was going on.

Consequently one never knew what the next minute would bring forth,

and waited accordingly with ears at tension for the strains of the

bugle, whose notes might portend nothing or everything.

On this occasion they were the prelude to one of the most stirring

periods in the history of the war--the first great De Wet hunt. It is

beside the purport of this volume to discuss the advantages of British

infantry pursuing mounted Boers. It has often been maintained that the

result of such an apparently hopeless hare-and-tortoise sort of

procedure would have been successful on this occasion but for the fact

of the unblocking of Olifant's Nek. On the other hand, there are not

wanting many who are equally prepared to argue that, although this

bolt-hole being open may have facilitated the guerilla's escape, that

astute leader would easily have found some other nook or cranny quite

sufficient for his purpose had it been shut; while, if the worst had

come to the worst, from his point of view, he could, at the sacrifice

of his waggons and guns, have dissolved his commando in the night,

only to unite again at some more suitable and less column-infected

time and place.

At the time we knew nothing of all this; all we knew was that some big

move was in progress, for, as we neared the railway next day, train

after train steamed through, reminiscent of the vicinity of Epsom on a

Derby Day, but that was all. Where we were going, when we were going,

why we were going, were all questions quite beyond our ken--not to be

answered, indeed, until some days later, when an officer on General

Hunter's Staff told us what it was all about.

Our march to the railway on the 28th was a long and trying one,

variously computed at from twenty-one to twenty-three miles. Whatever

its exact length may have been is immaterial; it was the method in

which it was conducted that was so desperately trying. After the usual

sketchy apology for a breakfast, the column moved off with the

Somersets as advance-guard, and 'F' and 'G' company of the Dublins as

rearguard. From a variety of causes the progress was uncommonly slow,

and, no halt being made of greater length than a few minutes, the men

of the rearguard had a trying time, for any one who has marched

behind a column of waggons, &c., miles in length, knows that one

practically gets no halt at all from these five-minute snatches, owing

to the necessity of continually closing up. It was quite dark when the

rearguard hove in sight of the passing trains, and then, to make

matters thoroughly uncomfortable, some half-dozen waggons stuck firmly

in a snipe-bog, scarcely a mile from their destination.

[Illustration: Corporal Tierney and Chef Burst.]

It looked uncommonly as if the unfortunate rearguard would have to

bivouac in that miserable marsh. As everybody was pouring with

perspiration from their endeavours with the waggons, and as it was

beginning to freeze, while there was no chance of getting at

great-coats, blankets, or food unless the waggons came out, out they

jolly well had to come--and came. It was ten o'clock before the men

got anything to eat, and 11.30 p.m. before our arrangements for the

night were completed. Our invaluable French 'chef' had kept some hot

soup for the rearguard, and seldom was soup more appreciated than by

those famished and frozen warriors.

We now heard that we were going south, and going south by train, and

that at all events was something to look forward to. At least it was a

change--something to look forward to with anticipation; and certainly

it is something to look back upon with a certain amount of amusement,

but at the time that railway journey was certainly the reverse of

comfortable.

We could not get off as early as we expected to on the 29th. The first

train started all right, but owing to the amount of work to be done in

getting kit over a small drift that lay between our bivouac of the

night before and the station, the second train did not follow it till

3.30 p.m.

After this the difficulty of dispatch increased with each succeeding

train, until when it came to entraining reluctant horses and still

more reluctant mules practically in the dark, for there was no other

light but the dim glimmer of two candle-lamps, the task became

herculean, and required an infinity of patience and tact. The General

and his staff having gone by the first excursion, the task of bringing

along the remainder of the column devolved on Colonel Hicks, with

Captain Fetherstonhaugh as his staff officer. They did not complete

the entraining until the early hours of the 30th, and then only to

find the line blown up in front of them. The fact that no disaster

occurred here was owing to Colonel Hicks' determination not to try to

get through that night, as he clearly foresaw what actually took

place, and that there was nothing to prevent the enemy blowing up the

line.

It is necessary now to turn our attention to the second train, which

conveyed most of the regiment, under command of Major Bird. Some forty

men with their arms and accoutrements were told off to each open

truck, necessitating the tightest packing, which, however, had a

beneficial effect in so far as it took off the worst part of the

constant succession of jerks and jolts which the journey consisted of.

But everybody was full of fun, and the men as merry as crickets at the

change from the long days of uninteresting 'foot-slogging' and the

prospect of a brush with the elusive De Wet.

The officers--about twenty in number--travelled in the guard's van, on

the floor of which they made themselves as comfortable as possible

under the circumstances.

[Illustration: Fourth Class on the Z.A.S.M.]

After passing Vereeniging and duly admiring the excellent work of the

sappers, the mess-president proposed that they should sample the

hampers he had provided for them. This was carried unanimously, but at

that moment the train began to slow up, and, anxious to see every new

place, we determined to wait until the train started again, and then

enjoy our dinner in peace and comfort.

The sudden explosion of a shell from 'Long Tom' in our midst could not

have had a more demoralising effect than the news which greeted us

when we came to a standstill. It arrived in the shape of a telegram

from the General, ordering the officers to ride in the trucks with the

men, and to keep a sharp look-out for attacks from both sides. So

there was no chance of any dinners after all, and all our visions of

chicken and tongue, whisky and sparklets, and a hot cup of tea or

chocolate resolved themselves into a lump of chocolate out of one's

haversack and a pull at one's water-bottle. The mess-president proved

himself a man of resource on this trying occasion. With hunger gnawing

at his vitals he saw a beautiful dinner laid out in a waiting-room for

some staff officers. Unable to satisfy his comrades he saw no reason

why he himself should go unsatisfied, and in the three or four minutes

occupied by the engine in watering he hastily bolted a fine plate of

roast beef and potatoes, not omitting a bottle of beer standing hard

by, and jumped into the train at the last moment, thanking his

astonished host and friend, Major Hickie of the 7th Fusiliers, as the

train moved off into the darkness.

Anything more cheerless than the remainder of that night journey it

would be hard to conceive. In the first place, when there are forty

men in an open truck, it is very difficult to find room for two more.

