From the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean338,000From India19,500From our Dominions beyond the seas30,000
For transport purposes and to supply the wastage in our mounted troops 470,000 horses and 150,000 mules and donkeys were purchased; for the conveyance of thetroops and animals to the seat of war no fewer than 1,057 ships were taken up, and 1,374,000 tons of stores were from first to last shipped to South Africa. Unfortunately, all this energy was delayed until after the actual declaration of war. So far back as the month of June the Commander-in-Chief had unsuccessfully applied for permission to mobilize an army corps on Salisbury Plain and to convert the existing transport waggons to mule draught. It was not until October 8 that the order for the mobilization was sanctioned, and the first reinforcements did not leave the country until the third week in that month, war having been declared on the 11th.[31]
Our forces at the outset of hostilities were scattered necessarily over a wide area. The frontiers of the two Republics ran conterminously with our own for a distance of 1,000 miles. To defend this with 22,000 men was a manifest impossibility. Sir Forestier Walker, who was in command in Cape Colony, determined to hold the most important positions on that long line of frontier; whilst Sir George White in Natal, against his better judgment, deferred to the views of the Governor of Natal, and divided his forces, thus paving the way to defeat.
In addition to Kimberley, Sir Forestier Walker had weak detachments guarding the principal railway junctions of De Aar, Nauwpoort, and Stormberg. White had a brigade, under Sir Penn Symons, at Dundee, in the North of Natal; the remainder of his force was at Ladysmith. On October 20 the Dundee column fought an action at Talana, and the following day White's troops, under General French, defeated the Boers at Elandslaagte; but the arrival of strong Boer reinforcements and the death of Penn Symons compelled the retreat of the Dundee brigade, and on the 30th White suffered a severe check at Lombard's Kop. It was now clear that the army in South Africa was powerless until the arrival ofreinforcements from home, and these, late in the day as it was, were being hurried forward as fast as circumstances would permit. The Viceroy of India had been requested to despatch with all haste a cavalry brigade, one of infantry, and three batteries of artillery. Some of these, as well as the battalion from the Mauritius, were already in South Africa, and battalions from Malta, Cyprus, and Egypt wereen route. The army corps asked for in June was now despatched, with Sir Redvers Buller to hold the chief command in South Africa. It was composed as follows:
First Division: Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen.
Guards' Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Paget: 3rd Battalion Grenadiers, 1st Battalion Coldstream, 2nd Battalion Coldstream, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.Second Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Hildyard: 2nd Battalion Queen's, 2nd Battalion Devons, 2nd Battalion West Yorks, 2nd Battalion East Surrey.One squadron 1st Life Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Guards' Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Paget: 3rd Battalion Grenadiers, 1st Battalion Coldstream, 2nd Battalion Coldstream, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
Second Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Hildyard: 2nd Battalion Queen's, 2nd Battalion Devons, 2nd Battalion West Yorks, 2nd Battalion East Surrey.
One squadron 1st Life Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Second Division: Lieutenant-General Clery.
Highland Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Wauchope: 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders, 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Seaforths, 1st Battalion Argylls.Fourth Brigade—Major-Gen. Lyttelton: 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade.One squadron Royal Horse Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Highland Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Wauchope: 2nd Battalion Royal Highlanders, 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Seaforths, 1st Battalion Argylls.
Fourth Brigade—Major-Gen. Lyttelton: 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade.
One squadron Royal Horse Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Third Division: Lieutenant-General Gatacre.
Fifth Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Hart: 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers, 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.Sixth Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Barton: 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers.One squadron 2nd Life Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Fifth Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Hart: 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers, 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Sixth Brigade—Brig.-Gen. Barton: 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers.
One squadron 2nd Life Guards and three batteries Field Artillery.
Cavalry Division: Lieutenant-General French.
First Brigade: Carabiniers, 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, one battery Royal Horse Artillery.Second Brigade: Royal Dragoons, Scots Greys, Inniskilling Dragoons, one battery Royal Horse Artillery.Lines of Communication: 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Cornwall Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion Northamptons, 2nd K.O. Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Gordons, Highland Light Infantry.
