The dreary monotony of these days and nights of trekking and foraging

suffered a variation on the 17th. In the morning 'A' company, under

Major Rutherford, took over the eighty odd prisoners from

Pochefstroom, and marched off with them to Wolverdiend. In the

afternoon a shell suddenly burst in the middle of the camp. The cheek

of these foes of ours. The first arrival was shortly followed by

several more in quick succession, some of which landed in camp, and

some of which went over our heads. We turned out, lowered the tents,

and then lay down in extended order, trying to locate the position of

the hostile gun. At last some one saw the flash, after which our naval

gun and fifteen-pounders picked up the range with admirable celerity,

immediately silencing the opposition. At a range of 3600 yards, the

second shot from the naval gun had burst within four feet of the

marks of the Krupp nine-pounder which had been shelling us.

At the time the enemy opened fire a regimental court-martial for the

trial of twenty-one prisoners had just assembled, under the presidency

of Captain Shewan. On the arrival of the shells, the court, escort,

witnesses and prisoners dissolved themselves with one accord, and were

not afterwards reassembled.

'In such a time as this it is not meet

That every nice offence should bear his comment.'

_Julius Caesar._

The sun was in the enemy's eyes, and the village of Frederickstadt

almost immediately behind our camp, which may account in some measure

for the indifference of their fire, as we must have offered a

magnificent target to them. As it was, our only losses were four

horses, not a man being hit. But we were fairly caught napping.

The General ordered the regiment to take possession of the hill, which

was done without any further fighting, two companies being left on

outpost duty on its summit.

On the 18th some of the usual desultory sniping commenced on the other

side of the camp, but a demonstration by the inlying piquet ('G'

company, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers) was sufficient to put a stop to

it.

Major Bird arrived back from Maritzburg. Next day the trek commenced

once more. A small force[15] was left behind under command of Major

Bird to hold the hills from which we had been shelled, and to take

care of most of the transport. The remainder of the column marched at

11 p.m. on Ventersdorp, where some Boers were reported. After marching

all night and covering some twelve miles, the enemy opened fire in

front and on both flanks. Our guns came into action, and a sort of

running fight was maintained. Eventually the enemy took up a more

definite position, when General Hart ordered Colonel Hicks, with two

companies of the regiment, two guns and a pompom, to advance to a

small ridge on one flank, while he with the remainder of the force

marched round the enemy's rear. This resulted in the evacuation of

their position, when Colonel Hicks's small party got an opportunity to

deliver an effective fire on them.

[Footnote 15: Half-battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, one

company Somerset Light Infantry, two guns 28th Battery Royal

Field Artillery, and twenty Marshall's Horse.]

Next day sniping at the bivouac began at dawn, but the troops were

allowed a meal before resuming their march. Colonel Hicks was again

detailed to take a kopje from which a considerable but ineffectual

fire was coming. Moving steadily on, with his 200 men in

widely-extended order, he brought a maxim into action, which had the

effect of clearing the hill, but the long-range fighting went on

without a break till the evening.

Having more or less broken up the Boers in this direction, orders were

issued for the return march to Frederickstadt. An early start was

made, and at 10 a.m. a halt and outspan ordered. At mid-day the

officers commanding units were sent for, when the General informed

them that a large force of Boers, under Steyn and De Wet, with women

and children, 3000 strong, was reported in the neighbourhood of

Klerksdorp. Rumour further said that they were so bewildered by our

apparently aimless midnight movements that they neither knew where to

go nor what to do. The General added that it was his intention to

march again in the afternoon in their direction, to have another

outspan at dusk, and then to march all night and surprise them next

morning. The commanding officers looked at one another in blank

amazement, for they knew better than the General could the effect

these constant nights without sleep and days of fighting without food

were having on their men, but there was nothing for it, and the

General called upon his troops for one more supreme effort. At the

same time he heliographed to Major Bird to march from Frederickstadt

and join him _en route_, which was done.

Major Bird's force had not been left altogether unmolested during this

time. The company of Somersetshire Light Infantry were holding a small

knoll in prolongation of his left, and some 2000 yards off. Against

them the Boers brought up their Krupp gun which they had used against

us two or three days before. The range was considerable, but they

managed to reach their target; yet, though they fired twenty-three

shells into the camp of this company, the only damage they did was to

knock the top off a box of eggs _without breaking a single egg_. They

also managed to pitch a shell or two amongst the transport. Our

fifteen-pounders endeavoured to reply, but, in spite of digging deep

holes for the trails, were unable to reach the ridge from which the

Boers were firing.

Major Bird's force having joined hands with the main column shortly

after dark, the long march was resumed at 10 p.m. It was a pitch-dark

night, and the difficulty of keeping in touch, and the still greater

difficulty of keeping the transport in touch, wore out tempers as well

as sinews. On one occasion the regiment as nearly as possible got

left. We were following the first-line transport of the corps

immediately in front of us, and keeping close up to it, but the

Colonel got anxious, and, after several times asking the adjutant if

he was certain we were in touch, told him to ride on and see. He came

back in a few minutes to say that there was nothing to be seen ahead.

The carts in front had lost touch, and they were all we had to guide

us. The adjutant at once cantered on, and had the good fortune to

shortly pick up the tail of the column, when everything was soon all

right again. The march continued the whole night, dawn being heralded

by the corncrake-like note of the pompom, which led us to hope we had

effected our object. But once again it was not to be, for the Boer

laager had moved off, and from the top of a small hill could be seen

trekking away about 7000 yards distant. Men and horses had been at it

since 6 a.m. the day before, and any further pursuit was out of the

question. Indeed, an extra two or three miles that had to be done to

reach a better camping-ground almost proved the last straw. The right

half-battalion had marched thirty-three miles in the twenty-four

hours, and only slept on one night out of the last three, while the

left half-battalion had done twenty-six miles in eighteen hours.

Our enemy had slipped away once more at the critical moment, but our

spirits were raised all the same by the arrival of a dispatch, which

we understood called us back to Krugersdorp and hinted that the war

was over.

After a day's rest at this rather pleasant camp, the force moved into

Pochefstroom (eighteen miles), and marched past the General in the

Market Square on the 25th, remaining there until the 27th. It had been

on the move for nearly a month with very little rest, during which

time men and horses had undoubtedly got very wiry and fit. But beyond

collecting a certain amount of stores, cattle, and forage, it is

doubtful whether all the forced marches and strenuous exertions had

been of much benefit, or whether they served to bring hostilities much

nearer to a conclusion. Although the enemy, in more or less force, had

been viewed practically every day, it had always been impossible to

bring him to close quarters, and the policy of wearing out

infantrymen's hearts, tempers, constitutions, and boots in abortive

pursuits of mounted enemies was, and in the light of all that we now

know still is, open to question, for a reference to the _Times_

history of the war shows that all our wanderings and meanderings are

summed up in very few sentences, the most pregnant of which is to the

effect that word had gone out to the Boer Commandoes not to interfere

with us.

On the 27th the column started on its march back to Krugersdorp, and

did the distance (sixty-two miles) in four easy stages. It marched by

the road south of the Gatsrand Hills, with the Losberg on its right,

and with the exception of one day (29th) without molestation from the

enemy. On that occasion they made a somewhat determined attack on the

rearguard, attempting to cut off some waggons, and the last few miles

of the march took the shape of a running fight. The General had ridden

on ahead with the cavalry to our next camp, so Colonel Hicks sent back

a couple of guns to the rearguard, who shook off the terrier-like

attentions of the enemy without very much trouble; but they had

delayed the march a good deal, and it was not till late in the evening

that every one got in, and heard that the war really was over at last.

An officer in the regiment who was considerably exhausted sank on to

his valise, too tired to care for anything. His servant said to him,

'We'll be in Krugersdorp to-morrow, sorr, and I'll be able to get yiz

some claning matherials,' to which his weary master replied, 'I don't

care a damn whether I'm clean or whether I'm dirty.' In answer his man

made the following cryptic remark: ''Tis no use talking like that,

sorr. Lord Roberts says the war is over, and we'll begin soldiering

now.'

The following summary of the work done was published for

information:--

'SUMMARY OF WORK OF POCHEFSTROOM COLUMN.

'The Pochefstroom column started from Krugersdorp on the 29th August,

and returned on 30th September. The task of the column is to assist in

stamping out the resistance of the remaining scattered forces of the

enemy by hunting them, and depriving them of their supplies of food

and transport, with a view to bringing the war to an end. In the first

cruise of 33 days the column has marched 310 miles--the length of

England from Portsmouth to Scotland--and was in action with the enemy

on 29 days, putting them to flight on each occasion. The column's

casualties were only 3 killed, 24 wounded, and 3 missing. The Boers

lost considerably according to accounts of Kaffirs present; we found

some of their dead, including General Theron. In prisoners of war

and important arrests, the column took 96 of the enemy. Loyal

inhabitants, numbering 316 men, women, and children, were rescued from

Pochefstroom, and safely conveyed to Wolverdiend. General Liebenburg

ordered General Douthwaite to attack this convoy, but Douthwaite

thought it dangerous, and was arrested by Liebenburg for suggesting

that he, Liebenburg, "had better do it himself." The convoy was not

attacked. The column took from the enemy the following cattle: 2720

sheep and 3281 goats; 1066 sacks of mealies, 104 sacks of meal, 2

waggon-loads of mealie cobs, 12 sacks of wheat, 847 loaves of bread,

162 sacks of potatoes, 68 sacks of oats, 33 sacks of bran, 36,000

bundles of oat-hay, 299 bales of chaff, 400 bundles of manna-hay, 90

horses, 28 ponies, 11 mules, 36 waggons, 31 carts, and destroyed 45

waggons and carts that could not be taken away.

'(Signed) A. HART (Captain),

'_C.S.O. Pochefstroom Column._

'_Krugersdorp, 2nd October, 1900._'

[Illustration: 'Come to the Cook-House Door, Boys!']

'We looked for peace, but no good came.'--_Jer._ viii. 15.

CHAPTER V.

FREDERICKSTADT--KLIP RIVER--THE LOSBERG.

'Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,

And Heaven's artillery thunder in the skies?'

_Taming of the Shrew._

Our camp, on this our third visit to Krugersdorp, was on the

south-west side of the town. The 6th Brigade (General Barton's) was

also in Krugersdorp, and had been for some time, so it was with

somewhat mixed feelings that we heard we were to set out on the trek

once more almost immediately. However, in the end the other brigade

went out, with what result will presently appear. Krugersdorp was now

surrounded by a large circle of forts and fortified houses. The

perimeter of these defences was very large, not far short of twelve

miles, but the positions themselves were well selected from a tactical

point of view. As they were continually being strengthened, improved,

and added to, in a few months' time it would have been very difficult

for the Boers to have taken the place, provided a sufficient garrison

remained in it. But this strength, or sometimes weakness, was a

constantly varying one--about the middle of December sinking as low as

300--which of course was risking a good deal. Moreover, it was not

until some time later, when the Officer Commanding Town Guards devised

an inner series of defences, that the town could be said to be in any

way safe from a midnight raid; and it was this, more than even the

capture of the place, which seemed so likely to occur, when the banks

and stores could have been cleared out in a few minutes, and the

raiding party gone before any force could have been assembled to

interfere with it. The town was, of course, full of spies and

friendly enemies, ever on the look-out for any chance of getting a bit

of their own back--and who could blame them?--but on the whole

remained very quiet and well-behaved throughout the occupation.

The regiment's headquarters were destined to remain here for the rest

of the campaign, with the exception of the three treks which form the

subject of this chapter, and Krugersdorp will ever be identified with

our name in South Africa in consequence. As we got to know its

inhabitants better, and as they got to appreciate our men better, a

kindlier feeling was generated on both sides, with which improved

state of affairs the cricket and football we played with them had not

a little to do.

General Barton moved off on October 5th, with much the same commission

that General Hart had carried, and immediately came into contact with

the enemy, the noise of the fight sounding loud in our ears, while

from Captain Nelson's piquet the bursting shells and even some of the

Boers could be plainly seen. The day before a flag of truce had come

in with a letter, saying that one of our men was lying wounded in a

farmhouse a little way outside the outposts; a waggon was sent out and

brought him in, when he proved to be one of our mounted infantry, who

had been wounded in Colonel Rochfort's dashing attack on a Boer laager

near Pretoria.[16] The Boers had looked after him as well as they

could, and dressed his wounds according to their homely lights, and

altogether played the game so far as he was concerned.