In the second place, it was bitterly cold, and a pitch-dark night. In

the third place, the even-money chance of a slab or two of gun-cotton

on the line ahead was not a pleasing one to contemplate. In the fourth

place, the men were ordered to 'charge magazines,' and to spend

several hours jolting along with the cold barrel of a loaded rifle

poking one in the ribs, or insinuatingly tucking itself into the nape

of one's neck, could by no stretch of imagination or fire-eating

ambition be called comforting. However, there was one fine piece of

news at any rate to act as a compensation, the surrender of Commandant

Prinsloo and three or four thousand men to General Hunter.

[Illustration: Fifth Class on the Z.A.S.M.]

Once or twice ghostly forms on horseback loomed suddenly out of the

blackness of the veld, momentarily lit up by the glare from the

engine. On each occasion they shouted some warning, but what it was

nobody could make out. Our engine-driver fully expected to be blown

up, and had taken the bit between his teeth, cracking on at a pace

that stirred up the living contents of the trucks behind him, until

if any one of them had had a spare morsel of fat on him, he must

inevitably have been churned into butter. Carrying on at this rate, we

soon arrived at our destination, a small station called Kopjes. And

when very shortly after our arrival two or three dull explosions in

the direction whence we had come signified that the line had been

blown up right enough, our gratitude to the engine-driver was

considerably increased. Nor did his solicitude for our welfare end

even then, for having effected his object, he said we could have as

much boiling water out of the engine as we liked, and in less than

sixty seconds we were drinking steaming hot chocolate, and returning

grateful thanks to our host. If any one class more than another

deserved special recognition during this war, it was the railway

staff--the drivers, stokers, and guards. It is no exaggeration to say

that during the whole war no train was ever run at night but that

these men did not run the risk of being blown sky-high, in addition to

all the other incidental dangers of their hazardous calling.

The break in the line necessitated our waiting some two or three days

at the station, until the remainder of the column got through. When it

was at last assembled, we marched off due west, towards the sound of

heavy firing in the distance. A march of fourteen miles brought us

within sight and almost within range of a long, low line of kopjes,

and here, we were informed on our arrival, was the famous guerilla

chief, surrounded--so we were informed--at last, and only awaiting the

arrival of our column to be finished off altogether. Without going so

far as some of the subalterns, who on hearing he was surrounded seemed

to anticipate the sight of De Wet in the middle of a sort of cock-pit,

with the British forces sitting round, there still seemed a

considerable number of sufficiently large gaps in the chain of columns

and brigades slowly and ponderously extending round either flank of

the Boer position. The firing we had heard had been from the Boer

guns, they having shelled the Derbyshire Regiment out of their camp,

which had been pitched imprudently close to the harmless-looking

kopjes. Needless to say, there was not a move of any sort to be seen,

and how on earth three or four thousand men managed to conceal

themselves so absolutely must ever remain a marvel. True, their camp

was beyond the crest-line, but it is certain they had outposts and

sentries on the look-out, and these must of necessity have been posted

where they could see us; but certain it was we could not see them,

carefully as telescopes and Zeiss glasses swept every inch of the

hills.

Unfortunately we had to leave eighty-nine men behind at the railway,

as they had no boots, a serious matter with every probability of a

stiff fight on our hands: for General Hart's orders were to prevent De

Wet going south; to attack, if necessary, to make him go north, but

not to allow him to go in any other direction. This being so, our

object was effected, as will appear later on.

Another and equally sudden interruption to a meal took place on

August 1st. Marshall's Horse, a Colonial corps of whom we saw a good

deal, had gone out on a reconnaissance in the morning, and had some

scrapping with the enemy's patrols, &c. But now word suddenly came

that they were surrounded, and in a tight corner. Hastily dropping

knives and forks, we fell in almost at the double, and, though

somewhat struck by the incongruity and apparent anomaly in the fact of

our cavalry being surrounded by the Boers when we had been distinctly

informed that it was we who were surrounding them, set off as hard as

we could lay legs to the ground. After marching between four and five

miles, well within the hour, we met the doctor of our mounted corps,

who said he had been taken prisoner and released, and that there was

no necessity for going any further, as our friends had beaten off our

enemies and were on their way back. So back we trudged too, meeting on

the way what most of us thought was a squadron of cavalry, but which

turned out to be Brigadier-General Little's cavalry brigade. The sight

of the attenuation of this force afforded us food for reflection, and

made some of us begin to understand a little how it was that, in spite

of our magnificent paper forces, we still found such difficulty in

rounding-up our foes.

The next three or four days were uneventful. Lord Kitchener arrived

and took over the chief command of all the forces, which now really

seemed to be closing in on De Wet. The noose was being drawn tighter

and tighter daily, and the Boers' position became more and more

precarious. What would have happened but for Lord Kitchener's arrival

it is hard to say, as General Hart, ever impatient of passivity, a

very Ney for pertinacity of attack, personal bravery, and confidence

in his troops, was undoubtedly on the eve of launching an attack. But

in the light of the succeeding events, it is clear now that such an

attack would have been premature and ill-timed. In the event of its

non-success--and we had a very small force to carry it out with--the

general operations would have been completely ruined, for we being

the Southern force, there would have been nothing to prevent De Wet

going south. In the event of success it would merely have meant that

the Boers would have slipped away north two or three days sooner than

they did, when, seeing that our arrangements to intercept them were

not even then complete, an earlier start would have enabled them to

carry out their retreat with even greater ease.

Major King, of General Hunter's staff, now arrived in camp with a Boer

prisoner, one of Prinsloo's staff. The latter was being sent through

with a message to De Wet, informing him of the full magnitude of the

Boer surrender at Golden Gate, and advocating his own relinquishment

of further operations. They went through to the Boers' position, and

were courteously received, but General De Wet declared it was

impossible for him to think of giving up now, as he had President

Steyn with him. Nobody believed in the excuse, and its purport is

somewhat difficult to understand, but it ended the conference, and

Major King and his prisoner returned to camp.

Major English, whose eye had proved troublesome and kept him behind,

now rejoined the battalion, to everybody's gratification, for the

publication of Lord Roberts's army order, which took place at this

time, had made us all very proud of him and his men.

On the 5th an order was given to send out a small force, consisting of

two companies of the regiment, a pompom, and a troop of Marshall's

Horse, to a point five miles N.N.E. of the camp, in order to fill up a

somewhat big gap between General Hart and the 3rd Cavalry Brigade. 'B'

and 'G' companies, under an officer of the regiment, with Captain

Nelson, R.M.L.I., and Lieutenants Smith and Molony as subalterns, and

Lieutenant Nek of Marshall's Horse, were selected, and started as soon

as the men's dinners were finished. General Hart rode out later on,

and, catching this force up, selected a site, and gave orders to the

officer commanding it to dig himself in, promising that the pompom,

which had not turned up, should be sent on.