First Brigade: Carabiniers, 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, one battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Second Brigade: Royal Dragoons, Scots Greys, Inniskilling Dragoons, one battery Royal Horse Artillery.
Lines of Communication: 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Cornwall Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion Northamptons, 2nd K.O. Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Gordons, Highland Light Infantry.
Until the arrival of these reinforcements we were holding on to our own frontiers with but 15,000 men in Natal, 10,000 in the Cape Colony, and some 1,500 in Rhodesia, inclusive of colonial forces. Opposed to us the Boers had at the least 53,000 men. Of these, it was estimated that 23,000 men were before White in Ladysmith, 7,500 had been despatched against Baden-Powell in Mafeking, a slightly larger force was enveloping Kekewich in Kimberley, and the remainder were being mobilized for the defence of the two Republics.
The original plan of campaign decided on before the departure of Sir Redvers Buller from England was to invade the Republics from the south with the army corps, the composition of which I have just given, whilst making such diversions as might be possible from Natal. On Buller's arrival all this had to be changed. The relief of Ladysmith was now the primary object of our Commander-in-Chief, all question of an invasion of the Republics being for the present out of the question. So soon as the reinforcements commenced to arrive, Methuen, with the Brigade of Guards, was pushed up to relieve Kimberley; the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Brigades were at once directed to Natal, where Buller quickly followed. To replace the Second Brigade in the First Division a Ninth Brigade, made up from regiments intended for the line of communications, was formed, and Wauchope's brigade of the Second Division advanced to the support of Methuen, and to strengthen our hold on the line of railway. Generals French and Gatacre were entrusted with the command of the railway running parallel with the frontiers of the Republics, and were stationed respectively at Nauwpoort and Stormberg, whilst Wauchope was posted at De Aar.
Buller expressed himself optimistic as to the relief of Kimberley, which was closely invested by the Boers, and by the middle of November Methuen commenced his advance. His force consisted of the Brigade of Guards, the Ninth Brigade (1st Loyal North Lancashire, 2ndKing's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, and 2nd Northamptons), the 9th Lancers, three squadrons of mounted infantry, three field batteries, a naval brigade 360 strong, with four long 12-pounder quick-firers, and the New South Wales Lancers. On October 23 he defeated the Boers at Belmont, his casualties being 3 officers and 51 men killed, 23 officers and 220 men wounded. On the 25th he fought a second successful action at Enslin, losing 3 officers and 15 men killed, 6 officers and 137 men wounded; and on October 28 he again defeated the Boers on the Riet River. The action, however, is officially known as that of the Modder River.
This battle honour is borne on the colours and appointments of the following regiments:
9th Lancers.Grenadier Guards.Coldstream Guards.Scots Guards.Northumberland Fusiliers.Northamptons.K.O. Yorkshire L.I.Highland Light InfantryArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
It commemorates the third of the three successful actions fought by Lord Methuen in the early stage of the South African War in his attempt to relieve Kimberley. A clasp, inscribed "Modder River," was given for this engagement, in which the casualties were as follows:
Casualties at the Action on the Modder River.
Corps or Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.9th Lancers---1Royal Artillery-4322Naval Brigade----Grenadier Gds.-3840Coldstream Gds.211077Scots Guards-21037N'umberland F.--1134Loyal N. Lancs-1316Northamptons----K.O. Yorks L.I.13846Highland L.I.----Argyll Highl.-21595
The Boer forces covering the Siege of Kimberley were under the command of General Cronje, and he, falling back after his third reverse at the Modder River, took up a strong position at Magersfontein, entrenching his whole front for a distance of nine miles. To hasten the relief of Kimberley, Wauchope was now pushed up to reinforce Methuen, and on December 11 that General attacked Cronje, but met with a most serious reverse, losing 22 officers and 188 men killed, 46 officers and 629 men wounded, the bulk of the casualties falling on the Highland Brigade, which also lost its gallant leader, Wauchope, the second of his name to fall at the head of English troops in an unsuccessful action, for Andrew Wauchope's uncle fell at Rosetta in our little-remembered, but unfortunate, expedition to Egypt in 1807.