[Footnote 16: The writer was recently dining with

Colonel--now Major-General--Rochfort, when that officer

particularly asked him to mention how splendidly the party of

Dublin Fusiliers under his command had behaved on this

occasion, and his admiration of their soldierly conduct at

all times while serving under him.]

Next day still brought the sound of General Barton's artillery, and

the right half-battalion under Major Bird went out as escort to two

waggon-loads of ammunition for him. The General sent half-way to meet

him, and our men got back all right about 6 p.m.

With the advent of summer the thunderstorms increased in frequency and

severity, and it was no joke to have to suddenly jump up and hang on

to the pole of one's tent to prevent it being blown away, with the

uncomfortable knowledge that lightning has a partiality for running

down tent-poles. We had one really bad experience in this way, to be

narrated later, but nothing to touch the blizzard that struck the camp

of the 5th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers near Mafeking, when sheets

of corrugated iron flew about like packs of gigantic cards, and

Colonel Gernon and Captain Baker, the Quartermaster, together with

many others, sustained very serious injuries. Still, our share was bad

enough, and quite spoiled the summer for a good many of us. The

mornings would break clear, cloudless, and invigorating; but about 3

p.m. on about three days of the week, a bunch of cotton-wool clouds

would appear from the south. As these rose higher and higher, they

swelled into enormous piles of grand, rolling cloud-masses, like

stupendous snow-clad mountains, whose bases grew black and ever

blacker, until they would suddenly be riven by blinding flashes of

flickering ribbons of lightning, and the air torn and rent by

reverberating booms of awe-inspiring thunder.

Second Lieutenant Tredennick joined at this time. Second Lieutenant R.

F. B. Knox should have arrived with him, but had to remain behind in

Johannesburg, as he was seedy. The train they were in had been

attacked by Boers near Heidelberg.

Rumour now began to be busy with General Barton's force, and on the

22nd an order came for General Hart to join him. We had just packed

up, when an order came countermanding the move.

Next day, however, another order came to the same effect, but

detailing Colonel Hicks to command the column. Though small in point

of numbers,[17] it would have been hard to have picked a better one in

point of quality. A finer body of horsemen, or one more adapted to the

work in hand, than Strathcona's Horse it would be impossible to

conceive. Without making any invidious comparisons, it is only just to

say that these Canadian troops appeared to us to have no superiors,

while the truly magnificent way in which they literally brushed away

the opposition, on the morning we joined hands with General Barton,

was a sight to be remembered.

[Footnote 17: 600 Strathcona's Horse, 160 Brabant's Horse, 2

Elswick guns, 1 pompom, Essex Regiment, 1/2-battalion Royal

Dublin Fusiliers.]

The regiment was entrained, but did not get off till about 5 p.m., our

departure being marked by a peal of thunder which made even those who

declared themselves fond of such phenomena nearly jump through the

roof of the guard's van. We only got as far as Bank Station, as the

line was reported infested with the enemy, and it was important that

we should not be blown up. Indeed, we had scarcely arrived there, when

a loud explosion--fortunately behind us--proved the activity of our

watchful foes. After making teas we bivouacked in the train.

The regiment reached Wolverdiend next day, in the course of which the

remainder of the force assembled, preparations being made for an early

start next morning.

Fearing that information would get through, the Colonel gave orders

that the column would start at 6 a.m., but at the same time issued

confidential orders to officers commanding units that he really

intended to start at 3.30 a.m. Unfortunately, however, it rained so

hard all night that it was impossible to start until 5 a.m. Colonel

Hicks sent Strathcona's Horse out to the front and left flank, while

Brabant's Horse took the right flank and front. The Essex Regiment

supplied the advance-guard, while one company of the Dublin Fusiliers

acted as rearguard and escort to the waggons. In this order the force

approached a low line of bush-covered hills, which separated them from

General Barton. These hills were occupied by two or three hundred

Boers, who had been detailed to check our advance. On arrival within

rifle-range of the hills, Strathcona's Horse made a dash right at

them, the effect of which was so imposing that the enemy immediately

resigned all idea of resistance, and bolted as hard as they could go.

With this range of kopjes in our possession, the rest was plain

sailing, and we marched on to the hill on which the larger part of

General Barton's force was posted. The column had barely arrived when

a fierce rifle-fire broke out in front. It was impossible to see what

was going on, as the hillside was covered with thick mimosa bush, but

that a fierce fight was raging in our close proximity was very evident

from the prolonged and heavy fire, in which the pompoms soon began to

take part, while the naval gun and smaller field-pieces joined in.

Colonel Hicks, accompanied by an officer of the Dublin Fusiliers, then

climbed some little way up the hill in the direction of the 4.7, and

there a sight met their eyes which was seldom seen in this war. The

plain at their feet, stretching from the railway west to the village

of Frederickstadt, was covered with flying Boers--Boers flying on

their feet, a most unusual occurrence with them. As they fled across

the open veld in full view, they were pursued by every variety of

missile. In one spot, seven Boers were running side by side. The

officer with Colonel Hicks had just drawn his attention to them, when

a shell from the naval gun burst in the air behind them, and a second

later tore up the ground all round. Five fell at once; the other two

staggered on a few paces and then fell also, all seven being

afterwards found stone-dead. It was all over in a very short time, and

then the stretcher-bearers began to come in with their patient,

gruesome burdens, and the prisoners arrived under escort, to be

handed over to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers for safe custody.

[Illustration: Plan of Battle of Frederickstadt.]

Then we heard the story of the fight. General Barton's position, which

he had occupied for some days, extended along a line of low hills, the

two main features of which were divided by a valley running back at

right angles to the railway into the Gatsrand, the general line of the

position being parallel with the railway. The station was held and

used as a hospital, while the hill on which General Barton's camp was

situated extended down to the railway, and was the nearest point to

the river. For some days the Boers, under De Wet, had been gathering

round this position, and the force had been subjected to a constant

shell-fire and the intermittent attentions of a particularly

aggressive and unlocatable pompom. Under the railway, about midway

between General Barton's two main positions, ran a small, dry donga.

Into this underfeature De Wet had ordered about 200 men on the night

of the 24th-25th. The first indication of their presence was a

somewhat foolish attempt made by them to capture some mules. Unaware

of their numbers--and truly the situation was such that any one could

be pardoned for not grasping it at once--a company or part of a

company was sent forward to dislodge them and clear up matters. The

Boers allowed them to approach quite close, and then annihilated them.

It was now very evident that the donga was held in force, and, as the

General was aware by this time of the arrival of Colonel Hicks'

column, he launched a vigorous attack. This was the heavy firing we

heard on our arrival. After offering a slight resistance, some of the

enemy surrendered, the remainder flying on foot as already stated to

their horses, which they had left amongst the trees near the river. It

is not often the Boer leaves his horse thus, and it offered strong

presumptive evidence of their confidence in their ability to rush the

position, in accordance with De Wet's intention.

The battalion bivouacked on the hill, and threw out outposts. To them

was also assigned next morning the intensely unpleasant duty of

shooting three prisoners who had been tried and found guilty of

showing the white flag and afterwards resuming their fire. 'G'

company, being the nearest piquet to the place selected for the

execution, was detailed to carry it out. The casualties on our side

had been about forty-one killed and wounded, while twenty-four Boers

were killed, sixteen wounded, and twenty-six taken prisoner.

[Illustration: Sergeant French and the Officers' Mess, Nachtmaal.]

After remaining at Frederickstadt on the 26th, orders came for our

return to Krugersdorp on the 27th. We had an uneventful march to

Wolverdiend, and there entrained, reaching our destination late in the

evening. The officers, as usual, rode in the guard's van, and, as

these trains used to bump and jolt in the most unpleasant manner, we

made ourselves as comfortable as we could in a sort of 'zariba'

composed of our valises and a number of large packages sewn up in

sackcloth. Our feelings when we later on discovered that these

packages were corpses may be left to the imagination.

We returned to our last camp, and set to work to make it more

comfortable, running up wood and corrugated-iron shelters for stores,

officers' mess, &c. We were also kept perpetually busy in building

more forts and improving those already in existence. Captain Romer

gave his name to a work which he erected and on which he expended much

time, pains, and ingenuity. Posts and piquets also had to be held on

all the principal roads into the town. Captain Nelson, R.M.L.I., in

command of one of these, one afternoon shouted to two men who were

driving through his posts to stop. Unfortunately for them, they paid

no attention and drove on, so he seized a rifle and fired, killing one

of the occupants stone-dead, an exemplary lesson to the inhabitants to

make them understand that outposts were not posted for amusement.

General Clements' column was now stationed at Krugersdorp, and we saw

something of Captain MacBean, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, his

Brigade-Major. Alas! poor MacBean; he was killed a few days later,

standing close beside his General, at the battle of Nooitgedacht. A

universal favourite, and one of the most popular officers in the

regiment, he was also probably the ablest. Passing brilliantly into

and through the Staff College, he went on to the Egyptian Army, taking

part in all the principal actions up to and including the battle of

Omdurman, receiving a D.S.O. in recognition of his services. In the

present campaign he had commenced the war as a Brigade-Major, later on

serving on General Hunter's staff, and now transferred to General

Clements', who had the highest opinion of his capabilities. Amongst

many other accomplishments he was one of the best bridge-players in

the service. There is little doubt that if he had been spared he would

have risen to the highest rank. He was gazetted to a Brevet-Majority

after his death.

On November 15th Lord Roberts inspected the regiment, and

congratulated them on the work they had done, afterwards speaking to

Major English and telling him how highly he had thought of the

Zuikerbosch affair. It is these little acts of kindness and

remembrance that make all the difference, and their effect is much

more far-reaching than those who confer them often imagine. One only

does one's duty, of course, but yet one is only human, and it is very

pleasant to feel that that duty has been appreciated.

Captain Lowndes, the adjutant, who had been home after his severe

wound at Talana, now rejoined the regiment, and took over the

adjutancy from Captain Fetherstonhaugh. That officer had filled the

post with marked zeal and ability for over twelve months, and was the

only officer who was present with the Headquarters of the battalion

from the start of the war without being wounded.

On November 16th the regiment formed part of a column,[18] ordered to

march off and scour the veld, though our destination was, as usual,

shrouded in mystery. The night of the 15th-16th however, precluded any

possibility of carrying out the intended early start, as the rain

descended in torrents, deluging kits and country. At about 2 p.m.,

however, a start was effected, and all went well till a small drift

was reached, when the 'cow-gun,' which had taken the place of our old

and tried friend, the Naval gun, stuck hopelessly. Colonel Hicks fell

out 120 men and put them on to the drag-ropes. Their first pull was

too much for the rope, which broke, with the inevitable result that

the whole 120 were deposited on the veld, on the broad of their backs.

Another and a stouter rope was produced, which proved itself equal to

the strain, and with a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all

together, the heavy weapon was dragged on to _terra firma_, and the

march resumed, a halt being made for the night about eight or nine

miles out, and almost on the historic site of Doornkop.

[Footnote 18: South Wales Borderers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers,

28th Battery, R.F.A., 4.7 inch gun, mounted details.]

The trek was resumed next morning under more favourable auspices, but

these soon proved a delusion and a snare. The column was making for a

pass in the Gatsrand, not far from the waterworks, known to be in the

enemy's occupation, when at about 11 o'clock a violent thunderstorm

broke directly overhead. Marching along, soaked to the skin, with a

lightning-conductor in the shape of a rifle over one's shoulder, was

not conducive to steady nerves, but so dense was the rain that it had,

at all events, one beneficial effect, for the Boers holding the pass

left their positions and took shelter in some farmhouses, with the

result that they were very nearly captured by our cavalry, who,

indeed, succeeded in taking possession of the pass without opposition,

the enemy, taken completely by surprise, having only just time to jump

on their horses and gallop off. Getting the 'cow-gun' over the pass,

however, was no easy matter, but it was eventually accomplished, and

after a march of about sixteen miles, the force halted for the night

in rather a pretty camp, on a farm known as Hartebeestfontein.