In the meantime the remainder of General Hart's force also started

digging, a very different state of affairs to his premeditated attack

a couple of days earlier.

The detachment sent out patrols on the morning of the 6th to see if

they could draw the enemy's fire, with strict injunctions to content

themselves with doing so and then withdraw. This they soon succeeded

in doing. On their return they passed a farmhouse, and received

information that an important Boer General was in the habit of

sleeping there sometimes. Visions of a capture of De Wet inflamed the

minds of some of the younger officers, and on the night of the 6th-7th

Captain Nelson and Lieutenant Smith, with a few picked men, made a

raid on the house. However, they found nobody but womenfolk, and

returned empty-handed.

Next day commenced our memorable pursuit. De Wet and his merry men had

slipped away over the ford bearing his own name as neatly as a

cherry-stone from between finger and thumb, and, with their heads

turned north, were to give us, and many another converging column like

us, the hunt of our lives. The regiment started at 11.30 and only

halted at dusk, some three miles from a range of hills on which rumour

said the Boers were going to stand and fight it out to the bitter end,

even if the whole British Army came against them. 'B' and 'G'

companies did not get in until 9 p.m., as, in addition to having an

extra five miles to march, they had some trouble with their waggons.

We marched all day on the 8th in an easterly direction along the left

or southern bank of the Vaal River--a long, tiring, uneventful trek.

Expecting momentarily to see our prey delivered over to us, our

spirits sank lower and lower as the day dragged on with no sign of any

Boers. There was the usual aggravating little drift to be negotiated

at 6 p.m. only half a mile short of our camping-ground for the night,

but eventually we got all the waggons over, and men and officers

obtained something to eat. This proved one of the coldest nights of

the winter, and there was ice instead of water in most of the

water-bottles next morning when reveille went at 3.30 a.m.

Starting at 5 a.m. we again went steadily on till 6 p.m., making well

over thirteen hours without food. We skirted round the south of Parys,

a name which appealed strongly to a good many of us, and suddenly

heard the welcome sound of heavy firing not very far ahead. The column

halted, and word soon came that this time our pains were really to be

rewarded; the Boers were only six miles ahead, and Lord Methuen was

engaged with their rearguard. All signs of hunger and fatigue at once

disappeared, the regiment started trekking off once more,

instinctively 'stepping out' as they went. The guns still thundered

invitingly just ahead, and as we topped each fresh horizon or rounded

the slope of the next kopje we all expected to see our prey close in

front. But it was not to be. As the afternoon wore on the sound of the

guns died away, until at last we came to a halt at dusk in a sort of

amphitheatre among the low hills. Too tired to want much food, the men

sank down with the delightful nightcap that reveille might again be

expected at 3.30 a.m.

The 10th proved more or less a repetition of the preceding days.

Starting at 5 a.m., we did not halt till well after dark, the waggons,

kits, food, &c., not getting up to us till 10 p.m. Seeing that there

was no chance of any other food, some bullocks were commandeered, and

the men cooked them in little chunks in their mess-tins over the grass

fires. Tired out as they were it was too cold to get any sleep without

blankets, and long lines of melancholy soldiers could be seen standing

along the edges of the grass fires, against which their figures were

outlined in bold silhouette, and from whose scanty flames they

endeavoured to get what little warmth they could. Everybody was wet

through to the knee, a good many to the waist, while some were soused

all over, for in the course of our march we had turned due north, and

crossed the Vaal at Lindeque Drift. The river is very broad here, and

split up into numerous small streams, in the wading of which many

humorous incidents took place, owing to the slippery nature of the

rolling stones in the bottom of the river. A rolling stone may not

gather much moss, but it is undoubtedly capable of gathering a

considerable quantity of slimy weeds, and when concealed by two or

three feet of running water it offers about as precarious a footing as

it is possible to imagine.

[Illustration: The Vaal River, Lindeque Drift.]

Winding our way through the low hills on the Transvaal side of the

river, we at length emerged on to an enormous plain. The far horizon

was bounded by the Gatsrand hills, with which, as with another

detached clump of rounded kopjes on our left, known as the Losberg, we

were destined ere long to become closely acquainted. As we finally

turned in about 11 p.m. we heard reveille was not to sound till 4.30

a.m., but when some subaltern attempted a feeble joke about a 'Europe

morning,' his effort met with nothing but silent contempt.

There is little doubt that any one who shared in that next day's march

will never forget it. As we proceeded across the illimitable plain a

strong head-wind began to blow, increasing in strength as the day wore

on. De Wet had fired all the grass ahead of us, with the result that

the air was laden with millions and millions of particles of minute

ashes and sharp cinders. These soon filled eyes, ears, nostrils,

throats, and lungs, until breathing became well-nigh impossible, and

the agony caused by their penetration into our eyes almost

intolerable. But woe to him who endeavoured to alleviate his distress

by wiping his eyes with grimy hands. Such action merely had the effect

of 'rubbing it in,' and so accentuating the misery and discomfort. The

men very soon began to fall out in ever-increasing numbers. On one

occasion Captain Nelson, R.M.L.I., was seen straggling off right away

from the column. Lieutenant Bradford went after him and found that he

was temporarily quite blind. At last, after hours of torment, we

reached a pass in the Gatsrand, on the far side of which we halted, as

night fell. A big grass fire almost immediately broke out, and as the

grass was long and thick, and a strong wind still blew to fan it,

things looked very ugly. The flames swept right through the camp, but

luckily the tents were not up. But what would happen when they reached

the guns and ammunition? What, indeed, might have happened, but for

the gallantry of the gunners and naval detachment, it is hard to say.

As it was the ammunition-waggons caught fire and were sufficiently

charred to demonstrate the closeness of the danger. But, as ever, 'the

handy-man' was to the fore, and with promptitude and courage, that

could not have been excelled, managed to extinguish the flames.

And now for a wash--what, no water! No water, which, hungry and

exhausted as they were, every one wanted even more than food. But,

alas! it was too true, and after contenting ourselves with some liquid

mud, flavoured with charcoal, called coffee, and some few mouthfuls

of tough old trek-ox, liberally peppered with burnt grass, we only

waited to hear that reveille was to be at 1.30 a.m. before sinking

down to snatch what rest was possible. This delightful spot rejoiced

in the refreshing name of Orange Grove.