In the meantime Buller had proceeded to Durban, and was concerting his plans for the relief of Ladysmith. He had at his disposal 18,000 men and thirty field guns, besides a naval brigade with fourteen long-range quick-firers. On December 15 he made his first effort, and was badly defeated at Colenso, losing, in addition to 7 officers and 136 men killed, 47 officers and 709 men wounded, and ten guns. The superior mobility of the Boers, and the fact that White had with him four regiments of cavalry shut up in Ladysmith, induced Buller to make the most earnest representations for a large force of mounted reinforcements, and the War Office responded to the call by mobilizing three more divisions, and taking steps to raise a force of 4,000 Yeomanry.
These repeated disasters had aroused the nation—temporarily, at any rate—to a proper sense of its responsibilities, and all ranks and all classes responded to the call for volunteers. The veteran Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, who had served his apprenticeship at the Siege of Delhi just two-and-forty years before, accepted the chief command, and at once embarked for the seat of war. On his arrival the situation was no clearer. Methuen, with the First Division, lay immobile twelve miles south of Kimberley,with a Boer army strongly entrenched in his front; Gatacre, at Stormberg, had met with a serious reverse; Sir George White was closely besieged in Ladysmith; and Buller was gathering together his forces for a second attempt to carry the strong position before him. Lord Roberts landed in South Africa on January 10, and his first care was to organize his transport, so as to have all in readiness for an advance so soon as the reinforcements now on the seas should arrive. As his Chief of the Staff he had Lord Kitchener, fresh from his successful campaign in Egypt, where he had shown himself a master in the matter of organization.
It was not until the commencement of February that the Field-Marshal felt himself able to move. His plan of campaign was first the relief of Kimberley with the Cavalry Division, under French, then an advance on the capital of the Orange Free State. This advance, he felt sure, would relieve the pressure in Natal, and so enable Buller to join hands with Ladysmith. Approximately, Lord Roberts had now in the Cape Colony 52,000 men, and in Natal 40,000, of whom some 9,000 or 10,000 were shut up in Ladysmith. Even now he felt that he would need heavy reinforcements to meet the wastage of war, and he requested that 8,000 Imperial Yeomanry and thirty battalions of Militia might be despatched to the seat of war as soon as they could be mobilized. Then, and not till then, did Lord Roberts feel justified in his advance. His transport was in an effective condition, and he had received assurance from home that the reinforcements asked for would be sent without delay. On February 6 he left Cape Town for the front, and on the 15th French set forth for the relief of Kimberley.
The troops actually at Lord Roberts's disposal at this period consisted of four divisions of infantry and one of cavalry. The composition of the Cavalry Division is given onp. 422; that of the four infantry divisions was as follows:
First Division: Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen.
Brigade of Guards—Major-General Paget: 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.Ninth Brigade—Brigadier-General Pole-Carew: 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, half a battalion of the North Lancashire, 2nd Battalion Northamptons, 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Brigade of Guards—Major-General Paget: 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1st Battalion Scots Guards.
Ninth Brigade—Brigadier-General Pole-Carew: 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, half a battalion of the North Lancashire, 2nd Battalion Northamptons, 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Sixth Division: Lieutenant-General Sir Kelly-Kenny.
Thirteenth Brigade—Major-General C. E. Knox: 2nd Battalion Buffs, 2nd Battalion Gloucesters, 1st Battalion West Ridings, 1st Battalion Oxford Light Infantry.Eighteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General T. E. Stephenson: 2nd Battalion Royal Warwicks, 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Essex, 1st Battalion Wiltshires. Three field batteries and two naval 12-pounders.
Thirteenth Brigade—Major-General C. E. Knox: 2nd Battalion Buffs, 2nd Battalion Gloucesters, 1st Battalion West Ridings, 1st Battalion Oxford Light Infantry.
Eighteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General T. E. Stephenson: 2nd Battalion Royal Warwicks, 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Essex, 1st Battalion Wiltshires. Three field batteries and two naval 12-pounders.
Seventh Division: Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Tucker.
Fourteenth Brigade—Major-General Chermside: 2nd Battalion Norfolks, 2nd Battalion Lincolns, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd Battalion Hampshires.Fifteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General Wavell: 2nd Battalion Cheshires, 1st Battalion East Lancashire, 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers, 2nd Battalion North Staffords. Three field batteries.
Fourteenth Brigade—Major-General Chermside: 2nd Battalion Norfolks, 2nd Battalion Lincolns, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd Battalion Hampshires.
Fifteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General Wavell: 2nd Battalion Cheshires, 1st Battalion East Lancashire, 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers, 2nd Battalion North Staffords. Three field batteries.
Ninth Division: Lieutenant-General Sir H. Colville, K.C.B.
Highland Brigade—Brigadier-General MacDonald: 2nd Battalion Black Watch, 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.Nineteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General Smith-Dorrien: 2nd Battalion Cornwall Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry. Three field batteries and one of 5-inch howitzer.
Highland Brigade—Brigadier-General MacDonald: 2nd Battalion Black Watch, 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Nineteenth Brigade—Brigadier-General Smith-Dorrien: 2nd Battalion Cornwall Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry. Three field batteries and one of 5-inch howitzer.
At Sterkstrom, General Gatacre had the remains of the Third Division, consisting of the 1st Royal Scots, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Derbyshire, 2nd Royal Berkshire, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, and a Militia battalion—the 3rd Durham Light Infantry—with three field batteries and a couple of naval guns.
At Nauwpoort, General Clements had the 2nd Bedfords, 1st Royal Irish, 2nd Worcester, 2nd Wiltshire, a Militia battalion—the 4th Derbyshire—with one horse and three field batteries.
The Second Division was with Sir George White in Ladysmith, and comprised a cavalry brigade, consisting of the 5th Dragoon Guards, 5th Lancers, 18th and 19th Hussars.
Seventh Brigade—Brigadier-General Ian Hamilton: 1st Battalion Manchesters, 2nd Battalion Gordons, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers: and 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.Eighth Brigade—Brigadier-General F. Howard: 1st Leicesters, 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion King's Liverpools, and a company of the Rifle Brigade.
Seventh Brigade—Brigadier-General Ian Hamilton: 1st Battalion Manchesters, 2nd Battalion Gordons, 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers: and 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.
Eighth Brigade—Brigadier-General F. Howard: 1st Leicesters, 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion King's Liverpools, and a company of the Rifle Brigade.
White also had the following divisional troops, brigaded under Brigadier-General Knox: 1st Devons, 1st Gloucester, and 1st King's Royal Rifles. There were also six field, one mountain battery, two 6-inch howitzers, and a naval brigade of 280 men, with five long-range quick-firing guns.
Sir Redvers Buller at the time of Lord Roberts's arrival had upwards of 30,000 men, thus detailed:
Second Division: General Lyttelton.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Hildyard: 2nd Battalion Queen's, 2nd Battalion Devons, 2nd Battalion West Yorks, and 2nd Battalion East Surrey.Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Norcott: 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, with three field batteries.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Hildyard: 2nd Battalion Queen's, 2nd Battalion Devons, 2nd Battalion West Yorks, and 2nd Battalion East Surrey.
Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Norcott: 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, with three field batteries.
Fifth Division: Sir Charles Warren.
Tenth Brigade—Major-General Coke: 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Dorset, 2nd Battalion Middlesex.Eleventh Brigade—Brigadier-General A. S. Wynne: 1st Battalion King's Own, 1st Battalion East Lancashire, and the Rifle reserve battalion, with three batteries of field artillery.
Tenth Brigade—Major-General Coke: 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion Dorset, 2nd Battalion Middlesex.
Eleventh Brigade—Brigadier-General A. S. Wynne: 1st Battalion King's Own, 1st Battalion East Lancashire, and the Rifle reserve battalion, with three batteries of field artillery.