[Illustration: 4.7 Crossing a Drift, assisted by the Dublin

Fusiliers.]

The column marched to Klip River, about seventeen miles, next day,

arriving there about 5 p.m. The rearguard was sniped at the whole way

by our friends of the day before, but without effecting much damage.

A cavalry brigade under Brigadier-General Gordon was here on our

arrival, and an exchange of troops took place, we receiving some Greys

and Carabineers in exchange for half a battalion of South Wales

Borderers.

A halt was now made for a day, most of us taking the opportunity to

get a bathe in the river.

Leaving Klip River on the morning of the 20th, we marched back in the

direction whence we had come two days before, and were soon engaged

with the enemy's snipers, of whom we captured one; but they had the

best of the argument, as they killed two of our column. One of these

poor fellows had very bad luck: he had received a letter at Klip River

only the day before, telling him he had come into a sum of money,

sufficient to enable him to retire and spend the remainder of his days

in peace and quiet.

Nor was the day to prove uneventful for the rest of us. About 1 p.m.

it began to cloud over, and presently to rain; this soon turned into

hail, of the variety which one is accustomed to at home. This was at

first refreshing, and one would pick up the cool hailstones--they were

about as big as peas--and eat them, and the rattle they made on the

helmets was quite musical. When they grew to the size of gooseberries,

and began to sting, they provided less amusement, shoulders being

shrugged up and necks arched to obtain as much protection as possible.

The unfortunate dogs, of which a variety invariably turned up with

every column, howled with pain, and the cattle and horses grew very

restive. But soon the stones, driven by a gale of wind, increased to

the size of cherries and strawberries, with occasional jagged lumps of

ice an inch in diameter. As there seemed no particular reason why they

should not run through the whole gamut of the orchard, and rival

plums, peaches, and melons, and as there was no earthly chance of

obtaining a vestige of shelter of any kind, men began to wonder what

was going to happen next, with an occasional sharper-than-usual belt

between the shoulders or on the boot to quicken their fancy. It was

only with the greatest difficulty that the horses were controlled, but

the stones providentially grew no larger, though the storm continued.

The entire country-side was a rolling mass of ice nearly over the tops

of boots. Runnels and rivulets became roaring torrents, roads became

rivers. When the storm eventually subsided the transport of course

could not go another yard, and camp was pitched where we were. The

carpet of hailstones in the tents slowly melted into mud, and we made

ourselves as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Several

kids and lambs we had with us were killed by the stones. Not one of us

had ever been out in such a storm before, but, as those who had not

been on 'the Natal side' confidently predicted, those who had been

declared that this was mere child's play to the hailstones they had

seen there.

What became of the Boers we never knew: up to the commencement of the

storm we had been merrily sniping away at each other at extreme

ranges, but during and after it they entirely disappeared, so entirely

that even next day we never got a sign of them, and concluded they had

all been drowned.

There was, however, nothing to complain of on this score the day

after, as sniping was carried on all the time. Though this form of

fighting resulted in few casualties, it was destructive to peace and

comfort and enjoyment of the scenery. It was interesting to notice

what officers recognised when we arrived at places we had visited on

previous treks, and instructive to note that it was almost always

those who were addicted to sport and field-pursuits who were the first

to pick up their bearings and the lie of the land. The force

eventually encamped at the foot of the hill on which 'G' company had

spent such a cold and miserable night when waiting for the transport

to pass, two months before.

On the 23rd, the march took us up again through Orange Grove and on

past Leeuwport Nek, moving along the south side of the main ridge of

the Gatsrand, with three companies making the best of their way along

their jagged peaks. Two of Roberts' Horse were hit on this march, one

being killed.

The column reached Buffelsdoorn Pass on the 24th, after a spirited

rearguard action, the brunt of which fell on the South Wales

Borderers, who had several men and one officer hit. We remained in

this pass for some days, sending out small expeditions among the

adjacent hills, and erecting fortifications to cover the defile. It

was in its way an important place, being within a few miles of

Wolverdiend Station, and providing an excellent door through the

rocky, serrated peaks of the Gatsrand into the broad plain which lay

between them and the Vaal. Our camp was situated just on the north

side of the pass, in a picturesque place, with easy access to the

railway, and from a tactical point of view an excellent position.

Next day a convoy with nearly ten thousand cattle, sheep, &c., was

dispatched to Wolverdiend, without seeing any signs of the enemy.

The night of the 25th-26th could scarcely have been worse; heavy rain,

howling wind, and vivid and frequent lightning with its sonorous

accompaniment, put sleep out of the question; indeed, at one period it

became necessary to get up and hold on to the tents to prevent them

being blown away. With the advent of dawn the forces of nature gave us

a rest, our friends the enemy immediately filling their place. They

opened fire from some kopjes to the east of the camp, and endeavoured

to round up some of our cattle. The South Wales Borderers undertook to

dislodge them, and speedily did so, the 'Cow-gun' joining in at long

range as soon as the Boers evacuated their positions. Having disposed

of man for the time being, Nature again rolled up in dense masses of

magnificent clouds to the attack. The storm which followed was also

one to be remembered; the lightning could be seen striking the ground

in the close vicinity of the camp, and though no one was hit, we heard

that two men of the regiment at Kaalfontein were not so fortunate, one

poor fellow being killed and the other severely wounded. 'C' company,

2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was on piquet through both these night and

day storms, and had, as may be imagined, an unenviable experience.

On the 27th, General Hart rode down to Wolverdiend to see Sir John

French. While he was away, word arrived that a party of Roberts' Horse

who were out scouting had been held up. Colonel Wilson--the senior

officer in camp--detailed 100 Carabineers to go to their assistance,

but they found the opposition still too great, so two companies of the

regiment were sent out to reinforce them, while the guns opened fire

from the summits of the hills. In the middle of the operations a

thunderstorm joined in to swell the general din, under cover of which

the Boers crept in round three sides of the force. There was never any

question of their succeeding in cutting it off, but the boldness of

their tactics was characteristic of the phase the war had now begun to

assume. There was a good deal of rifle-fire on both sides, and the

28th Battery R.F.A., under its new commander, who had replaced our

esteemed friend, Major Stokes, D.S.O., promoted to R.H.A., fired

nearly one hundred rounds. What casualties the enemy suffered was not

ascertained, but on our side there was only one, a man in Roberts'

Horse being badly hit. Those of us who were not engaged sat among the

rocks on the tops of the hills, whence a fine panoramic view of the

skirmish was obtainable by the aid of telescopes and binoculars.

The 28th and 29th passed uneventfully, Captain Romer occupying the

time in again demonstrating his architectural capabilities in the

erection of a fort near the pass.

[Illustration: Boy Fitzpatrick waiting at Lunch.]

On the 30th a reconnaissance in force was made along the Gatsrand in a

westerly direction, the left half-battalion of the Royal Dublin

Fusiliers acting as the infantry of the force. Moving along the

summits of the hills in four lines of widely extended companies, they

marched to within sight of Frederickstadt before they returned.

Imagine exaggerated Pyramids of Cheops; imagine each block of stone

carved by stress of weather into a thousand needle-points and

ankle-twisting crevices; plant a dense growth of mimosa and other

thorny scrub in every cranny and interstice. Take a dozen such

pyramids, and do your morning constitutional over them, after the

scrappiest of breakfasts at 5 a.m., and you will find twelve or

fourteen miles quite as much as you care about. But the march was not

devoid of interest, though we met with no Boers. Small buck, hares,

and partridges were there in sufficient number to afford a good day's

sport under other circumstances, while a profusion of various kinds of

flowers afforded satisfaction to the eye, in strong contrast to the

bare and barkless trunks of trees riven by the frequent storms that

devastate these hills. In one place a most gruesome sight was met

with. Under a small tree beside a tiny stream stood a three-legged

cooking-pot, and round it lay three skeletons, with a scattering of

shrapnel bullets to silently tell the story of the tragedy. Beside one

body lay a Rifleman's haversack, an eloquent if speechless travesty on

the fortunes of war, for undoubtedly they were the remains of Boers,

over whose head a chance shrapnel must have burst months before.

A similar reconnaissance, but in the opposite direction, was made next

day, resulting in one man being wounded. Convoys were also passing to

and fro, and on the 2nd, Captain Fetherstonhaugh took over the duties

of provost-marshal, temporarily, from Captain Thompson, of the

Somersetshire Light Infantry, who had hurt his knee. Rumours of an

early move also began to circulate, with the Losberg, the grim and

solitary hill rising out of the plain to the south of the Gatsrand, as

our probable destination. For some time past the Boers had used it as

a sort of headquarters and rallying-place for their frequent raiding

parties. Columns were now converging on it from all points of the

compass, but as they could be plainly seen from its summit, the high

hopes entertained in some quarters of rounding up a large number of

the enemy were not shared by everybody.

Yet the start at 9 p.m. on the 3rd was sufficiently impressive. The

officers were assembled, and had their several duties clearly pointed

out to them, one peak of the hill being assigned to the South Wales

Borderers and the other to the Dublin Fusiliers. To 'A' company of the

latter regiment, under Major English, was given the honour of leading

the attack, which was to be made at dawn next morning. Silently and

with all due precautions the column slowly wound its way down the

pass, like some gigantic boa-constrictor, and out on to the plain

below. Whenever a farm was reached it was entered, and steps taken to

prevent lights being shown or signals flashed: three Boers, booted and

spurred, being taken in one. It was a perfect night for marching, all

Nature hushed in deep repose save the loud-mouthed bull-frog; the moon

set an hour before dawn, reminding one of Whyte-Melville's line:

'The darkest hour of all the night is that which brings the day.'

But dark as it was our objective could be seen ominously looming up--a

lamp-black mass against the velvet softness of starlit sky. The

movement had been admirably timed, and as day broke the two regiments

advanced to the attack, the South Wales Borderers on the right, the

Dublins on the left, while the artillery opened fire against the

hillside between the two summits. But that was all. Not a shot was

fired in return. Not a Boer was even seen. Nothing. Except, indeed,

large quantities of most delicious and most acceptable oranges, after

eating which the tired troops lay in the rain, which commenced to pour

down, and slept peacefully till the transport came up.

Before we started next morning, a huge herd of blesbok suddenly

appeared on the scene, wildly galloping about in every direction,

being continually brought up by the barbed wire fences of the farms. A

good many were shot, but it was cruel to kill them, or try to, with

hard bullets, and many and many a beast must have got away badly

wounded, whilst the indiscriminate manner in which the sportsmen fired

in all directions was a source of danger, not only to themselves and

the buck, but to the camp as well. One fine old fellow, with a good

head, charged right through the camp, altogether eluding one regiment,

in spite of every variety of missile, from cooking-pots to helmets, to

finally fall a victim in another regiment's lines to a tent-pole.

After which interlude the force marched to Modderfontein.

Next day a helio from Bank directed the column to make its way to that

station, a party of the South Wales Borderers being left behind to

watch the pass at Modderfontein, where they were to have a rough

experience later on. The remainder of the force moved to Bank on the

7th, and marched again the same night for Krugersdorp, making a total

distance of thirty-three miles in the twenty-four hours, a good

wind-up to the three weeks' trek. An enormous number of cattle and

sheep were brought in, but it was the end of the Pochefstroom column,

which was now finally broken up into a number of small posts.

[Illustration: 'The Latest Shave.' Captain G. S. Higginson (mounted)

and Major Bird.]

The regiment camped once more on the same site it had last occupied.

CHAPTER VI.

BURIED TREASURE--THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL--THE KRUGERSDORP DEFENCES.

'They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the

rock for want of a shelter.'--_Job_, xxiv. 8.

By this time we had begun to regard Krugersdorp as our base, and to

look upon our returns to it as more or less getting home. But on this

occasion there was to be no rest of any length. From the plum-bloom

blue of the far Magaliesberg, General Clements' heliograph was

twinkling and blinking for the remainder of his force and more mounted

men. In addition to this Colonel Hicks took out a column. These and

other deductions left Krugersdorp with a garrison of 300 men to man a

perimeter of some ten or twelve miles, or, roughly speaking, just over

fifty yards for each rifle. 'C' company, under Captain Pomeroy, W.I.R.