The 12th of August. Shade of St. Grouse! At 3 a.m. we were on the move

in bright moonlight and sharp frost, with a wind blowing which cut

like a knife. After doing some sixteen or seventeen miles we arrived

about 10 a.m. at Wolverdiend station--a large force of cavalry and

infantry assembled there, moving out as we moved in. Camp was pitched,

and a good meal cooked--our first respectable one for three days--and

then--then came the order to start off again in the afternoon. Wearily

we resumed that march, but even as we started the prospect was

brightened by the sound of heavy guns ahead, on our right front. We

finally bivouacked for the night on the most stony kopje in all South

Africa. It was impossible to find a spot anywhere that did not consist

of sharp, jagged rocks, rendering sleep, to any troops less tired than

we were, an utter impossibility. A rumour credited Lord Methuen with

again having brought De Wet to bay, and we were almost positively

assured that next day would end our laborious march.

No less than ten mules were lost during the day, from utter

exhaustion. Many a heart, weary in itself, ached yet more deeply for

the sufferings entailed on the dumb animals.

Reveille at 2, off at 3, was our time-table for the next day. After

proceeding some five or six miles, the force came to the pretty little

Mooi River. The Colonel found an excellent place for us to cross it,

compared to the spot where the Somersets were obliged to plunge in. A

halt was called on the far side, and a scratch meal taken. While thus

employed, some of our troops who had been De Wet's prisoners, amongst

them a couple of our own men, came in. They had been with De Wet's

rearguard, and told us that when Lord Methuen had shelled it the day

before, they had managed to escape; also that the fire of Lord

Methuen's guns had knocked over a Boer gun and exploded one of their

ammunition waggons. They added that De Wet was in command of a very

considerable force, and some distance ahead.

[Illustration: The R.D.F. bathing in Mooi River, Potchefstroom.]

We presently resumed the pursuit, finally camping in some very

desolate country, where the water was scarce and bad. Signs of

over-fatigue and want of sleep were now becoming very apparent, a

large number of men falling out and riding on the waggons. Poor

fellows! they stuck it out as long as ever they could, but their socks

gave out from the constant wettings, and they pitched them away,

marching on in their boots until the pain of the raw chafes became too

much to bear. There was never a grumble or complaint: a man simply

asked to see his Captain, and respectfully said his feet had given

way, and he must regretfully fall out. The officers knew it was true,

and felt for their comrades whose emaciated kits precluded the

possibility of a change. To such a state was the column now reduced

that the General, who had ordered reveille for 2 a.m. the following

morning, actually put it back till 6 o'clock.

The regiment acted as rearguard on the 14th, and did not start till 9

a.m., halting for a short time at mid-day near a blown-up Boer

ammunition waggon. Every conceivable sort and kind of small-arm

ammunition lay scattered around on the veld, and those who were keen

on curios of this description made quite a collection of full and

empty cases.

The battalion lost eleven more mules, the poor brutes simply falling

to the ground from utter exhaustion, being perforce left where they

lay. We arrived in camp at 5.30 p.m., and then for the first time, in

at all events some of our lives, heard two reveilles in one day, the

hated call blaring in our ears at 10.30 p.m. Starting at 12, we pushed

on, belts tightened, teeth clenched, and simply determined _not_ to

give in. We were told that the cavalry brigades had De Wet at last at

the foot of the Magaliesberg, only sixteen miles ahead. So on we went

into the sheer and bitter night, more like ghostly shadows than

anything else, as the spectral column wound its way through sleeping

villages and over mile after mile of dark and silent veld. At last our

eyes were gladdened by the sight of twinkling watch-fires on the

slopes of some hills just ahead, and as the first signs of dawn began

to become manifest, we sank wearily down to enjoy a few minutes'

repose. But it was broad daylight when we woke, and alas! for all the

hopes of the past eight days, the hills ahead were only occupied by

our cavalry. Theirs had been the watch-fires of the dark hours of the

night. The game was up, and we were told the first great De Wet hunt

was over. Some one had failed to stop the earth; the fox had foiled

his pursuers, and the various Generals reluctantly whipped off their

hounds.

It was a bitter disappointment. We had been so buoyed up by the

promises held out to us. Every one had so thoroughly entered into the

job, and plodded stolidly along; and all for nothing. Work which, if

successful, would have lived in history, but which, being

unsuccessful, was fated to be forgotten and ignored; and unsuccessful

through no fault of any of the troops engaged in it. There was no

General or Staff to blame: no regiment or department which could be

hauled over the coals. No; some one had blundered, that was all. The

point has never been exactly cleared up, and probably never will be,

and there the matter ended.

'Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,

Why, I have lost him too.'--_Othello._

So we turned over and fell asleep again, and woke up at 9 a.m. and had

some breakfast, and were about to fall asleep again when the word came

to fall in and march on to some other bivouac. The one we were in was

good enough for us, but of course there was nothing for it but to

obey, and we marched to a small village called Rietfontein. Here we

heard that Colonel Hore's column was surrounded, and in a bad way,

some eighty miles off, and that we were to form part of a small force,

and make a forced march to his relief.

Accordingly the column marched at 8 a.m. next morning. After going

about two miles, an order arrived saying we were to go back; and back

we went--a somewhat profitless proceeding, but doubtless unavoidable.

The remainder of the day was spent resting, but it was known that

reveille was to sound at midnight, and that we were to make a big

effort next day.

Starting at 1 a.m., and steadily tramping on till 9.30 a.m., we put

twenty miles behind us. A halt was then made for a meal in rather a

pretty spot, which actually boasted of some trees sufficiently large

to afford shade, and under the foot of some well-wooded kloofs on our

right. Resuming our march, we did some two or three miles more when

word came that Colonel Hore was all right, having made a most gallant

resistance and suffered many casualties, and that we were to go back

the way we had come and march to Pretoria.

By the time we got back to our bivouac it was still early in the day,

and we had already marched twenty-five miles. Five more mules had

fallen dead, making a total of thirty-eight since we started on the

7th.

On the 18th we resumed our return journey, if return journey it could

be called, since wherever we were going it was a hundred to one

against its being the place we had come from. After a short trek we

out-spanned for breakfasts, and an order was then given that we were

to stay where we were and bivouac there for the night.