Third Division: Clery.
Fifth Brigade—Major-General Hart: 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Border Regiment, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.Sixth Brigade—Major-General Barton: 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, with three field batteries.
Fifth Brigade—Major-General Hart: 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Border Regiment, 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers, 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
Sixth Brigade—Major-General Barton: 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, with three field batteries.
Buller's cavalry consisted of the Royal Dragoons, 13th Hussars, and a large number of colonial troops, who were of the most effective service. He also had a naval brigade of 400 men, with a number of 4·7 and 12-pounder long-range guns.
Such was the position of the army commanded by Lord Roberts when, on February 12, General French was sent forward with the Cavalry Division (Kelly-Kenny, with the Sixth Division, following in support) for the relief of Kimberley.
This battle honour has been conferred on the following regiments:
1st Life Guards.2nd Life Guards.Royal Horse Guards.Carabiniers.Scots Greys.9th Lancers.10th Hussars.12th Lancers.16th Lancers.Buffs.Yorkshire.Gloucesters.West Riding.Welsh.Oxford Light Infantry.Essex.
There were many reasons why the Boers should have made great endeavours to seize this town. Cecil Rhodes, their arch-enemy, was shut up in the place, and the garrison was certainly none too large for the task confided to its commander. Lord Methuen had been checked by two serious reverses in his advance on Kimberley, and his division now lay a few miles to the south of the town, with the Boer army under Cronje facing him. Lord Roberts pushed up the Sixth Division, under General Kelly-Kenny, to Randam, hard by the Modder River. The Sixth was followed by the Seventh Division, under General Tucker; and the Seventh by the Ninth, under Sir Henry Colville. The Cavalry Division, under Lieutenant-General French, was also moved westwards towards the line of railway leading up from the Cape to Kimberley. With this division Lord Roberts intended to effect the relief of the Diamond City.
French's division was composed of three brigades of cavalry, with a strong force of mounted infantry, and was brigaded as follows:
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Porter: The Scots Greys, the Carabiniers, one squadron each of the Inniskillings, 14th Hussars, and New South Wales Horse, and three batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Broadwood: Composite regiment of Household Cavalry, 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, and three batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Gordon: 9th and 16th Lancers, with two batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.Mounted Infantry Division—Colonel Alderson: Three battalions of mounted infantry, Roberts's Horse, Kitchener's Horse, the Queensland and New Zealand Mounted Infantry.
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Porter: The Scots Greys, the Carabiniers, one squadron each of the Inniskillings, 14th Hussars, and New South Wales Horse, and three batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Broadwood: Composite regiment of Household Cavalry, 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, and three batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.
Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Gordon: 9th and 16th Lancers, with two batteries of Royal Horse Artillery.
Mounted Infantry Division—Colonel Alderson: Three battalions of mounted infantry, Roberts's Horse, Kitchener's Horse, the Queensland and New Zealand Mounted Infantry.
In the very early morning of February 12 French left the line of railway, and, bearing to the eastward, crossed the Riet River between Cronje's camp and the capital. He was followed by the Sixth (Kelly-Kenny's) Division. Sweeping round through Watervaal and Klip's Drift, French found the Boers astride his road. They were not in great strength, and he made no attempt to bandy words with them. The road to his objective lay between two hills, on which the enemy were posted, and French, mindful of the urgency of his mission, determined to ignore the enemy, and, putting his men at the gallop, he forced his way past the Boers with astonishingly little loss. His way was now clear, and, pushing ahead as fast as the condition of his horses would allow, he swept round to the north of the town, and at 6 p.m. had effected the task before him. Leaving Colonel Porter in command, French now retraced his steps, in order to take a part in the impending attack on the position held by General Cronje near Paardeburg.