(attached), and Lieutenant Molony, occupied Fort Craig; 'D' company,

under Captain Clarke, R.M.L.I. (attached), and Lieutenant Marsh, held

Fort Kilmarnock; and 'G' company, under its Captain and Lieutenant

Smith, took over Fort Harlech. Major Rutherford took over this fort

next day, as the captain of 'G' company had been appointed commander

of the town guards and piquets and interior defences. Colonel Hicks

had been ordered to Johannesburg to see General French, who informed

him that he was to take command of a mixed force[19] and march to the

Losberg, there to dig up a large sum of gold, reputed to amount to

nearly 100,000_l._; after which he was to proceed south to the Vaal,

and hold the drifts between Vereeniging and Rensburg.

[Footnote 19: 400 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 200 cavalry, two

guns.]

Starting at midnight on the 10th-11th, the column marched till 6 a.m.,

covering fifteen or sixteen miles. The men then had breakfasts; and,

after resting till mid-day, when they had dinners, started again for

Orange Grove, the pass in the Gatsrand with which we were by this time

so familiar. It was occupied by Boers, estimated at about one hundred

in number, who offered considerable resistance, but who were finally

shelled out of it, without loss on our side, though charged by a

squadron of Carabineers with great dash. Having done about twenty-six

miles, the camp was pitched at 6 p.m., outposts being, of course,

thrown out on the adjacent hills.

Reveille sounded at 4.30 a.m., and by 5.30 the small column was on the

way again. Their destination was plain enough this time, and very grim

and formidable it looked in the broad light of day, considering the

very small force which was about to attack it. Moreover, on this

occasion it held something besides oranges. Advancing from the north

in the direction of the spot from which we had advanced to the attack

a few days before, Colonel Hicks made a demonstration as though about

to attack the eastern peak, then, suddenly opening a heavy shell fire

on the nek between the two, he launched his real attack against the

other summit. Although the hill was held by a considerable number of

the enemy, estimated at 500, these tactics proved eminently

successful, for when they discovered the direction of the main attack

shrapnel was bursting all over the nek along which they would have had

to gallop to meet it, and they gave up the idea and evacuated the

position, which fell into Colonel Hicks' hand with a loss of one man,

who had the misfortune to be hit in no less than five places. A guide

had been sent with the column who knew where the gold was, and a party

was told off to dig it up and bring it in. The guide may or may not

have known where the gold _was_, but he certainly did not know where

it was _then_, and the search proved entirely abortive. He was a

murderer under sentence of death, and was to save his life by showing

the gold and ten buried guns.

The force started at 5 a.m. next morning for Lindeque Drift. There was

a certain amount of sniping all the way, principally at the cavalry,

who were riding wide on either flank, collecting cattle and burning

straw and hay, in addition to guarding the flanks. Lindeque was

reached at 5.30 p.m., a camp of our people being in view on the far

bank of the river, with whom communication was opened by signal. The

drift was very deep, but an orderly managed to get across with a

letter. Orders also arrived from General French giving Colonel Hicks

thirty miles of river to watch, which seemed a good deal, considering

the paucity of the numbers at his disposal.

At 6.30 a.m. a helio message was received calling the column at once

back to Krugersdorp, and a start was made for the return journey at 8

a.m. The Boers endeavoured all day to cut off the rearguard, but met

with no success, the gunners shelling them whenever they got close

enough to be unpleasant.

[Illustration: KILMARNOCK. From a sketch by Col. H. Tempest Hicks, C.B.]

The 15th proved to be almost a repetition of the day before, the enemy

hanging persistently on the flanks and rear of the little column, but

showing no signs of any desire to make their closer acquaintance.

Indeed, that morning Colonel Hicks had prepared a small surprise for

them which fully realised his anticipations. Whenever columns were

moving about it was the invariable custom of the enemy to at once

occupy the vacated camping-ground in search of any odds-and-ends that

might have been left about, but more especially ammunition, which used

to drop out of our men's pouches in surprising quantities, in spite of

the most stringent orders on the subject. On this occasion the Colonel

left a small party in ambush when he moved off, with the result that

when half-a-dozen Boers began rummaging about in the camp they were

suddenly invited to hold their hands up, a request which they had

of necessity to comply with, one of them being a Field-Cornet and a

man of some local importance. A halt was made in sight of Randfontein,

on the slopes of which a column, under Colonel the Hon. Ulick Roche,

could be seen proceeding in the direction of Krugersdorp. Next day was

Dingaan's Day, and rumour stated that the Boers under De la Rey,

flushed with their victory over Clements, were going to attack

Krugersdorp.

The column marched the remaining fifteen miles by 2.30 p.m. next day

without seeing any sign of the enemy. During the six days they had

been away they had marched 102 miles, skirmished with the enemy nearly

every day, taken a strong position by a fine example of tactics,

captured a good many prisoners, and brought in a large quantity of

cattle, sheep, &c.: a very fine six days' work.

Since May 30th the headquarters of the battalion had marched well over

1200 miles. On three occasions it had exceeded thirty miles in

twenty-four hours--the record, of course, being the thirty-eight miles

in sixteen hours from Klerkskraal to Pochefstroom in September. But

the most wonderful part of its work was the strange immunity it

experienced from any of the determined attacks which were so

constantly being made on other columns. Whether it was good or bad

luck, good or bad scouting, whatever it was, the fact remained that

with the exception of the almost daily scrapping and sniping, which

constant use had made to appear as part of the day's work, no action

of any importance came our way in spite of the countless marches and

counter-marches we made to bring one on. With the solitary exception

of the afternoon at Frederickstadt, when the Boers dropped a few

shells into our camp, and the two following days, when General

Liebenburg paid a similar attention to the detachment left behind on

the hill, we had not been under shell-fire.

In the meantime, the disaster to General Clements at Nooitgedacht had

drawn all eyes to the state of Krugersdorp, which with its small

garrison seemed to offer a tempting bait to De la Rey, and column

after column arrived to assist in repelling the assault which was

threatened for Dingaan's Day. Before the reinforcements arrived the

General had taken every sort of precaution; amongst others, arresting

most of the principal inhabitants of the town, and holding them as

hostages. The festival, however, passed without incident, and the tide

of men and horses, guns and waggons, which had reached a record height

in the history of the town, soon began to ebb once more, and then

everything settled down to the quiet, peaceful state of affairs which

almost always characterised Krugersdorp. The band played in the market

square, and concerts were arranged in the town hall, while the General

set a fine example to his troops for their guidance in his treatment

of those of our late enemies who had observed their oaths of

neutrality, as a large number of them most religiously did. Ever

foremost in aggressive tactics in the field until the enemy was

overcome, the General adopted a policy of conciliation at other times

which undoubtedly had far-reaching effects as regarded the conduct of

the inhabitants of Krugersdorp.

On December 19th, 400 men of the regiment, under Major Bird, started

off to join the force under General French which was going to sweep

the Eastern Transvaal, very much on the same lines that the various

columns had been sweeping the Western Transvaal. Their special duty

was to act as a baggage-guard to the various mounted corps, a duty

which they shared with a battalion of Guards. Their lives for the next

two or three months were very much the same as they had been for the

previous two or three months, though they covered an even greater

number of miles, and, owing to the rains and thunderstorms of the

South African summer, experienced an even harder time. It is the

custom to speak in terms of high praise of the climate of South

Africa, but if the British Army had been consulted on the subject

after some of these treks, it is doubtful if their vocabulary would

have been large enough to enable them to thoroughly ventilate their

opinions. The fact is that the spring, summer, and autumn are ruined

by the desperate storms which are of such common occurrence at those

times of year. There are, it is true, four winter months of glorious

weather: fine, frosty, starlit nights, and clear days of brilliant

sunshine when the heat is never unpleasant. But of these four months,

two are completely ruined by the high winds which sweep the broad

veld, and which, in the vicinity of the mines, fill the air with

minute particles of gritty dust from the waste-heaps, penetrating eyes

and nostrils, throats and lungs.

The first portion of the trek was, however, spent in the country that

General Hart had been operating in. The following account of some of

their hardships and privations is given by Lieutenant and

Quartermaster Burke:--

_With General Knox's Brigade in the sweeping movement by General

French on the eastern side of the Transvaal. Detail of a few orders as

showing the hardships the troops suffered through bad weather and

scarcity of food._

Brigade Orders. 'Witcomb, 8.2.01. Owing to the late arrival of the

convoy, the force will go on 2/3 biscuits.'

This all the time we were marching daily and fighting.

16.2.01. Our force reached Piet Retief.

Brigade Orders. '20.2.01. The following will be the scale of rations

until further orders:--2 ozs. rice, 4 ozs. jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal,

1-1/2 lb. meat. No coffee, tea, biscuits, vegetables, or salt.'

Orders received from General French:--'Convoy under General

Burn-Murdoch is terribly delayed by swollen rivers and bad roads. The

Pongola is fifty yards and the Intombi 300 yards wide. You must use

your utmost resources to economise food, and so meet this unfortunate

state of affairs, which will assuredly last till the weather

improves. No forage for horses and mules. Send parties for food to

search out as far as ten miles. Kaffirs to receive 1_l._ in gold for a

bag of mealies, or a heifer for five bags.'

21, 22, 23.2.01. 1 oz. jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal, 1-1/2 lb. meat,

nothing else.

24, 25. Same.

26. No jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal, 1-1/2 lb. meat, nothing else. I paid

a shopkeeper at Piet Retief 2_s._ 6_d._ for a quarter-handful of salt.

Brigade Orders. 27.2.01. By General French: 'O.C. units will take

steps to let the troops know how highly their spirits and bearing

under the privations they are suffering from bad weather and short

rations are appreciated by the Lieutenant-General Commanding.'

27.2.01. Burnt mealie cobs issued for coffee.

Telegram from Lord Kitchener to General French, Piet Retief,

28.2.01:--'Explain to the troops under your command my admiration of

the excellent work they have performed, and the difficulties they have

overcome.'

8.3.01. Full rations, first issue since 14.2.01.

To show that the troops, besides suffering from frightful bad weather

(constant rain for a month), had to work hard, the following results

are shown.

General Orders. The following results of our operations since 27.1.01,

is published for officers and men:--

_Boers_, killed, wounded, and captured, 393; surrendered, 353. Total

accounted for, 746.

_Cannon_ taken, excluding a maxim, 4.

_Rifles_, 606. _Ammunition_, 161,630.

_Horses and mules_, 6504. _Trek oxen_, 362.

_Other cattle_, 20,986. _Sheep_, 158,130.

_Waggons and carts_, 1604.

_Mealies and oat hay_, over 4,000,000 lbs.

H. BURKE, LT.

Colonel Hicks now set every one to work improving the various posts

round Krugersdorp, setting a fine example to all by the interest he

took in the work, and showing his thoroughness by the attention he

devoted to even the most trivial details. He also took infinite pains

to make Christmas as pleasant as he could for every one. The regiment

was, of course, very much split up in the various forts and fortified

houses, but headquarters still remained till the end of the year in

our old camping-ground.

On the very last day of the year an escort of forty men returning to

Krugersdorp had a near shave of being cut off; they lost four men

captured, and would assuredly have lost more but for the prompt action

of Major English, who went out from Kilmarnock with twenty men to help

them in.

So ended 1900. It had been a hard year for every one, but one and all

had done their best, and no sign of failing spirits was visible

anywhere. It was difficult to see anything like an end to the

campaign, however, for the process of attrition, which now seemed the

sole solution, was necessarily a slow one, and considerably interfered

with by the various 'regrettable incidents' that occurred from time to

time in the huge theatre of the war. These not only assisted our

indomitable foes with extra supplies of clothing, arms, ammunition,

&c., but also had the effect of keeping up their _morale_.

On January 4th, 1901, the 400 men under Major Bird passed through on

their way to Elandsfontein, but nobody knew about the move in time to

go up to the station and see them.

