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Page 19
[Illustration: Lieut.-Colonel C.W. Park]
The enemy held on, firing most heavily, until the charging lines were
within fifteen yards of them, and then ran down the slope and
disappeared behind a ridge of rocks some forty yards ahead, beyond which
the ground was dead and fell steeply away to the front. Almost before
the men could be secured in the position they had won, bullets began to
come in quickly from the right and left, and the cover of the rocks had
to be sought as several men were hit. A few of the Boers who had been
dislodged also crept back to the low ridge of rocks in front and began
firing, and it was at this time that Captain Lafone and Lieutenant Field
were hit. Lieutenant Walker, Somerset Light Infantry, and about
thirty-five men were hit during the charge. Colonel Park was then the
only officer left, the three companies being commanded by
non-commissioned officers.
Lieutenant Walker was one of the last shot dead in the charge. He was
shot through the head (as were most of the killed) within fifteen yards
of the kopje held by the Boers.
Lieutenant Field rushed forward beyond this kopje and lay down in the
open and commenced firing at the Boers at the crest just in front. He
was very shortly afterwards shot through the head.
Captain Lafone was shot shortly before Lieutenant Field. He was in the
act of firing at the time, taking aim, and was shot by a Boer lying in
the grass some twenty-five yards away on his right rear. Before he was
killed he had suggested to Lieutenant Masterton that some one should go
back to the I.L.H. sangar to ask them to direct their fire on to some
Boers on the left front; these were firing into the dead and wounded who
had been hit during the charge and left out in the open.
Lieutenant Masterton at once volunteered, and started to run back over
the 130 yards. He got most of the way across when he was hit in the legs
by a bullet, but he continued his course, and being struck again fell,
and was dragged behind cover by the I.L.H. He delivered his message.
The position won was held until the Boers retired under cover of
darkness. The men were then placed in defensive positions, and picquets
told off.
The wounded were subsequently cared for, and the dead left where they
had fallen till daylight.
Colonel Park described the fire of the Boers as like the crackle of a
piece of gorse in a blazing fire. Colour-Sergeant Palmer, who so greatly
distinguished himself both during and after the charge, said the air was
hot with bullets. His rifle was shot in two at the lower band as he was
taking aim, splinters grazing his face and hands. Half the survivors had
their clothing shot through, and the majority of the killed were found
to have been hit two or three times.
The strength of the force was 5 officers and 184 non-commissioned
officers and men, of whom 3 officers and 14 men were killed and 1
officer and 34 men were wounded.
Although the loss was great, viz. nearly one-third of the total number,
it is a matter of surprise that more were not hit during the run of 130
yards, exposed as they were for about three minutes to magazine fire at
a point-blank range. It can be accounted for by the fact that the Boers
crouching behind the rocks were rather below than above the level of the
men, and their fire being consequently directed upwards, the bullets
passed high and over the heads of the charging companies. This would
explain why the majority of the killed were shot through the head.
Lieutenant Walker was hit in the chin, the bullet cutting his chin-strap
and passing out at the back and top of his head.
The following morning, as the men were collecting and parading
preparatory to marching back to the railway cutting, Sir George White
rode up and addressed them. Shaking Colonel Park by the hand he said: "I
congratulate and thank you for the splendid work you and your men did
yesterday. It was magnificently done. I am afraid you suffered very
heavily, but you must remember that such work as that cannot be done for
the Empire without loss."
Whilst the three companies were performing such gallant deeds on the
southern defences, the three companies under Major Curry were holding
their own on the north-west defences at Observation Hill.
The Boers attacked this post heavily in the morning, and were supported
by six field-guns, which were supposed to have been the Colenso guns of
General Buller's army, shrapnel being continually burst with excellent
precision over the defences.
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