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Page 20
[Illustration: Naval Battery Hill, Ladysmith]
[Illustration: Monument Erected to Devons on Wagon Hill, on Spot Where
the Charge Took Place, Ladysmith]
The account of the fighting which took place is told in Major Curry's
own words:--
"The battle of Ladysmith commenced between 2 and 3 a.m. on C�sar's Camp
and soon we were engaged all round. The three companies which had
proceeded to Observation Hill originally had just been relieved by three
fresh companies. At about 4 a.m. Lieutenant Emerson reported to me that
there was a party of Boers to his front, that he had fired on them, and
that they had retired. I thought it was the usual picquet and that they
had gone right back (it was too dark to see much); but such was not the
case, for they had concealed themselves in a fold in the ground about
300 yards to our front. Their strength must have been between seventy
and eighty.
"The enemy brought fire to bear on us from a 40-pounder howitzer, a
field-gun, and a hotchkiss on Surprise Hill, and from one or two
field-guns on the hill to our right over Hyde's Farm. They pounded away
all the morning, and brought a continuous rifle fire on our position as
well. At about 9.30 a.m. I heard a rattle of musketry from our centre
work, and when I went up there I found that the enemy, who had concealed
themselves in the fold in the ground in the early morning, had advanced
right up the hill and had got within a few yards of our sangars before
being seen. We killed nine and wounded twelve. They retired again to
their cover, where they remained for the greater part of the day,
slipping away by ones and twos back to their position. At about 4 p.m. a
tremendous thunder and hail storm came on, which blotted out everything.
The fire, which had ceased as the storm came on, was not renewed. Our
loss was two killed by rifle fire, when the Boers made their attack. Our
sangars were frequently breached by the 40-lb. shell during the day, but
there was no loss from shell fire."
These three companies were relieved by the Leicesters the next evening.
Lieutenant Masterson was rewarded with the Victoria Cross, and the
following is the official account of his gallant deed:--
"During the action at Wagon Hill, on the 6th January, 1900, Lieutenant
Masterson commanded with the greatest gallantry and dash one of the
three companies of his regiment, which charged a ridge held by the
enemy, and captured the position.
"The companies were then exposed to a most heavy and galling fire from
the right and left front. Lieutenant Masterson undertook to give a
message to the Imperial Light Horse, who were holding a ridge some
hundred yards behind, to fire to the left front and endeavour to check
the enemy's fire.
"In taking this message he crossed an open space of a hundred yards,
which was swept by a most heavy cross fire, and although badly wounded
in both thighs managed to crawl in and deliver his message before
falling exhausted into the Imperial Light Horse trench. His unselfish
heroism was undoubtedly the means of saving several lives."
The gallant conduct of Colour-Sergeant Palmer was brought to notice
under the following circumstances: When three companies of the Regiment
were ordered to charge the ridge held by the enemy on Wagon Hill on
January 6th, 1900, Colour-Sergeant Gilbert Palmer was with the leading
company, and he at once dashed out to the front with most conspicuous
bravery, and went straight for the point from which the heaviest fire
was coming. The enemy ran before they were reached, but the three
companies were exposed to a galling fire from the right, left, and
front. Colour-Sergeant Palmer got behind a rock and shot several of the
enemy, at the same time keeping a constant eye upon his own men, telling
them when and where to fire, and when to take cover. When all the
company officers were either killed or wounded, he at once recognized
his position as senior non-commissioned officer, and was invaluable in
getting orders passed to the other companies, and in superintending the
men till dark, when the enemy retired. He then, acting under orders,
personally placed the outpost line, saw to the collection of the dead
and wounded, and, in fact, rendered invaluable assistance in every way.
His dash and pluck during the bayonet charge, his coolness and steady
courage under a heavy cross fire, and the power of command and of quick
and correct judgment displayed by him were most brilliant.
Colour-Sergeant Palmer's name was previously brought to notice for
gallant conduct at the battle of Elandslaagte on October 21st, 1899, so
that this made the second occasion on which he conspicuously
distinguished himself.
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