Large bodies of the enemy were now known to be in the neighbourhood,

and a spy came in saying that it was an open secret among the Boers

that Krugersdorp was De la Rey's objective as soon as a favourable

opportunity should present itself. In spite of this it was difficult

to make the danger of going beyond the outposts appreciated, and this

resulted in the death of one of our men, Private Hyland, servant to

one of the clergymen. It was supposed that the poor fellow had gone

out in a cape-cart with the object of getting some flowers for the

church; his body was found on the 8th simply riddled with bullets, as

was also that of the Cape-boy who had driven him.

On the 10th, Major Pilson, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, one of the first

officers selected to proceed to South Africa on special service before

the war, arrived--not, unfortunately, to join the regiment, but the

South African Constabulary.

On the 11th the enemy blew up the railway just beyond Roodeport, the

first station out of Krugersdorp on the way to Pochefstroom.

Lieutenant Marsh and twenty men of the regiment were sent out as

escort to guard the Engineers who repaired it.

The storms continued to be very severe. Kilmarnock House was struck by

lightning, and the sentry on guard at the Court House in the town sent

spinning, fortunately only receiving a severe shaking.

On the 23rd the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Victoria

was made known to the troops, by whom it was received in deep and

impressive silence.

A salute was fired by the Artillery on the 24th with plugged shell, to

celebrate the Accession of King Edward VII.

At the end of the month General Hart left us. The regiment had been

continuously under his command since the formation of the Irish

Brigade; officers and men alike had learned to entertain a deep

respect and admiration for their General, than whom no braver man ever

went into action. He on his part loved the regiment, and fully

appreciated the _esprit de corps_ which permeated it, from the Colonel

to the last-joined recruit. His farewell letter to Colonel Hicks,

another on the subject of our camping arrangements, and his farewell

order to his brigade, may all be found in the Appendix, and afford

proof of his regard for his troops and the spirit which he breathed

into them.

Colonel Groves took over command of Krugersdorp and its defences, and

gave Colonel Hicks a free hand: he also rode round the inner defences

with the commander of the town-guards and piquets, and arranged for

their being made stronger also.

In spite of the presence of a good many of our columns, the enemy was

very active all over the Magaliesberg and the Gatsrand at this time.

It will be remembered that on the return from the Klip River trek, a

party of the South Wales Borderers had been left to watch the

Modderfontein Pass.

This small force was now surrounded and being fiercely attacked, and

offering as determined a resistance. A force was hastily organized to

proceed to their relief, under command of Colonel the Hon. U. Roche,

of the South Wales Borderers. With half or more of the battalion away

under Major Bird, we could only supply 180 men, under command of

Captain Shewan, for this column.

They marched that night, and the following morning found all the hills

for ten miles held by the enemy, Colonel Roche wiring in that the

Boers were in too great force for his column to proceed. Indeed, the

column had to fight hard enough to maintain its position and to save

itself from being surrounded. General Conyngham, hastily gathering

together another 500 men and a battery, marched off to reinforce

Colonel Roche, but before they could get to the unfortunate post at

Modderfontein, it had fallen to superior numbers. The Boers, who were

under the command of General Smuts, sent in a flag of truce, giving

notice of the capture of the post, stating that there were many

British wounded, and suggesting that an ambulance and doctors should

be sent out to them. This incident was very hard lines on a most

gallant regiment, and in no way reflects adversely on them for one

instant. They defended their position splendidly as long as defence

was possible, and suffered greatly from want of water as well as from

the enemy's fire. Colonel Roche reported that Captain Shewan and his

men had done very well, and had held a hill on the left of his

position, until he recalled them.

Colonel Hicks never for a moment remitted his exertions in the

fortifying of the various posts and houses in the section of the

command for which he was responsible, with the result that he very

soon had them in a most efficient state. Ammunition, food, and water,

in sufficient quantities to withstand a regular siege, were stored in

each post, while the wire entanglements would have effectually

precluded any attempt on the part of the enemy to rush them. Indeed,

no precautions were omitted, and one began to enjoy one's sleep

considerably more than had been the case for some months past.

On the 7th, the headquarters of the regiment at last moved into

Kilmarnock, a house which had belonged to a Mr. Burger, a brother of

Mr. Schalk Burger, the acting President. Here they remained until the

regiment left for Aden in January 1902.

[Illustration: The Hairdresser's Shop.]

CHAPTER VII.

THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS.

'In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at

even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!'--_Deut._ xxviii.

67.

[Illustration: Kilmarnock, Krugersdorp.]

With the occupation of Kilmarnock by the headquarters of the regiment

arrived the third and last phase of the war. It had begun with four

months' hard fighting, continued with twelve months' hard marching,

and was to end with twelve months of weary escorts to convoys,

occupation of blockhouses, and garrison work generally. It was,

perhaps, in its way, the most trying period of the three, for in

addition to unceasing vigilance there was added the dead monotony of

week after week in the same place, surrounded by the same faces, and

feeding on the same indifferent food. One was buoyed up by the reports

published from time to time of the hauls of prisoners made by the

various columns, but there was always some pessimist handy to discount

one's hopes, and even though the result proved their dismal croakings

more or less correct, they might have had the grace, even if they had

not the common sense, to keep their miserable opinions to themselves.

Thank goodness there were not many of these gentlemen in the regiment.

Throughout the war I only heard one man grumble sulkily, and only

heard of one man who paid too great a regard to the use of cover. The

high tone with which the war had been entered upon was maintained to

the very end, and if the regimental officer came out of it with

credit, the N.C.O. and private soldier did every bit as well.

Hardship, fatigue, stress of weather--everything was accepted as part

of the general day's work, and as such cheerfully met and thoroughly

done.

Lieutenants B. Maclear and J. P. B. Robinson joined about this time,

the former a brother of Percy Maclear, Adjutant of the 1st Battalion.

In spite of all the work, however, time was yet found for a certain

amount of play, the exercise of which was very beneficial. Cricket

matches were played against the town, the S.A.C., and amongst ourselves,

and later on football matches against the town and other regiments. We

proved more successful at the latter game than the former: not to be

wondered at, seeing that two of our officers--Lieutenants Maclear and

Newton--were later on to become International three-quarter backs, the

former playing for Ireland and the latter for England.

Lieutenant Knox joined on March 23rd, having been detained nine months

through illness on the way up.

In March, Major-General Mildmay Willson, a Guardsman, took over from

Colonel Groves the command, which now became 'the District West of

Johannesburg.'

On April 17th, Major English proceeded to Bank in command of a small

mixed force (one hundred Royal Dublin Fusiliers) to try and catch a

Boer force who had been for some time hovering round that station. He

returned on the 19th, having seen no Boers.

On the 21st, Captain Watson, formerly in the regiment, came to see us.

He was then Adjutant of the Scottish Horse, and was shortly afterwards

killed at Moedwil. He had distinguished himself on many occasions, and

had received special promotion into the Lancashire Fusiliers.

On the 30th, Major Bird and his half-battalion at last got back. They

had done a lot of marching and good work in the Eastern Transvaal with

General French's columns, but had not had much fighting. They all

seemed glad to be back; it is always satisfactory to have the regiment

together, as we have a feeling of dependence on one another that one

cannot have when working with other troops, however good they may be.

On May 3rd Captain Kinsman, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, came to see the

battalion. He was then in the S.A.C. He had been badly wounded some

time ago, having been with the force under General Plumer since the

beginning of the war, and present at the relief of Mafeking, and had

seen a deal of fighting.

On May 7th Lieutenant Seymour joined the regiment, in which his father

had also served.

On May 25th a force[20] went out to escort the S.A.C. to a fort they

were to build. The column was under command of Colonel Hicks, and

almost immediately met with opposition, the Scottish Horse, on the

left, coming in for a good deal of sniping. Sending out his mounted

men well ahead, and occupying a ridge in front with the Worcesters,

the Colonel then rode on with Colonel Edwardes, S.A.C., to select a

spot for the erection of the work. The only casualties were two men

wounded and five horses killed, and the force then bivouacked on the

positions they held. Next day building was commenced on a small fort

and three blockhouses, the building parties being sniped for some time

until a detachment of the regiment under Captain Fetherstonhaugh and

Lieutenant Maclear went out and drove the Boers away. By the 27th the

fort and posts were nearly completed, the enemy still hovering round

the neighbourhood, and next day the column returned to Krugersdorp,

meeting and dispersing a few Boers on the way back.

[Footnote 20: 400 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 100 Worcestershire

Regiment, 200 S.A.C., 220 Scottish Horse, two guns.]

[Illustration: A Blockhouse.]

On June 3rd Colonel Hicks took over command of the Krugersdorp

sub-district, as Colonel Groves was down with measles, as was also

Lieutenant Bradford--an extraordinary disease for a man of the

Colonel's time of life.

On the 15th of June Colonel Groves handed over the Krugersdorp

sub-district to Brigadier-General Barker, R.E. Before leaving he said

some very nice things about the regiment, and we on our part were

sorry to lose him, as he had always had a good opinion of the

battalion, and had assisted the Colonel in his endeavours to put

Krugersdorp in a thorough state of defence.

On the 27th Lieutenant Frankland, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, came to

see us. It will be remembered that he was taken prisoner at the very

beginning of the war in the armoured-train disaster. Since the capture

of Pretoria he had been occupied on the line of communications. He

told us that Lieutenant Le Mesurier had probably never got over the

exposure to which he was subjected during his escape from Pretoria and

on his long march to Delagoa Bay, as he no sooner got over one attack

of fever than he was down with another. He also gave us an account of

the escape, which was a most gallant affair, and in the light of what

has since happened to the only other officers who escaped--Captain

Haldane and Mr. Winston Churchill--it seems hard luck that Le Mesurier

should have received nothing. He added that Lieutenant Grimshaw had

been attached to the Mounted Infantry since the relief, and that

Captain Lonsdale had got into the Staff College.

On July 1st two convoys went out, one under Major English and the

other under Captain Fetherstonhaugh, not returning until the 6th. The

remainder of the month brought forth nothing novel, however, and was

spent in strengthening posts and escorting convoys.

August also passed uneventfully, but on September 16th Colonel Hicks

was given command of a mixed force some 1000 strong, 170 of whom

belonged to the regiment, with orders to move along through the same

old Gatsrand country, visit posts, burn farms, collect cattle, &c.,

&c. He marched accordingly, but met with little opposition until well

inside the hilly country, where some sniping took place. After a

fortnight's trek he arrived in Pochefstroom, where he found General

Willson, who informed him that he was to succeed General Barker in

command of the Krugersdorp sub-district. He returned to that place on

the 30th, only to find a wire ordering him to go back for the present

to his column and to move to a place on the Vaal south of Pochefstroom

and turn out a Boer force which was occasioning considerable trouble.

Colonel Hicks by a rapid march anticipated the Boers at a pass leading

into this valley, their commander, George Hall, afterwards declaring

that this step saved us a hundred men, as he had determined to hold

the pass till the last.

On October 5th he encountered a force of Boers who were prepared to

dispute the ownership of some cattle with him, but he had little

difficulty in convincing them that under the circumstances might was

undoubtedly right. On the 6th the seven-pounder gun lost by the S.A.C.

was recovered, and George Hall, a prominent Boer leader, captured. The

Colonel induced him to send a letter out to his commando advising them

to give in, which resulted in twenty-two of them surrendering at

Pochefstroom a few days later. In addition to this the column captured

about fifteen prisoners and brought or sent in very large quantities

of stock, mealies, cattle, &c. The Colonel got back to Krugersdorp on

the 12th, having returned by train to take over his command.

Lieutenants Frankland and Weldon of ours were present at the fight at

Bakenlaagte, when Colonel Benson was killed, and had a hot time of it.

Our mounted infantry lost two killed and six wounded. The following

description is supplied by Lieutenant Weldon:--

THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS MOUNTED INFANTRY AT BAKENLAAGTE.

On the afternoon preceding the move from Zwakfontein, where Colonel

Benson's column was camped, I was ordered to escort Lieutenant Biggs,

R.E., to a drift some miles away on the road to Bakenlaagte: this we

accomplished, bringing back one prisoner, whom we took near the drift.

At daybreak on the following morning our outposts were attacked before

the column had moved out of camp, and the rearguard action commenced.