We moved to Vlakfontein next day, a distance of about sixteen miles,

and the march quite uneventful. Rumour, however, pointed to

Krugersdorp as our destination, and this must have been the exception

that proves the rule, for on this occasion rumour proved right.

Another long and equally uninteresting march of eighteen or nineteen

miles, only relieved by the arrival in hot haste of an indignant

Marquis. It appeared he had been at a farm some two miles off on our

left front, and had been offered some tea, which he had refused, and

on leaving the house had been shot at by about a dozen Boers. What it

was all about, or what he had been doing alone at this farm, and why

the Boers should not shoot at him when he withdrew, none of us could

quite make out. However, there were some Boers there, so the Colonel

fired a few long-range volleys in the direction indicated, but

declined to make a deviation with a view to reprisals.

Another eighteen miles on the 31st brought us to within about eight of

Krugersdorp. About time too, for the men's boots were giving way

badly, and scarcely one in ten had any socks.

The eight miles proved to be very long ones, however--longer than even

Irish miles--and although we had made an early start, it was noon

before we at last reached Krugersdorp for the second time. On this

occasion we halted on a hillside just outside the north of the town,

and beside a sort of small suburb on the further side of the creek.

Since leaving Heidelberg we had marched 289 miles. But of this

distance 123 had been covered in the week during which we pursued De

Wet, and 228 in the fortnight commencing August 7th. The longest

distance covered in any one day had been the 25 miles on the day we

turned. This marching was not done on roads it must be remembered, but

across country, over hills, and through rivers, with frequent troubles

with the unfortunate transport to overcome, and with very little food,

and that of an inferior quality.

So ended our attempt on foot to catch De Wet on a thoroughbred. It was

hopeless from the first, and yet went within measurable distance of

succeeding, though even if we had rounded up some of his force at

Olifant's Nek, it is very doubtful if De Wet himself would have been

caught.

CHAPTER IV.

SEPTEMBER IN THE GATSRAND.

'Why gaddest thou about so much?'

_Jer._ ii. 36.

From August 23rd to 28th we obtained a very welcome week's rest, which

would have been more enjoyable had the weather not broken badly,

resulting in a succession of cold, high winds and heavy thunderstorms.

These latter were of the most abominable description and a severe

trial to those of us whose nervous systems were so constituted as to

be affected by them. Some declared that they liked them; others

frankly admitted that they detested them. They seemed to have a way of

coming along about 4 p.m., and as soon as they got into position,

immediately above our heads, opened fire. Needless to say, in the

course of the long campaign there were a good many very narrow shaves,

and one of our men was actually killed by lightning. The storms were

almost invariably accompanied by torrential rain, which, though adding

greatly to our discomfort, mitigated the danger, the local cognoscenti

assuring us that even they looked upon a dry thunderstorm as no joke.

The regiment was a good deal split up at this time owing to the men we

had dropped behind us on our late trek; they had fallen out from a

variety of causes, but ninety per cent. of them on account of sore

feet or lack of boots. There were no less than 160 at Wolverdiend, 50

at Rhenoster, 40 at Wolverhoek, and so on. The Colonel made many

attempts to gather up his chickens once more, but when we started on

our next trek we were still deficient of a good many. Major Bird left

us at this time to go to Natal, where he was to arrange about our

property, and organize orderly-room papers, etc. Major English was

unfortunately down with a severe attack of dysentery, and had it not

been for Major Rutherford's arrival on the morning of the 29th the

battalion would have been Majorless. Our padre, Father Mathews,

presented us with a very fine pair of koodoo horns which he picked up

at a store while we were here. He had originally been attached to the

Royal Irish Fusiliers, but had come to us after Nicholson's Nek. He

remained with us till the end of the war, and proved himself a brave

soldier and a welcome member of the mess.

[Illustration: Father Mathews.]

Orders were eventually issued for a start at 6 a.m. on the morning of

the 29th, but a night of heavy rain and succession of thunderstorms

put an early start out of the question, and we did not get off till 3

p.m. The force was known as the Pochefstroom Column,[11] and our

mission, as far as we knew, was to lay waste the country between

Krugersdorp and that place, to fight the enemy whenever we met him,

to bring in women and children, to destroy anything in the way of

forage, &c., which might be useful to our enemies, if we could not

bring it along for our own use; to collect waggons, cape-carts,

animals, harness, &c.; and generally to carry fire and sword

throughout the land.

[Footnote 11: South Wales Borderers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,

half-battalion Somersetshire Light Infantry, 4.7 Naval Gun,

28th Battery Royal Field Artillery, Marshall's Horse, and

Yeomanry.]

Moving off in a southerly direction through the town, we came to what

should have been a harmless little drift, about two or three miles

out. The recent rains had, however, transformed it into a formidable

obstacle, and waggon after waggon stuck hopelessly in its miry

embrace. The General, therefore, determined to halt on a rising slope

on the far side, and as many waggons as possible were man-handled over

the bog. Tents were pitched, but scarcely were they up when a furious

storm burst overhead. In a minute everything and everybody was soused

through and through, the scene being vividly lit up by the almost

continuous flashes of vivid lightning, while the crashing, bellowing

boom of the thunder in our ears made voices inaudible and orders

perfectly useless. What sort of teas the regimental cooks prepared we

did not know, but the invaluable and ubiquitous Corporal Tierney

managed to bring each of us a cup of hot tea and a rasher or a steak

in our tents. The storm lasted till dawn, when the heavy clouds, as if

despoiled of their victims by the rising sun, reluctantly drew off

northwards. A glorious morning was the consequence, but, of course,

there was no chance of trekking for some hours to come.

At 2 p.m. a start was again made, but as the tents and everything else

were soaked through, and weighed fifty per cent. more than they would

under ordinary circumstances, there was little hope that our transport

animals would be able to drag them through any bad drifts. We only

managed to do some seven miles before darkness came on, when we camped

for the night at the Madeline Gold-mine. It was jumpy work here, as

the whole place was honeycombed with prospecting-holes and ditches,

varying in depth from three feet to about three hundred. How on earth

no one fell in must ever remain a mystery, as, to add to the

delightful freshness of the situation, a large herd of bullocks took

command, and meandered through the camp, one of which moved the mess

president on some considerable distance, fortunately for him with a

horn on each side of him, instead of one through him, as was doubtless

intended.