Casualties during French's Relief of Kimberley.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Scots Greys1236Inniskillings-1-29th Lancers-311710th Hussars---1Buffs-1-4Yorkshires----Gloucesters-128Cornwall L.I.---312th Lancers---114th Hussars---116th Lancers11318R.H. Artillery13-24West Riding---19Hampshires--11Oxford L.I.-11138Roberts's Horse-1-5
This battle honour was conferred on the following regiments for the operation which resulted in the surrenderof the Boer Commander-in-Chief in the war in the Transvaal:
1st Life Guards.2nd Life Guards.Royal Horse Guards.Carabiniers.Scots Greys.9th Lancers.10th Hussars.12th Lancers.16th Lancers.Buffs.Norfolks.Lincolns.Yorkshires.K.O. Scot. Borderers.Gloucesters.Cornwall L.I.West Riding.Hampshires.Welsh.Black Watch.Oxford L.I.Essex.Shropshire L.I.Seaforth Highlanders.Gordon Highlanders.Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
By the brilliant relief of Kimberley Lord Roberts had scored the first real success of the campaign, and had opened the way for an advance on the capital of the Boer Republics. General Cronje realized this, and, breaking up his camp on the Modder River, commenced a hurried retreat towards Bloemfontein. But Lord Roberts was already practically athwart his path. French, returning from Kimberley, threw himself across the head of Cronje's army, and General Kelly-Kenny, with the Sixth Division, clung to his rear. The Seventh and Ninth Divisions were now closing up, and Lord Roberts was free to assault the strong position which Cronje had taken up at Paardeburg.
Despite the large force at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief, the operation was none too simple. Cronje had with him a large number of women and children, and, from motives of humanity, Lord Roberts was averse to resorting to the usual methods of war. Our first attack on the Boer position at Paardeburg was met in the most gallant manner, our losses being very heavy. Little by little we neared the Boer defences, our troops actually sapping up to the cleverly-devised works; but it was not until February 27 that General Cronje decided to surrender.
The road was now open for an advance on Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State, and as soon as Lord Roberts had filled up his convoys with provisions he recommenced his forward march, and on March 12 the Field-Marshal hoisted the British flag in Bloemfontein.
THE COLOURS OF THE QUEEN'S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT, 1902.(Formerly the Tangier Regiment.)To face page 424.
THE COLOURS OF THE QUEEN'S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT, 1902.(Formerly the Tangier Regiment.)To face page 424.
THE COLOURS OF THE QUEEN'S ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT, 1902.(Formerly the Tangier Regiment.)To face page 424.
To face page 424.
Casualties during the Operations at Paardeburg, February 18 to 27, 1900.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.1st Life Guards----2nd Life Guards---5Roy. H. Guards---4Carabiniers---1Scots Greys---29th Lancers-1-510th Hussars--21012th Lancers---116th Lancers---1Royal Artillery--321Roy. Canadian133490Buffs1127Norfolks11--Lincolns-2218Yorkshire1749103K.O. Scottish Borderers-1-15Gloucesters-1519Cornwall Light Infantry342556West Ridings1222104Hampshire--14Welsh151863Black Watch131979Oxford L.I.34630Essex-31547K.O. Shrop. L.I.-4835Seaforth Highl.2645103Gordon Highl.-2315Argyll Highl.161966
I have already alluded to the reverse that Buller met with at Colenso on December 15. On January 24 a second attempt by Sir Redvers Buller met with no better success, our losses amounting to 1,700 killed and wounded. The advance of Lord Roberts to the eastward had the effect that the experienced Field-Marshal anticipated. The pressure in Natal was lessened, and on the day that Cronje surrendered to Lord Roberts Buller's mounted brigade entered Ladysmith, after a series of well-fought actions, in which, if our men upheld the traditions of the British army, the Boers showed themselves gallant foemen.