Our mounted infantry formed the right and left flank guards to the

light transport, the right under Lieutenant Grimshaw, and the left

under Lieutenants Frankland and Weldon. The enemy did not pay much

attention to us at first, but after going a little way I galloped with

my section to take possession of a small kopje which commanded the

route. The Boers made a simultaneous dash for it, resulting in a

spirited race, in which we proved victors, having been expedited on

the way by two 'belts' from our own pompom. On gaining the hill we at

once poured a heavy fire into our opponents, who withdrew. In the

meantime considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the

transport over the drift, which gave the Boers time to get round us.

Eventually, however, most of it was got across and the march resumed.

On nearing camp our mounted infantry closed in a bit, when we were

suddenly fired on from a farmhouse flying the Red Cross flag, and

sustained five or six casualties. We were detailed to a section of the

defence of Bakenlaagte, which was practically surrounded. We lay down

on the slopes with our heads downhill, and kept the enemy well away,

taking the opportunity to improvise some sort of head-cover whenever

their fire slackened. Although we fully expected an attack in the

night, or at dawn, none was made, there being no sign of the enemy

next day.

KENNETH WELDON.

On December 6th Captain Romer took over the appointment of C.S.O.,

Krugersdorp Sub-District, from our old friend, Captain Hart, who was

appointed to General Knox's staff. We were very sorry to lose him, as

from first to last he had done his best to oblige all, and during his

term of office made friends with everybody.

On the 9th Lieutenant Britton and fifty men of the regiment proceeded

to Middelvlei to relieve a party of the Border regiment.

On the 17th Lieutenant Robinson had to perform the

unpleasant duty of carrying out the sentence of death on a Boer

prisoner, who had been tried and condemned for shooting three of our

men after having surrendered.

General Cooper arrived on the 19th, to say good-bye to the regiment,

as he was on his way home. He brought the very welcome intelligence

that we were shortly to be relieved, but of course this was only made

known to the Colonel at the time.

Lieutenant Renny, who had been A.D.C. to General Cooper, rejoined on

the 27th, and brought further rumours to the effect that the regiment

was shortly to leave the country, and as orders had come to get in all

our employed men, and men from forts, blockhouses, and stations all

over the country, it began to look as if there was some truth in the

rumours.

On the very last day of 1901 a severe thunderstorm passed right over

headquarters, two of our men being struck by lightning.

1902.

On the first day of the New Year the order for the battalion to leave

South Africa arrived at the brigade office, its destination being

Gibraltar, the best of the Mediterranean stations; but next day a wire

arrived cancelling the move.

On the 5th, however, Lord Kitchener passed through Krugersdorp, when

the Colonel saw him and ascertained that the regiment was to go to

Aden.

At 8.30 p.m. on the 11th, part of the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin

Fusiliers, under Majors Shadforth and Gordon, Captains Swift and

Maclear, and Lieutenant Le Mesurier, with some other officers, arrived

to take over the defences from the 2nd Battalion.

On the 14th, 300 of the 1st Battalion, under Major Gordon, proceeded

down the Pochefstroom line to take over the posts at present held by

us.

[Illustration: KRUGERSDORP from Kilmarnock House. Shewing the Gold

mines Monument, Camps &c. From a sketch by Col. H. Tempest Hicks,

C.B.]

On the 20th, Captains Kinsman and Rowlands (now serving in the S.A.C.)

arrived to say good-bye, and on the 23rd, Colonel Mills and Major

Bromilow, 1st Battalion, arrived.

[Illustration: The 'Blue Caps' relieving the 'Old Toughs.']

On January 26th the regiment fell in for the last time at Kilmarnock,

and marched through Krugersdorp to the station. They had made many

friends during their stay, and the entire town, Boers as well as

Britons, turned out and enthusiastically cheered the corps as it

marched out of the town it had first marched into on June 19th, 1900.

The night was spent at the railway station, and a start made at 4 a.m.

on the 27th. A good view of Talana, from a distance of about five

miles, was obtained on the morning of the 28th, and it may easily be

imagined with what mixed feelings our thoughts flew back to that grey

morning of October 20th, 1899, and our well-loved comrades who had

given their lives to gain that gallant victory. Ladysmith was reached

about 1 p.m., and Maritzburg in the small hours of the 29th, which was

unfortunate, as the regiment had so many friends there. In spite of

the hour, however, a large number of the inhabitants were on the

platform with various small presents of cigarettes, &c., for the men.

Durban was reached a few hours later, when an illuminated address was

presented to the regiment, as well as refreshments to officers and

men, after which the battalion embarked on board the S.S. _Sicilian_

for conveyance to Aden.

PART III.

CHAPTER I.

THE ADEN HINTERLAND

'For this relief much thanks.'

_Hamlet._

The voyage from Durban to Aden was a welcome change, but quite

uneventful, with the exception of one sad event, the death of Sergeant

Pearson, who had embarked in a state of collapse, with little or no

prospect of recovery. He was a most promising N.C.O., and his father

had served in the regiment before him. Aden was reached on February

11th, 1902, and the battalion disembarked that afternoon.

The year passed without any incident calling for remark, and on

October 1st the following notice appeared in battalion orders:--'It is

notified for general information that the battalion will leave Aden

for home in H.M.T. _Syria_, on or about the 11th of February, arriving

home on 24th February, 1903.' 'There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and

the lip,' however, and the old adage was once more to be exemplified.

For some time past rumours of approaching trouble with regard to the

delimitation of the Turkish frontier in the Hinterland had been rife.

A force of Turkish troops was encamped near Dthala, about one hundred

and ten miles from Aden, and the Sultan of Dthala finally appealed to

the British for support. The result was that instead of going home, a

column was organized under the command of Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel F.

P. English, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, to watch the frontier.

The following is an extract from the Aden District Orders:--

DISTRICT ORDERS BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL H. T. HICKS, C.B., 2ND ROYAL

DUBLIN FUSILIERS, COMMANDING ADEN DISTRICT.

No. 450. _Aden, Friday, December 12th, 1902._

In supersession of previous instructions, a column composed as under

will be held in readiness to proceed, on field-service scale, from

Aden into the interior of Arabia:--

In Command: Lieutenant-Colonel F. P. English, 2nd Royal Dublin

Fusiliers.

Staff Officer: Major S. M. Edwards, D.S.O., 2nd Bombay Grenadiers.

Supply and Transport Officer: Captain W. C. W. Harrison, Supply and

Transport Corps.

Staff Medical Officer: Captain I. A. O. MacCarthy, Royal Army Medical

Corps.

2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers (including section of maxim gun and twelve

signallers) 225 N.C.O.'s and men.

No. 45 company, Royal Garrison Artillery

(with two seven-pounder

mountain guns and four nine-pounders) 80 "

{25 horsemen.

Aden Troop {12 camelmen.

2nd Bombay Grenadiers A double company.

Section A. No. 16 British Field Hospital.

" " 68 Native " "

If the column is required to move out, they will be joined _en route_

(if necessary) by a detachment of No. 3 company Bombay Sappers and

Miners.

(By Order) C. H. U. PRICE, _Major_,

_D.A.A.G. Aden District_.

The following officers of the regiment accompanied the

column:--Lieutenant Haskard, Lieutenant Wheeler, Lieutenant Smith,

Second Lieutenant Tredennick, Second Lieutenant W. F. Higginson.

The following standing orders are quoted in full, as they give a good

idea of the scope of the operations, the difficulties likely to be met

with, and the precautions taken to overcome those difficulties:--

COLUMN STANDING ORDERS BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL F. P. ENGLISH, COMMANDING

ADEN COLUMN.

_December 24th, 1902._

1. _Water._--It is anticipated that in all probability it will be

difficult to obtain good drinking water in sufficient quantities on

some of the marches into the interior. All ranks are therefore

cautioned to husband their drinking water as much as possible. Troops

and followers should be forbidden to draw water from the camel tanks

without permission from the officer in charge, and be cautioned

against drinking water from any but authorised sources, as some of the

water on the route is brackish and liable to bring on diarrhoea.

Each unit will detail an officer or selected N.C. officer to be in

charge of the water camels, who will see that their supply is only

drawn on by order of the officer commanding, and that great care is

taken to prevent wastage. Whenever possible, water tanks and bottles

should be replenished; halts will be made for this purpose.

Water-bottles will be filled overnight. On arrival in camp, the

sources of water supply will be pointed out by the staff officer, and

sentries posted to see that the right people draw from the right

source.

2. _Country and Inhabitants._--It should be remembered that the

country through which the column will march to Dthala is in the

British Protectorate, and that the inhabitants and their property must

not be interfered with. All supplies must be paid for, and foraging is

strictly forbidden.

3. _Camps._--On arrival at the camping-places, the staff officer will

point out the sites for the camps of the different units to N.C.O.'s

detailed for that purpose. Officers commanding units will see that

their respective camping-grounds are cleared up before departure.

4. _Transport._--On arrival in camp the transport in charge of each

unit will be picketed near its camp.

5. _Order of March and Baggage._--Each unit will be complete in

itself, being followed by first line transport, viz:--

1. Signalling equipment. 2. First reserve ammunition. 3. Entrenching

tools. 4. Water camels. 5. Stretchers. 6. Great-coat camels.

All followers not required with the above are to accompany the baggage

of their corps. The transport officer will act as baggage-master, and

all baggage-followers and baggage-guards will be under his orders. He

will see that the baggage moves off the ground in the following order,

viz:--Field hospital with its baggage in rear of fighting portion of

column; ammunition second reserve and ordnance park; staff baggage,

including supplies; regimental baggage with supplies in regimental

charge in order of march of unit; supply go-down; spare animals in

transport charge; rearguard.

(By order) S. M. EDWARDS, _Major_,

_S.O. Aden Column_.

_January 2nd, 1903, Sheikh Othman._--On January 2nd, 1903, the column

assembled at its rendezvous, Sheikh Othman, some ten miles from Aden.

_January 3rd, Bir Sayed Ali Wells_ (2-1/2 _miles north of

Firush_.)--An early start was made, though as it was the first day's

march as a column it was not intended to go very far. The going,

moreover, was bad. It takes time to accustom oneself to marching

through deep sand, just as it takes time to acquire the 'heather-step'

in August. However, every one did well, the water was good and fairly

plentiful, though somewhat scattered, and the spirits of the little

force rose high at the possibilities of the prospect before them.

_January 4th, Bir Salim._--The water at this camp was good, but

insufficient in quantity, necessitating the watering of the animals

some mile away.

_January 5th, Shaika._--Another good march, the only incident of which

was the breaking down of the treasure-camel, an important item of the

force.

_January 6th._--Owing to the necessity of making very early starts,

long before daybreak, Lieut.-Colonel English gave orders for bonfires

to be built overnight. These proved a great success, and enabled the

packing-up in the morning to be accomplished with facility and

dispatch.

_January 7th, Alhaja._--This place was reached after a long and trying

march, but the water proved bad in quality and small in quantity.

Captain Harrison, however, luckily joined the force here with a good

supply from Aden, so all was well.

_January 8th, Hadaba._--Another tiring march, but a spring in the

river-bed provided a plentiful supply of good water. As there were

1300 human beings and animals to provide for, it can easily be

understood that the problem of the water-supply was a never-ceasing

care to the staff. Its solution would have been still more difficult

had not the O.C. column arranged that the Bombay Grenadiers and native

hospital should march a day behind the rest of the force.

_January 9th, Arrado._--A short march, and more water than was

expected.

_January 10th, Dthala._--There was a difficult pass to ascend before

the column reached its objective; three camels were in consequence

lost _en route_, one falling over a precipice and two dying from

exhaustion. By 1 p.m., however, all difficulties had been overcome,

and the camping-ground was reached without opposition.

_January 11th._--The remainder of the column arrived safely.

[Illustration: Dthala Camp.]

The rest of the month was occupied in putting the camp in a state of

defence, and the usual camp life. A force of 400 Turkish troops, with

four guns and twenty-five mounted men, was encamped only two miles off

at Jelala, and, as the condition of affairs, according to the

political officer, Colonel Wahab, was very acute, it was necessary to

observe the strictest precautions at all times. On January 30th the

detachment of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers was relieved by one from the

Hampshire Regiment, and marched off on their way back to Aden, under

command of Lieutenant Haskard. Colonel English did not return, having

received orders from Lord Kitchener to remain in command of the field

force, whose total strength now consisted of 818 officers and men, and

735 animals.

