|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 50
Davies' mounted troops captured during the day fourteen Boers, some
families, 100 cattle, 1000 sheep, and six wagons. This column marched
twenty-two miles and camped for the night at Blaukrans, where Colonel
Davies rested his men on the 16th.
Colbank was reached on the 17th, when all mounted troops left to join
Kitchener's column at Bank Kop.
The following day the Regiment marched to Kranspan and joined up with
General Kitchener. The column captured that day several families and
twenty-two Boers. On the 19th the whole column marched in the direction
of Ermelo, and camped for the night on a hill overlooking the town. Camp
was reached at nightfall after a very long, dusty, and tiring march, the
rear-guard getting in after dark.
On the 20th the force marched through Ermelo to Driehook. A number of
Boers followed up the rear-guard, and there was a good deal of firing,
but no casualties. The march was resumed on the following day and
Kranspoort was reached. On the 22nd the column marched to Witbank, the
rear-guard being engaged almost the whole march. A halt was made at
Witbank. The West Australians were here again ambushed, losing two men
killed, one officer and two men wounded, and five taken prisoners.
Three hundred Boers were reported on the left flank at nightfall, and
preparations were made to receive a night attack, which, however, did
not come off. On the following day a dense fog delayed the march till 9
a.m., and it was not till late that Vaal Bank was reached. The
rear-guard, consisting of the Devon Regiment and the 6th West
Australians, was engaged the whole day with the Boers, who followed the
column right up to the new camp. That night the whole Regiment was on
outpost duty.
The rear-guard was engaged heavily the following day during the march to
Bankpan.
Campbell's and Babington's columns were on the immediate right. The
Devons halted for the day at Bankpan, when the 5th and 6th West
Australians left to join Campbell's column at Middlekraal, the 18th
Hussars exchanging over to Kitchener's column.
A night march was made on the 26th for the purpose of surrounding a farm
some eight miles distant. This was accomplished by midnight. No Boers
were taken. The column halted till daylight, when the march was again
resumed, and Erstegeluk reached in the afternoon. A number of Boers were
surprised in the neighbouring farms by the mounted troops; and shortly
after camp was formed, a body of Boers attempted to drive in the
outposts and to attack the camp, but without success.
The following day Bethel was reached, and camp was formed close to
Colonel Babington's column. The 18th Hussars, reconnoitring to the
south-east of Bethel, were surprised by a large party of Boers.
Lieutenant Green, Devonshire Regiment, who was in charge of the Colt gun
attached to the 18th Hussars and which was manned by men of the
Devonshire Regiment, behaved very gallantly in bringing his gun at once
into action and engaging the Boers within a range of 500 yards, thus
covering the cavalry and giving them time to rally.
On June 29th the march was resumed, and the column reached Schurvekop,
the rear-guard receiving a good deal of attention from the Boers. Camp
was formed at Middlekraal on the following day. Here Campbell's column
was again met with.
Middlekraal was left on July 1st, and the column marched in the
direction of Springs. A number of Boers were in the vicinity of the
first camp, Witbank, and the camp was sniped during the night. The
following day the column marched to Bakenlaagte, the scene of the
disaster to Benson's column, the rear-guard being followed up by a few
Boers.
After a short march the following day Grootpan was reached, and at 8
p.m. three companies of the Regiment under Captain Bartlett, and the 5th
and 6th West Australians, made a night march to the south, capturing a
picquet of six Boers early next morning. The column, after a
twelve-miles' march, reached Sondagskraal on the 4th at 1 p.m. On
arrival there news was received that a Boer convoy, accompanied by Louis
Botha, was in the neighbourhood of Trichardtsfontein, about fifteen
miles from Sondagskraal.
General Kitchener determined to intercept this convoy, and for this
reason the following force under his personal command, viz. two
squadrons 19th Hussars, 5th and 6th West Australians, and four companies
of the Devonshire Regiment under Captain Jacson, set out the same
evening. The mounted troops of Colville's column co-operated.
Trichardtsfontein was reached an hour before dawn, when the place was
found deserted. A halt was made there for the day, when Colville's
column left.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|