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Page 8
The Maxim gun under Lieutenant Price-Dent came into action in rear of
the left of the line and fired at the enemy to the left front.
The enemy's fire from this ridge was soon silenced, and from that time
the only objective the line had was a few scattered Boers and their
horses on the rear slope of the high hill to the left front, some 2000
yards distant.
The reserve was deployed into two lines of double companies on and below
a small ridge of rocks some 250 yards in rear of the firing-line. At
about 2 p.m. the retirement commenced, and the battalion gradually
followed the Liverpool Regiment and became rearguard. Ladysmith was
reached about 3.30 p.m., after a sixteen-mile march in torrents of rain.
The casualties of the battalion during the day were:--
1 private killed.[1]
25 privates wounded, none dangerously.
[Footnote 1: This private, the first man of the Regiment killed in the
war, was Private Winsor. He was shot dead through the heart by a stray
bullet.]
This action was known as the action of Reitfontein.
On October 26th General Yule's force marched into Ladysmith. They had
had a bad time, having marched in drenching rain, day and night, from
Sunday till Wednesday. The garrison of Ladysmith gave them food on
arrival, the Regiment supplying the Dublin Fusiliers (officers and men)
with refreshments.
On October 27th it was reported that the Boers were nearing Ladysmith
and attempting to surround the place, and a large force was ordered out
by Sir George White to reconnoitre.
This reconnaissance was under the command of Colonel Ian Hamilton, and
his column consisted of three cavalry regiments, three batteries, and
four infantry battalions, to which was added later one infantry
battalion and one battery.
Having advanced beyond the Nek between Lombards Kop and Bulwana, and
having crossed the Modder Spruit on the Helpmakaar road, the Regiment
was sent on outpost duty to the left front, whilst the main body of the
force halted on the bank of the stream.
From the outpost line large bodies of the enemy were observed advancing
over Long Hill. Boers were also seen very busy on the kopjes south of
Long Hill, entrenching.
At 8 p.m. orders were received from the officer commanding the column,
in which it was explained that the force was to make a night march and
attack, the infantry to advance at 2 a.m.
The Boer position as seen by the Regiment on the outpost line was some
three miles in length, and the point of attack was to be the extreme
left of their position, viz. Farquhar's Farm.
In the opinion of some the attack would have succeeded and the evil days
of the siege put back; in the opinion of others the attack could not
possibly have succeeded on account of the length of the Boer position,
which they had had time to strengthen and entrench, and which had not
been definitely reconnoitred.
At midnight fresh orders were received from Sir George White in
Ladysmith. The whole force was ordered to retire and to proceed back at
once into their positions in and about the town.
It was reported that the Boers were in great numbers, some 17,000 under
Joubert, and that they had their big guns with them.
The Regiment commenced their retirement as rearguard to the force at 4
a.m., and reached camp at 6.30 a.m. on October 28th.
October 29th was a Sunday, and except for rumours, which were prolific,
a quiet day was spent.
The Boers were reported to be entrenching themselves a mile and a half
out on the Dundee road, and at the same time the Ladysmith defences were
being prepared, and blasting operations were being carried out for the
construction of military roads.
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