[Illustration: Dthala Village from Camp.]

_February 1st._--The situation now, however, became more serious.

Colonel English received a wire at 2.30 p.m. directing him to stop

Haskard's return march at Nobat-Dakim, and another at 6 p.m. informing

him that the whole of the Dublin Fusiliers were coming up, and also

half the 23rd Bombay Rifles. On February 10th instructions were

received to recall Haskard, who marched on the 12th, arriving at

Dthala on the 14th. On the 18th, headquarters and the remainder of the

Dublin Fusiliers left Aden, reaching Dthala on the 26th, when Colonel

Hicks took over command of the column, Lieut.-Colonel English assuming

command of the battalion.

On March 22nd the Turks, however, evacuated Jelala, retiring behind

Kataba. Jelala was at once occupied by two companies of the Bombay

Rifles. Captain Rooth, Brevet-Major Carington Smith, Captains

Garvice, Grimshaw, and Taylor arrived on the same day.

On April 27th a detachment, consisting of 100 Royal Dublin Fusiliers,

two guns 6th Mountain Battery, and 100 Bombay Rifles, with supply and

transport, the whole under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel English,

occupied Sanah, where they remained until July 11th, when they

returned to Dthala.

On May 18th a detachment of 100 men of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers,

under Brevet-Major Smith, joined a column under command of Colonel

Scallon, C.I.E., D.S.O., 23rd Bombay Rifles, which proceeded on a

punitive expedition to Hardaba. They met with some slight opposition,

in which No. 7274 Private Martin, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was slightly

wounded. The column returned to Dthala on May 25th, after suffering

considerably from heat.

On August 31st a small flying column, under Major Delamain, left for

the Bunna River. Lieutenant Wheeler, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, acted as

Staff Officer to this force. On September 4th, Lieutenant Haskard,

Royal Dublin Fusiliers, with thirty-five men, went out to Delamain

with a convoy, returning on September 6th.

Considerable trouble had for some time been caused by the depredations

of the Arab tribes, who had been killing camelmen, and generally

making themselves obnoxious on the line of communications. Information

was now received that these Arabs were beginning to get very excited,

and that they contemplated an attack on a post under Captain Shewell,

at Awabil. A force was immediately got together, and placed under the

command of Colonel English. He marched on September 13th, only to

find, however, on arrival that Shewell had beaten off the attack by

himself, with a loss of one man killed and five wounded. Colonel

English then returned to Dthala, which place he reached on September

19th.

On October 5th the same officer took command of another column, to

punish the Dthanbari tribe and destroy their chief town, Naklain. The

column consisted of Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 4 companies; 6th Mountain

Battery, Royal Artillery, 1 section; Camel Battery, 2 guns; Aden

Troop, 17 sowars; Bombay Grenadiers, 1 double company; 23rd Bombay

Rifles, 23 men.

[Illustration: A Frontier Tower. Abdali Country.]

Colonel English arrived before Naklain at 8.25 a.m. on October 7th,

after pushing back the enemy, who disputed the passage of a difficult

gorge for some time. He then proceeded to destroy the place, and at

11.15 a.m. started on his return march. The enemy clung to his flanks,

and kept up a long-range fire until 2.30 p.m., when he repassed the

gorge mentioned above. His casualties consisted of one killed (No.

5710 Private Andrew Keegan), and six wounded, while there were in

addition six cases of sunstroke. The column did not return to Dthala,

but marched straight to Aden, where it arrived on October 14th.

The remainder of the battalion left Dthala on October 10th, reaching

Aden on the 16th, where, on October 24th, it embarked on the transport

_Soudan_ for home.

For his services in the Aden Hinterland, Lieutenant-Colonel English

was awarded the D.S.O. It was never better earned. But no medal was

issued to the regiment, in spite of the fact that for ten months they

had been living under active service conditions, which necessitated

unceasing vigilance by day and night. It is true they had not suffered

many casualties, or seen much fighting, but as this was undoubtedly

due to the excellent manner in which the operations were conducted,

and to the precautions taken, it seemed a little hard that the coveted

distinction of a medal should be withheld, although the little

campaign is ranked in war services as active service.

However, the experience and the knowledge of the country gained will

doubtless prove beneficial to all concerned, who still look back upon

Dthala with affection, and speak of it with regret. On the night after

Colonel English had dealt with the Dthanbari tribe, Major Carington

Smith, who was in command of a small detachment, after posting his

outposts was just thinking of retiring when he heard the sentries

challenge; this was immediately followed by a rush of horsemen, headed

by a most gorgeously dressed officer. Reining up almost at Smith's

feet he informed him that his master, a neighbouring potentate,

friendly to the English, had sent him and his men to assist in the

repulse of the bloodthirsty Dthanbari tribe, who might be expected to

attempt to rush the camp that night. Although not anticipating

anything of the kind, Major Smith was far too polite to say so, and

after thanking his allies, suggested that they should take up a line

of cossack posts in front of his outpost line. To this they

consented, but before leaving declared their earnest conviction that

an assault would be delivered. Shortly after midnight Smith was

awakened by a fiendish din. Grasping his sword with one hand and his

pistol with the other, he rushed out to meet the crisis. From every

direction his allies came galloping in as fast as their horses could

lay legs to the ground, while the detachment sprang to arms in a

second, fully expecting to be attacked by every Arab in the

Hinterland. Reining up his horse as before, the leader of the cavalry

once more saluted Smith, and made the following report: 'Sah, I have

honour to salute you, and inform your Honour that Dthanbari tribe have

not yet arrived.'

The following description of the action at Naklain appeared in the

home press:--

'AN ARAB DRIVE.'

'HOT FIGHTING IN THE ADEN HINTERLAND.

'The expedition, under Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel English, was sent out

to destroy the chief village and crops of the tribe Naklain, as

punishment for the shooting of Government camels and the looting of

his Majesty's mails. The tribe is very warlike, and their country had

never hitherto been penetrated.

'After leaving As Suk camp, the British column began to wind among the

mountains, which rise very abruptly from the plain, and, as they met

with no opposition for a considerable time, they began to think there

would be no resistance. Suddenly, without warning of any sort, a

ragged volley was opened on the advance-guard, apparently from some

very broken ground, fifty to a hundred yards in front.

'This seemed to be a prearranged signal, for from the hills on both

flanks the firing was taken up, the enemy constantly changing their

positions after firing. The guns were brought into action almost at

once, and the infantry, extending at the double, soon covered a wide

front and swept along the hills parallel to the advance.

'MOVING FORWARD.

'After the surrounding hills had been shelled, the whole column moved

forward, the infantry pushing the enemy back step by step until the

village of Naklain was reached. While parties of men were told off to

keep down the enemy's fire from points of vantage, others proceeded to

blow up the houses with gun-cotton, and the more inaccessible houses

were shelled.

'The crops were then destroyed by the men with their bayonets and

swords. There was a fierce fire while this was proceeding, the enemy

evidently not having expected such a reprisal. The work having been

completed, the arduous retirement commenced, the enemy following the

force up step by step the whole way back, at one time coming to

comparatively close quarters and necessitating a most careful

management of the rearguard.

'As Suk was reached after a trying march of twenty miles, the troops

being under fire most of the time, with scarcely any water and exposed

to a burning sun. The British casualties were seven men of the Dublin

Fusiliers wounded (one since dead) and one native and one gunner

slightly wounded.'

[Illustration: 2nd Lieut. H. St. G. S. Scott; 2nd Lieut. B. Maclear;

2nd Lieut. E. St. G. Smith; 2nd Lieut. J. P. Tredennick.

Bt.-Major E. Fetherstonhaugh; Lieut. A. H. D. Britton; Lieut. and

Qr.-mr. Burke; Major S. G. Bird, D.S.O.; Lieut. Haskard; Lieut.

Wheeler; 2nd Lieut. R. F. B. Knox; 2nd Lieut. J. P. B. Robinson; 2nd

Lieut. A. W. Newton.

Lieut. C. Garvice, D.S.O.; Capt. G. N. Cory, D.S.O.; Capt. M. Lowndes;

Lieut.-Col. H. T. Hicks, C.B.; Lieut. L. F. Renny; Capt. H. W.

Higginson; 2nd Lieut. E. F. E. Seymour; Lieut. A. de B. W. W. Bradford

(absent).

Officers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers who embarked for

Aden.]

CHAPTER II.

THE RETURN HOME AND RECEPTION.

'I must to England.

I pray you give me leave.'

_Hamlet._

Early in October, 1903, the 2nd Battalion at length heard the good

news that the date of their departure from Aden had been definitely

fixed, and on the 23rd of the month it sailed in the s.s. _Soudan_,

arriving at Queenstown late in the evening of November 9th. The tour

of foreign service had lasted for twenty years all but two months, and

only one man in the whole battalion had seen it through from start to

finish without coming home, the present quartermaster, Lieutenant J.

Burke.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers left England for Gibraltar on

January 9th, 1884, and in February, 1885, proceeded to Egypt, where it

was quartered first at Ramleh, and later on at Cairo. Early in 1886

the battalion went to India, headquarters being stationed successively

at Poona, Nasirabad, Karachi, Quetta, and Bombay.

In May, 1897, it was suddenly ordered to South Africa, and quartered

at Maritzburg, as already stated in the opening chapter.

The details were at Buttevant, County Cork, and thither the battalion

proceeded on their arrival in Ireland.

Just two days prior to the arrival home of the 2nd Battalion the

regiment had been honoured by having appointed as its Colonel-in-Chief

Field-Marshal H.R.H. A. W. S. A. Duke of Connaught and Strathearn,

K.G., K.P., K.T., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O.

On November 13th, 1903, the battalion proceeded to Dublin to attend a

public reception and also to receive their medals at the hands of

H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. The following is the account of the

proceedings as published in the _Irish Times_ of November 14th, 1903,

to whom the thanks of the regiment are due for their kindness in

permitting its reproduction:--

(_Extract from 'Irish Times,' Saturday, November 14th, 1903._)

HOME-COMING OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS.

The officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the 2nd Battalion

of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers may well feel proud of the reception

accorded them on their return to their native land and city after a

long and arduous service under the British flag in foreign lands.

There was quite a contest for places on the gallery in the great

Central Hall of the Royal Dublin Society's buildings at Ballsbridge to

see the heroes of a regiment which had gained undying laurels in

Burmah, India, and South Africa. Exceptional arrangements had been

made for the entertainment of the battalion at Ballsbridge, and the

reception committee, which had for its chairman the Earl of Meath,

must be congratulated on the manner in which they carried out the

entertainment and provided for the enjoyment of such a large number of

guests. The arrangement of the hall was admirable in every respect. At

the further end a slightly-raised dais was placed and profusely

decorated with palms and evergreens, and immediately behind the chair

subsequently occupied by H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught was the

regimental emblem introducing the figures of an elephant and a tiger;

the former bringing to mind the doughty deeds of the Dublin Fusiliers

in Burmah and the latter their equally splendid record on the historic

field of Plassey. At the back was the regimental motto, _Spectamur

Agendo_, and the roof and gallery railings were handsomely draped with

red, green, and blue muslin, while the names of the various

engagements in which the men took part were prominently displayed. On

the right-hand side of the hall four long rows of tables were placed,

handsomely prepared for the dinner, while the centre of the building

facing the dais was kept clear for the men to be drawn up in proper

formation to receive H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. The spacious

galleries reserved for ticket-holders were crowded long before the

hour fixed for the ceremony, 12.30 o'clock. Shortly before 10 o'clock

a large number of reservists of the battalion, about 250, and some

reservists from other battalions of the regiment assembled at the

Marshalsea Barracks, and under the command of Captain Perreau, Royal

Dublin Fusiliers, Adjutant 5th Battalion, and Major Baker, D.S.O.,

marched via Thomas Street, Cork Hill, Dame Street, Nassau Street,

Merrion Square North, Lower Mount Street, and Northumberland Road to

Ballsbridge. The men were dressed in civilian clothes, but wore their

medals and other decorations, and many showed by their appearance that

they, too, had played no insignificant part in the recent campaign.