Casualties at the Relief of Ladysmith.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Dragoons--2613th Hussars----Royal Artillery3101898Roy. Engineers----Queen's West Surrey31030245K.O. Lancs34107225Royal Fusiliers--569King's Liverpl.----Devons-716189Somerset L.I.311663West Yorkshire2527173Lancashire Fus.61285247Royal Welsh Fusiliers221054Scottish Rifles61049102Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers51498248East Surrey1627176Border161420Dorsets-1327South Lancs2426121Middlesex--2071K. Roy. Rifles3947143York and Lanc.-413137Durham L.I.2620118Roy. Irish Fus.--1488Connaught R.-756177R. Dublin Fus.51289348Rifle Brigade-1230151
The actual siege of Ladysmith commenced when Sir George White met with the reverse at Lombards' Kop on October 30, and lasted for four months. With the large force at his disposal there was but small chance of the place being carried by assault, but there was always the possibility of its being compelled to surrender by famine. Fortunately, in White we had a commander whose reputation for personal bravery was proverbial, and he had with him senior officers whose names were almost as well known for their gallantry. In his garrison were seasoned regiments of old soldiers who had but recently arrived from India. The Boers had experienced the metal of White's men at Talana and at Elandslaagte, and cared little to come again to close quarters with them.
During that long siege of four months the Boers made but one attempt to attack the place. This action, known as Cæsar's Camp (January 6), was one of the hardest-fought actions of the war, our losses amounting to 18 officers and 158 men killed, 29 officers and 221 men wounded, whereas the total casualties for the rest of the siege only reached the total of 6 officers and 62 men killed, 33 officers and 262 men wounded. The losses by sickness were not unusually heavy. That they were not heavier was due to the cheerful face put on the situation by the brave commander and the self-devotion of the officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who, as ever, showed themselves as careless of their own lives as they were tenderly careful of those of the men committed to their charge.[34]
Casualties at the Defence of Ladysmith.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.5th Dragoon Guards-4195th Lancers1721418th Hussars-191919th Hussars--616Royal Artillery----Roy. Engineers2177Devons342550Leicesters21526Gloucesters--89K. Roy. Rifles3-4258Manchesters1104990Gordon Highl.231625Rifle Brigade293243
With the surrender of Cronje's army, the relief of Ladysmith, and the entry of our army into Bloemfontein, it was hoped that the back of the enemy was broken. The war, however, dragged on for close on two years, the principal incidents being the relief of Mafeking by Brigadier-General Mahon on May 15, the occupation of Johannesburg by Lord Roberts on the 31st of the same month, and the entry into Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, on June 5. The Boers showed marvellous powers ofrecuperation, and many hard actions were fought ere they were subdued. In the month of October the aged President Kruger deserted his fellow-countrymen, and embarked for Europe, and on the 25th of that month Lord Roberts formally proclaimed the annexation of the two Republics to the Empire, and in the following month Lord Roberts handed over the command to General Lord Kitchener. Then we entered on a long period of guerilla warfare, for which our troops were little prepared. More reinforcements were called for, and by the close of the year 30,000 men were sent out to South Africa. It was not until the month of March, 1902, that the Boer commanders consented to treat, although the hopelessness of the struggle must have been long apparent to the meanest understanding, and on May 31, 1902, the conditions of surrender were signed. Never was an enemy treated with more consideration.
The war in the Transvaal was noteworthy in many ways. It is true that in the campaign in Egypt a small body of Canadian Voyageurs had volunteered for service up the Nile, and that the Government of New South Wales had despatched a contingent to our assistance at Suakin in 1885; but during the war in South Africa contingents were despatched from all our dominions beyond the seas. Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and Tasmania all had their forces in the field; whilst in the regiments of Yeomanry were to be found men drawn from all ranks of society and from all parts of our Empire—from the islands of the West Indies to Hong-Kong. Then, again, it was the first occasion in which men from our Volunteer corps had been permitted to strengthen the ranks of their line battalions, and the first in which the Yeomanry and Militia had been pushed forward into the fighting-line. There were two great lessons taught by the war—the one that our military organization was not adapted to modern warfare, and the second that the Mother Country could count on the warm-hearted support of her children beyond the seas.
Decorations for the War in South Africa, 1899-1902.