We marched from the Madeline at 7 a.m. on August 31st, and after

trekking some miles arrived at a large coal-mine, which seemed to be

in very good order. This country had been the scene of a goodish bit

of fighting. Not far off the ill-fated Jameson raid had come to its

inglorious conclusion; a little further on the Gordons had suffered

severely during the advance on Johannesburg; and here the Pochefstroom

column was to be 'blooded.'

We did not know that anything interesting was on the tapis until we

saw the white cotton-wool puffs of our shrapnel bursting against a

range of kopjes in our front. Then the Colonel told us that there were

supposed to be a good many Boers on ahead, and that the General had

gone off with a portion of the column to attack them, while we were to

advance and seize and hold a nek, with a view to cutting off the

retreating Boers, or threatening their left flank, or reinforcing our

right, or some obscure purpose. It was the same in so many of our days

of scrapping and trekking. Talk about the fog of war: we who were

actually in the battle knew nothing about it. Doubtless the Commanding

Officer was in the know, but the Company Officer, the commander of

what is now recognised as the real fighting unit, he knew nothing. It

was a funny fight. We trekked along, unconcernedly watching the pretty

effect of our friends the gunners' practice; able with glasses to see

the stones and dust driven ahead when the shells burst low; but unable

to see any Boers. On reaching our destined spot we lay down and had

a smoke, and thought of all sorts of things other than fighting, until

at last news came from the General, and we heard we had fifteen

casualties. So it had been quite a battle after all, as fights were

going in those days, when any scrap that resulted in a casualty was

known as a hardly-contested engagement.

On the 1st we moved to a rather pretty camp, close under the far side

of the hills, called Jakfontein. The General and the troops he had

with him on the 31st arrived at about 5.15 p.m., and camped alongside.

The General told the Colonel they had had quite a victory yesterday,

driving the Boers from their position, and occupying it at nightfall.

They also thought they had done a good deal of damage to them with our

guns, as they withdrew.

The column did not march on the 2nd, but two companies ('E' and 'F')

under Captain Shewan proceeded to Bank Station as escort to the

wounded, while two more ('A' and 'B'), under Major Rutherford, were

sent off to commence the burning and looting, which, as far as we

could understand, was the _raison d'etre_ of the column. However that

might be, there was a tremendous fuss on their return, and all sorts

of accusations made _re_ looting. There is no disguising the fact that

we were altogether too squeamish, and that the orders on these and

subsequent occasions were capable of more than one interpretation.

Here were we in an enemy's country, badly off for a cart, let us say,

for the officers' mess; the very thing is found in an unoccupied farm;

to bring it along and use it was to loot: to burn it was to obey

orders. At this length of time it is easy to write dispassionately,

and there can be no harm in saying that it was vexing to be found

fault with when under the impression that one was doing one's best for

the general good, and not in any way profiting oneself. A few days

later an officer searching a farm for concealed weapons, &c., came

across a heavy ebony stick--just the thing he wanted. The old Boer

lady made a great fuss about his taking it, saying it was all she had

to beat the Kaffirs with. That finally determined him, more especially

as he was not exactly standing on ceremony at the time, seeing the

next company was being sniped at, and his turn liable to come at any

moment.

Captain G. S. Higginson was appointed Remount officer, and from this

moment we began to lose sight of him, to everybody's great regret.

After spending another day in bringing in forage and supplies, the

column started at 9 p.m. on the 3rd on a night march. For the first

four or five miles all went well, and the advance-guard, under the

careful leading of Captain Romer, maintained the right direction.

Then, however, the road made a sharp turn, and although Captain

Romer's party followed the turn right enough, part of his

advance-guard, under a subaltern, went wandering off into the black

night. It took some time to retrieve them, and as the column

immediately afterwards came to a deep drift, it was considerably

delayed. 'G' company was sent up a high hill on the left to guard that

flank until the whole of the transport and rearguard was past, and the

cold on the top was a thing to remember. The main column got into

bivouac shortly after 1 a.m., but this unfortunate company was out

till 5, which, seeing the march was resumed at 6, was rather hard

luck. However, there was plenty of that going for everybody in those

days, and after the usual short 'grouse,' the sleepless night was

forgotten.

After moving into the hills about eight miles further, and passing

through some beautiful farms, with every peachtree a mass of glorious

bloom, the column halted. The Imperial Yeomanry, who had been scouting

far ahead, now found themselves perilously involved with a small body

of the enemy. General Hart, with a portion of the column, including

the artillery and naval gun, moved out to extricate them, and very

soon we heard heavy fighting going on. He succeeded in his object,

however, at the expense of four of the Yeomanry wounded and one man

killed. In the meantime, Colonel Hicks had thrown out outposts on the

hills, 'G' company coming in for another sleepless night, probably

through some mistake in the roster. Captain Nelson, R.M.L.I.

(attached), had a somewhat peculiar experience. Having been detained

for some purpose when his company was going out, he gave Lieutenant

Marsh, his subaltern, orders where to go, and later on followed

himself. But then he couldn't find them. Nor could the other companies

on other hills see anything of them, though signals were flashed in

the direction they had taken. It was not until next morning that they

were discovered, quite close to the place they had been ordered to go

to. It was characteristic of the nature of the country in which we

were operating, and the excellent manner in which they hid themselves,

that Captain Nelson should have missed them, for at one time he must

have passed quite close to the piquet.

Next morning Boers were reported in the vicinity. It is impossible to

say they were in our front, as our front coincided with the report of

the first visible Boer, and we simply went for anything we saw. Rumour

put this force at 700 strong, but most people considered that an

exaggerated estimate. We moved off in three columns: the South Wales

Borderers took the right, moving along the difficult, serrated tops of

the hills; the cavalry and yeomanry took the lower, more undulating,

easier hills to the left, while the rest of us with the guns moved

along in the centre; the General, conspicuous by a large red flag

which a trooper carried behind him, moving wherever any opposition

presented itself. It must be the unanimous opinion of all troops who

knew our General, that a braver man never fought in action, but at the

same time the man who carried that red flag deserved some honourable

distinction. Perhaps he got it; probably he did not.