They were accompanied by the massed bands of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th

Battalions Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The 2nd Battalion of the regiment

arrived from Buttevant by train at the Ballsbridge siding at 11.30

a.m., and marched across the roadway into the Royal Dublin Society's

premises. A great crowd of people watched the men detraining, and

several hearty rounds of cheering greeted their appearance. The men

looked in splendid form as they defiled into the main hall and took up

the positions allotted to them. It was at first stated that the

strength comprised 25 officers, 2 warrant officers, 8 staff sergeants,

54 sergeants, and 528 rank and file; but the figures given yesterday

were 18 officers and 523 rank and file. Be the numbers as they may,

the appearance of the men thoroughly maintained the regimental

nickname of 'The Old Toughs.' Hardy, wiry warriors they

looked--thoroughly capable of accomplishing the daring and courageous

deeds which have covered the Dublin Fusiliers with special glory. It

is worthy of note that the majority of the non-commissioned officers

served through the South African campaign from the Battle of Dundee,

and that Lieutenant and Quartermaster Burke is the only remaining one

who left England with the battalion nineteen years ago. The officers

and men of the battalion were dressed in general service (khaki)

uniform, and carried their rifles and bayonets. They also wore Indian

helmets with puggarees, while the mounted company were attired in the

clothing suited to this, particular branch of the Service. They were

under the command of Colonel Tempest Hicks, C.B., Colonel English, and

Major Fetherstonhaugh, and when they marched into the hall and took up

position on either side, in line of half-battalions, they were greeted

with loud cheering, and when the order 'stand at ease' was made a

number of reservists and other friends rushed forward to exchange

greetings with former acquaintances. There was nearly a half-hour's

wait for the arrival of the Duke of Connaught, and in the interval the

bands of the Fusiliers and Warwickshire Regiment played some

selections. At a quarter-past twelve precisely, H.R.H. the Commander

of the Forces in Ireland arrived in an open carriage, accompanied by

H.R.H. the Duchess of Connaught and Princesses Margaret and Patricia

of Connaught, and attended by the following staff: Major-General Sir

William Knox, Major-General Sir John Maxwell, Colonel Hammersley,

Colonel Davidson, Colonel Dickinson, Colonel Congreve, V.C., and Major

Murray, A.D.C.

[Illustration: Homeward bound at last after twenty Years' Foreign

Service.]

The Duke, who wore the uniform of a Field-Marshal, was received by the

following members of the reception committee: Major Domville, D.L.

(vice-chairman), Mr. Justice Ross, Sir Wm. Thompson, Sir Charles

Cameron, C.B., Major Davidson Houston, Colonel Finlay, Colonel

Davidson, Major-General Sir Gerald Morton, K.C.B., Colonel Paterson,

Colonel G. T. Plunkett, C.B., Captain Lewis Riall, D.L., Colonel

Vernon, D.L., and Alderman Harris.

Major-General Vetch, commanding the Dublin District, was accompanied

by Major Lowndes, A.D.C., Major Gilles (Brigade-Major), and Captain

Fox Strangways (Garrison Adjutant). A guard of honour of the Royal

Irish Rifles was drawn up outside the Show Buildings, and the band of

the regiment played the National Anthem when the Duke and Duchess of

Connaught drove up.

Their Royal Highnesses having taken seats on the dais, the Duke of

Connaught, who spoke in a tone which was easily heard in all parts of

the building, said, 'Colonel Hicks, officers and non-commissioned

officers, and men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, allow me

to welcome you most warmly home again to old Ireland after your very

arduous four years' service. I am sure I am only the mouthpiece, not

only of the General Officer Commanding this Army Corps, but also of

every loyal Irishman, when I assure you how warm and how hearty is the

greeting that is given you on your return to your native country, and

especially in this capital of Ireland. You are an old and distinguished

regiment; raised originally for service in India as the Royal Madras and

Royal Bombay Fusiliers. During the time that you bore this name and the

numbers 102 and 103, you took a very honourable part in all those great

battles that assured us the conquest of India. Now, since the year 1881,

you have become closely associated not only with Ireland, but with its

capital. Your first service since you became the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

was in South Africa, and through the arduous services in that country

you, men, whom I have now the honour of addressing, nobly maintained the

traditions of those fine soldiers who went before you. When you were

sent from India amongst the first reinforcements of the troops in South

Africa in 1897--soon afterwards the war broke out--you took a leading

part in the Battle of Talana. You then went back to Ladysmith, and after

falling back across the Tugela, you were attached to the army of Sir

Redvers Buller, in the Irish Brigade under General Hart. During all

those weary months on the Tugela, you took a leading part in every

action that took place, and you distinguished yourselves so much at

Pieter's Hill that when the relief force of Ladysmith marched in, the

general officer commanding gave you the post of honour, and you led the

troops that marched into Ladysmith. (Cheers.) Men of the Royal Dublin

Fusiliers, this occasion is one of especial pleasure and satisfaction to

myself, as His Majesty has done me the great honour of appointing me

your Colonel-in-Chief--(cheers)--and I hope that in this you will

recognise not only His Majesty's high appreciation of the distinguished

services you have rendered to his throne and his empire, but also that

you will see in it his wish that you will have some special mark of

distinction when he has made me, his only brother, Colonel-in-Chief of

the regiment. I hope I shall long have the honour to be your

Colonel-in-Chief, and to have a connection with a regiment of which

every Irishman feels so proud.' (Cheers.)

Colonel G. T. Plunkett, C.B., read the following letter, received from

the Earl of Meath, H.M.L. for the County and City of Dublin:--

'_Ottershaw, Chertsey._

'MY DEAR PLUNKETT,--Owing to absence from Ireland, I shall be unable

to be present in person with you on the 13th, when you and the

Reception Committee entertain the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers

on their return home from foreign service, but I shall be with you in

spirit, and I hope you will let the officers and men know how sorry I

am that I cannot personally welcome them on their return to Ireland,

and to Dublin, after so many years spent abroad in the service of

their Sovereign.

'The fame which the regiment has acquired by daring deeds of valour

performed during the late war has travelled far beyond the shores of

Ireland. Military men the world over, and all who have studied the

South African War, have heard of the famous deeds of the Dublin

Fusiliers. The citizens of the Metropolitan county and City are proud

of the men who, mindful of their origin, have known how to make the

name of Dublin to be honoured in all lands. Both officers and men have

done their duty to King and country, and we, their Irish brothers,

accord them a hearty welcome on their return to the dear land of their

birth.

'Believe me, yours sincerely,

'MEATH,

'_H.M.L. for County and City of Dublin_.'

The Duke of Connaught then said: 'I have been particularly requested

by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to assure you of his

warm welcome. He is away in England at present, but he has sent his

military secretary and senior A.D.C. to represent him, and to give you

his warmest wishes.' (Applause.)

His Royal Highness then distributed the medals and other distinctions

to the officers and rank-and-file of the battalion who were entitled

to them. The following officers were decorated, the Duke cordially

shaking hands with each recipient:--Colonel Hicks, C.B., Colonel

English, Major Fetherstonhaugh, Major Carington Smith, Captain H. W.

Higginson, Captain Cory, D.S.O., Captain Garvice, D.S.O., Lieutenants

Grimshaw, D.S.O., Haskard, Britton, Wheeler, St. George Smith, Knox,

Tredennick, Seymour, Robinson, and Maclear, and Lieutenant and

Quartermaster J. Burke and Sergeant-Major Sheridan. His Royal Highness

pinned distinguished-conduct medals on the breasts of Lieutenant and

Quartermaster J. Burke, Corporal Connell, and Privates C. N. Wallace,

M. Farrelly, and M. Kavanagh, each recipient being loudly cheered.

The following officers who had served with the battalion during the

war, but who had previously come home through wounds or sickness,

availed themselves of the opportunity to have their medals presented

to them by the Duke:--Captain Downing, Captain Dibley, Lieutenants

Renny, Supple, Newton, Weldon, Molony, Armstrong, and Cooper. The

distribution of the medals occupied over half an hour.

When this important portion of the programme had been completed, the

order to 'stack arms' was given, and the men filed into their seats at

the four long rows of tables which had been admirably prepared for the

dinner by the caterers, Messrs. Mills & Co., of Merrion Row. Messrs.

Mills & Co. had a picked staff of forty-two persons to carve the

various dishes and wait at table. Dinner consisted of several courses,

with selected fruit; while in addition to liberal supplies of ale,

stout, and mineral waters, 300 bottles of champagne were placed

before the honoured guests. This last-mentioned luxury was the

generous gift of Messrs. Perrier-Jouet & Co., of Epernay, the famous

wine shippers, who kindly and thoughtfully presented this supply of

their extra-quality wine through their Irish representatives, Messrs.

James McCullagh, Son & Co., 34 Lower Abbey Street. When the guests

were seated, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, the Duchess of Connaught,

and the Princesses Margaret and Patricia of Connaught, with the

Reception Committee, a number of ladies, and a resplendent military

_entourage_, walked slowly down between the rows of tables, stopping

to speak a few gracious words to the non-commissioned officers and men

who had made themselves conspicuous even amongst their comrades for

valorous deeds and unflinching devotion to duty. Many of the

reservists who sat beside former 'chums' at table, and on whose less

warlike garb, the ordinary civilian clothes, medals and clasps shone

out in high relief, also received kindly congratulations from the

Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. Meanwhile the string band of the 21st

Lancers, who occupied a good position on the gallery, played a

beautiful selection of airs, principally Irish, not the least being

'The Wearin' of the Green.' The Royal party on walking down the centre

of the hall was enthusiastically cheered, and the Duchess and her

daughters left the building at about half-past one.

The Duke remained for lunch with his staff and the officers of the

battalion. The health of His Majesty the King was drunk amidst much

enthusiasm. After dinner, cigars and cigarettes and tobacco were

liberally distributed, officers of the regiment performing most of

this agreeable duty, and each man was presented with a nice briar pipe

before leaving, the gift of Messrs. Lalor & Co., of Nassau Street.

In the interval between dinner and leaving the premises at

Ballsbridge, many friends and relatives of the members of the

battalion were afforded an opportunity for a pleasant chat, and most

of these accompanied the men in their subsequent march through the

city. One figure attracted much attention during the afternoon--a

sturdy soldier who formerly belonged to the Royal Dublins, and who

appeared in the quaint, and, in this country, unusual uniform of a

West African regiment. It would be certainly less than unwarranted to

refer to the general appearance and behaviour of the men. Clean,

smart, soldierly fellows, they all appeared to be impressed with the

one idea--that they belonged to a crack corps with unrivalled

traditions to maintain.

The departure from Ballsbridge occasioned unbounded enthusiasm on the

part of thousands of eager spectators, who, unaware of the exact time

at which the entertainment would finish, had patiently waited for a

couple of hours to catch a glimpse of the 'Old Toughs.' The main

thoroughfare from the Show-grounds to Pembroke Road was lined by

detachments of the Warwickshire, East Lancashire (with band), and

Middlesex Regiments, while a guard of honour of the Royal Irish Rifles

(with their band) was stationed opposite the main entrance. About 3.15

o'clock H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, preceded by two mounted

policemen and an escort of the 21st Lancers, drove out, and passed

over the route to be traversed immediately afterwards by the

Fusiliers. The Field-Marshal was loudly cheered as he proceeded to the

Royal Hospital, and repeatedly returned the cordial salutations of the

large crowds who were assembled at different points. The appearance of

the feted warriors was the signal for an astonishing ovation at

Ballsbridge.

The scene was a striking one. A splendid body of the 21st Lancers,

numbering fifty, occupied first place in the procession, and these

were followed by four or five bands and the heroes of the day.

Another detachment of fifty Lancers brought up the rear, and a number

of men of the same dashing cavalry regiment marched on either side of

the advancing column. Many relatives and friends of the Fusiliers had

now an opportunity to exchange greetings, and strict army discipline

was at an end. There was nothing reprehensible, however, and the

progress to Kingsbridge was of the most orderly and praiseworthy

description.