Regiments.V.C.C.B.C.M.G.D.S.O.D.C.M.[35]1st Life Guards-1-332nd Life Guards-1-42Roy. H. Guards-1-42K. Drag. Guards-1-21Queen's Bays----13rd Drag. Gds.---315th Drag. Gds.12-26Carabiniers-2-567th Drag. Gds.---35Royal Dragoons-2-26Scots Greys---453rd Hussars---115th Lancers1--35Inniskill. Drag.-1-277th Hussars-3-618th Hussars-3-149th Lancers-1-61010th Hussars21-2511th Hussars-----12th Lancers-2-6613th Hussars-1-4514th Hussars1--2516th Lancers---4617th Lancers---3318th Hussars11-61019th Hussars-1-38Royal Artillery9271195261Roy. Engineers1853576Grenadier Gds.-4-916Coldstream Gds.-4-1319Scots Guards-2-719Royal Scots---1016Queen's-111017Buffs-2-1016King's Own-1-1011N'umberland F.-2-831Royal Warwicks---613Royal Fusiliers11-613K. Liverpool211511Norfolks-1-1016Lincolns-1-215Devons12-1132Suffolks-1-512Somerset L.I.-1-311West Yorks21-815East Yorks-1-510Bedfords---69Leicesters--138Royal Irish-1-612Yorkshire11-517Lancs Fusiliers---821Roy. Scots Fus.121310Cheshires-2-211Roy. Welsh Fus.-1-817S. Wales Bord.11-411K.O. Scot. Bord.11-713Scottish Rifles---315Inniskilling Fus.---513Gloucesters-1-512Worcester-2-1021E. Lancashire-1-810East Surrey11-912Cornwall L.I.1--311West Ridings11-513Border-1-610Royal Sussex-1-615Hampshire-1-311South Staffords-1148Dorsets-1-514S. Lancashire-1-56Welsh-2-612Roy. Highl.-2-813Oxford L.I.-1-713Essex13-813Derbyshire22-620Loy. N. Lancs-21815Northamptons-1-58Royal Berkshire11-714Royal W. Kent-3-29K.O. Yorks L.I.11-515Shropshire L.I.-1-78Middlesex-2-610K. Royal Rifles2212138Wiltshire-1-39Manchesters21-1423N. Staffords---58York and Lanc.-2-38Durham L.I.-3-916Highland L.I.11-59Seaforth Highl.-2-314Gordon Highl.6311032Cameron Highl.12-513Roy. Irish Rifles-1-415Roy. Irish Fus.-1-49Argyll Highl.-21510Connaught R.-2-412Leinster-1-36R. Munster Fus.-2-514Roy. Dublin F.-2-1018Rifle Brigade2211435Army Med. C.512272738Army Service C.-7-93Militia Battalions.Royal Scots-1-23Queen's W. Sur.--123East Kent-1-13K.O. R. Lancs--147Roy. Warwicks-1-13Norfolk-1113Devon--1--Somerset L.I.--1-3West York---23Bedford-1-33Leicesters---1-Yorkshire--113Lancashire F.-1122Cheshire---33S. Wales Bord.--113Scottish Bord.--123Scottish Rifles-1-23Worcesters----1East Lancs--113East Surrey--1--West Riding-1-13Royal Sussex-1--1South Staffords---14South Lancs---22Welsh-1-23Oxford L.I.---1-Derbyshire---22Loy. N. Lancs---11Middlesex--123K. Roy. Rifles--112Manchester----1North Stafford--112Durham L.I.--112Roy. Irish R.-1-11Argyll and Sutherland H.-1-12Leinster--233R. Munster Fus.--1-2Roy. Dublin F.---23Antrim Artill.--1-1Donegal Artill.----1Londonderry A.----1City Imp. Vol.-21517Engineer Vol.-1--4Lovat's Scouts-1-24Imperial Yeom.110196113Elswick Art. V.---21Scottish Horse11-36Contingents from our Dominions beyond the Seas.Canadian troops4561918New South Wales-712315New Zealand1521011Queensland-61811South Australia-31910Tasmania23-44Victoria12276West Australia12-68South Africa101234125191Lumsden's Horse (India)-1126
Total Casualties during the War in South Africa, 1899-1902.