After moving some two or three miles, our further way was blocked by

mauser-fire from a very ominous, black-looking kopje which stretched

down into the valley from the high ground on our left. The guns came

into action against this hill at a range of about two thousand yards,

and it seemed as if a golden-crested wren could not have escaped if it

had been unlucky enough to be there. The shrapnel kept up an almost

incessant hail, covering the wooded sides of the kopje with jets of

round white balls of smoke, while every now and then the deeper note

of the 4.7 was followed by a huge cloud of dust and yellowish vapour

thrown up, and off, by the explosion of the lyddite in the huge

projectile. How many Boers held that hill will probably never be

known; only four were found. But a strange spectacle ensued. Emerging

from the cover on the far side, rode, _ventre-a-terre_, a solitary

horseman. Immediately two companies extended in our front opened fire

on him. How he escaped was a marvel, for in front, behind, on every

side of him could be seen 'the bullets kicking dust-spots on the

green.' But escape he did, and many a 'Good luck to you' went after

him, for he was a bold man to have stayed as long as he had, and fully

deserved to escape. Our bombardment had effected one useful purpose.

Amongst the killed was a Commandant called Theron, a brave,

enterprising young fellow of about twenty-five years of age, whose

exploits had already stamped him as a born leader of men. Our own

casualties amounted to four yeomen wounded.

We camped a little further on, and buried our enemy, and one of our

own men who had died from his wounds, side by side, with all due

honour, ceremony, and respect.

[Illustration: Funeral of Commandant Theron and a British Soldier.

September 6th, 1900.]

September 6th was an unpleasant day. In the first place we made a very

early start, which, after the two previous nights' work, was rather

hard on the troops. Several had been without sleep for two nights, and

engaged with the enemy all day. As far as fighting went this

long-range scrapping was not of course worthy of the name, but as far

as discomfort and fatigue were concerned, the operations were entitled

to the most dignified and resonant title in the vocabulary. The 6th

was an example. In the first place there was no fighting; in the

second place, there was very little marching; in the third place,

there was no rest; in the fourth place, there was no food. In the

absence of definite orders the commanding officers delayed for a long

time ere venturing to outspan and cook: when they did do so orders

immediately arrived, scattering companies right, left, and centre, on

the burning and capturing expeditions. Finally, when orders were

published, they were for another night march, the object and

destination of which were concealed even from officers commanding

regiments. However, there was nothing for it but to make the best of

an unpleasant state of affairs, to snatch a few mouthfuls of food

whenever possible and a few minutes' sleep at any opportunity and once

more the long column wound its way through the night. It arrived on

the morning of the 7th at Wolverdiend station, where there was now a

considerable garrison, among them 140 of our own men, who had been

there since the De Wet trek. The day was passed in shifting camp and

fatigue work in the station, where there was much to do in the way of

loading and unloading trains.

Captain Romer got three days' leave here to meet his father, the

famous judge, who had come out as President of the Royal Commission.

At 9 p.m. the column started on another night march, the battalion

supplying the rearguard. It was weary work waiting on those occasions.

Tents were struck, and coats, blankets, &c., packed on the waggons an

hour before the advance-guard was due to march off, after which there

was nothing to do but lie down on the ground in the bitter cold, and

wait till all the transport had got away. Nor did the advance-guard

have very much the best of it, as they of course arrived hours before

the waggons, and had their shivering turn in the early morning, at the

other end of the march.

By 10 a.m. the column arrived at Klerkskraal, a small and very widely

scattered village on the banks of the beautiful Mooi River, a stream

of the clearest and most delicious water. Companies were sent to clear

out the neighbouring farms as usual, and a good deal of information

was gathered about a considerable quantity of the enemy, who had been

trekking through for some time past in small groups.

A dozen fine Indian tents, the gift of Rai Bahadur Boota Singh, of

Rawal Pindi, were handed over to us here for the use of the officers.

Very welcome they proved, as our old ones were nearly worn out.

Sunday, September 9th, 1900, was a day that will live long in the

annals of the battalion. It was given out that in view of the hard

work done by the troops, the day would be treated as a day of rest,

almost immediately following which order came another, detailing two

companies of each corps to go out on the unpleasant foraging duties.

The roster declared that 'G' and 'H' companies were next in

succession, and these two companies started immediately, officers and

men snatching a hasty and very scratch breakfast before starting. They

were out all day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., during which time they were

gathering in supplies of straw, fodder, &c., together with all carts,

waggons, and harness in a serviceable condition, burning such as they

could not carry away with them. At about 5 p.m. a heliograph message

recalled them to camp, in reaching which they had to cross a small

stream with a snipe-marsh on either side: the waggons of course stuck,

but the men set to with a will, impelled doubtless by a keen desire to

get back to their dinners in camp, and dragged them out one by one

with ropes. A dismal surprise was in store for them. For even as they

came in sight of the camp, it was struck, and in place of the dinners

they had so fondly anticipated, some tea alone awaited them. The

officers were even worse off, for as the mess president had been

employed with the two companies out foraging, no one else had thought

of keeping even a cup of tea for them, and, exhausted as they were by

ten hours' work without food, under a burning sun, they received the

pleasing intelligence that the column was starting at once to march to

Pochefstroom, a distance variously estimated at from thirty-five to

thirty-eight miles.

[Illustration: Buffelsdoorn Camp, Gatsrand Hills.]

The force marched in three parts. First, mounted men, guns, and 'A'

and 'E' companies Royal Dublin Fusiliers in waggons. Then the main

body of infantry, and lastly the transport with 'G' and 'H' companies

Royal Dublin Fusiliers as rearguard. There was a moon for most of the

way, but it only served to make the surroundings more weird. Parallel

to our right ran a low range of hills, whilst on the left was the Mooi

River, with a farm looming up out of the night every mile or so along

the way. There was one halt of half an hour towards midnight, but the

remainder of the halts were merely of the usual five minutes'

duration. And hard it was to resume the weary way at the end of even

those brief spells of rest. Every one was so fit that the actual

marching was nothing like so trying as the difficulty of keeping awake

through the long, dreary hours, and one would time after time drop

asleep as one walked mechanically along, only to wake in the very act

of falling. Frederickstadt was reached in the small hours of the

morning, and the stream crossed to its left bank. There was then a

halt of about an hour to close up the transport, and very welcome it

was, for we were still an ordinary day's march from our destination.

Turning to our right, we brought the Gatsrands on our left, and the

word went forth that the Boers were in them, a report which seemed to

be confirmed a moment later as a blaze of light suddenly appeared

above their summits. 'There they are!' 'That's their signal lamp!'

were the comments that greeted the glory of the morning star, whether

Jupiter or Venus, on that as on many a previous and subsequent

occasion. On straggled the column, many of the men completely worn

out, having been reluctantly compelled to avail themselves of the

permission to ride on the waggons; the remainder, with grim

determination to march till they dropped, trudging patiently and

silently on. At last came the welcome flush of dawn; no 'envious

streaks' these, but the first message from the longed-for day which

ended that abominable night. When Pochefstroom finally came in sight

it was still a good five miles off, and those last five miles were as

bad as any part of the march. For though in some mysterious way the

coming of day had dispelled to a great extent the deadly sleepiness

from which most of us suffered, our aching limbs now began to make

themselves manifest, and those far-off trees never seemed to get any

nearer. However, by ten o'clock the last man was in, but very nearly

done. It had been a remarkable march--very remarkable seeing the

conditions under which some of the troops performed it.[12] For to do

from thirty-five to thirty-eight miles, most of it by night, on an

empty stomach, after a hard ten hours' work under a hot sun, in

sixteen hours, is a performance of which any troops may be justly

proud.

[Footnote 12: That minor operations such as these should

receive but scant recognition at the hands of historians is

not to be wondered at, but neither the official nor the

_Times_ histories in their accounts of this surprise of

Pochefstroom found space to mention the length of this march,

an omission which is very greatly to be wondered at.]

Nor was it altogether without result, for our mounted and

waggon-carried troops had arrived much earlier, and, fairly taking the

place by surprise, had surrounded it, killed seven, and captured some

seventy or eighty prisoners, and put a good many more to ignominious

and hasty flight.

We also obtained some draught beer. Beer! None of us had tasted it for

months. How it went down! Yet our memory of it is sad, for the

unfortunate manager of the brewery was afterwards shot by the Boers

for selling it to us. The column remained at Pochefstroom till the

12th, our stay being darkened by the melancholy death of the

signalling officer, Lieutenant Maddox, of the Somersetshire Light

Infantry, who was shot through the heart while going round his

stations.

[Illustration: A Group of Boer Prisoners taken at the Surprise of

Pochefstroom.]

On the 12th Colonel Hicks took command of a small force[13] which

moved out to occupy some kopjes overlooking two drifts over the Mooi

River. Starting at about 3 p.m., we did not reach our destination

(some five miles south of Frederickstadt) till dark. Somewhat to our

surprise, the hills were unoccupied, as Boers were known to be in the

vicinity, while there had been a certain amount of distant sniping

throughout the march. Putting piquets at the drifts, the infantry and

guns occupied one hill, and the mounted troops another hard by. We had

just turned in for the night when a sharp rifle-fire broke out all

along the front, to which our sentries were not slow to respond. We

immediately occupied the posts to which we had been assigned, but the

firing soon died away. No one was hit by the enemy, but an unfortunate

trooper in Marshall's Horse was shot by a comrade, and later on

succumbed to the wound.

[Footnote 13: Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 100 cavalry, two

guns.]

[Illustration: Colour-Sergeant Cossy issuing Beer.]

At daybreak on the 13th, we located a Boer laager some five miles out

on the plain. One of our officers had a deer-stalking telescope, with

which it was possible to follow the movements of the Boers as they

woke up, a most interesting spectacle. They were of course far out of

range of our fifteen-pounders, but just as we were regretting our

inability to get at them, General Hart's force from Pochefstroom could

be seen trekking slowly in their direction from our left front. We,

from our elevated position, could see what the Boers could not, and to

watch our comrades creeping slowly nearer, while the Boers were

loitering about and stretching themselves, was a sight the opportunity

to view which was seldom afforded in the course of the war. But long

before the General got close enough to do any harm, the alarm went.

Any one who has ever seen a pebble cast into an ants' nest can realise

the proceedings of the next two minutes. Darting about in every

direction, the Boers caught their horses and inspanned their transport

with a celerity which fairly took our breath away, and in what seemed

an incredibly short space of time they were trekking away across our

right front, their movements still more hastened by a few rounds from

the naval guns. Moreover, they came within very long range of our

fifteen-pounders, so we were enabled to return them a 'quid' for their

'quo' of the previous night, with probably about the same result to

their skins, though one riderless horse could be seen careering about.

A helio message from the General instructed us to march off and join

him at Frederickstadt, where we arrived that afternoon, spending the

morning in the usual domiciliary visits, getting a really handsome

waggon for the mess, and carefully searching a farmhouse belonging to

the Bezuidenhouts.

On the 14th there was a considerable amount of firing in the

neighbourhood, but nobody seemed to take much interest in it. As,

however, it resulted in the loss of twelve mules and some waggons, and

one gunner wounded, it is hoped that we did some damage in return.

On the 15th Colonel Hicks again took out a small force of all

arms,[14] for the purpose of getting in more stores, of burning

Bezuidenhout's farm (it being now clear he had murdered two

telegraphists), and to hold the kopjes we were on the 13th, while the

Somersetshire Light Infantry marched to join us from Pochefstroom. The

country was now thoroughly infested with Boers, who made some slight

effort to oppose Colonel Hicks. He very soon brushed them aside,

however, and, marching his force along two parallel ranges of low

hills, arrived at the place where we had bivouacked on the night of

the 12th-13th. Dinners were cooked on arrival before the companies

went out marauding. Whilst they were being prepared a cartridge went

off in one of the fires, and severely wounded one of the cooks, the

bullet penetrating his chest. This poor fellow was later on sent into

hospital at Krugersdorp, and, as the wound never improved, was

eventually invalided home. But the line was blown up just in front of

his train, and he was brought back to hospital. He soon began to

recover, and one day went wandering about without his hat, got

sunstroke, and died, one piece of bad luck on the top of another, and

a melancholy example of how 'when sorrows come, they come not single

spies, but in battalions.'

[Footnote 14: Royal Dublin Fusiliers, two guns, twenty-five

Yeomanry.]

A convoy under Captain H. W. Higginson, arrived at Frederickstadt at

this time, after having been considerably pestered by some Boers who

had shelled him with a nine-pounder Krupp, and severely wounded one of

our men. Luckily, the General had sent out a small force with two guns

to meet this convoy, or it might have had a very much worse time.

Next day Bezuidenhout's farm was duly burnt, and at 3 p.m. the force

started to march back to Frederickstadt, the Somersetshire Light

Infantry (wing) under Major Williams, with eighty prisoners, a large

number of refugees and waggons, starting an hour earlier, having of

course further to go. The march was not interfered with, and the force

reached its old quarters once more before dark.