South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899Creswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8): From the Commencement of the War to the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Meanwhile the sappers wrought wonderful things. They had shown the stuff
they were made of by crossing over the river-dam in the teeth of the
enemy. They now demonstrated their ability in their own special line.
The Modder bridge was entirely wrecked, but very speedily a temporary
one was constructed, and the railway, which had also suffered at the
hands of the enemy, was repaired with great celerity, and brought into
working order. Lieutenant Crispin of the Northumberland Fusiliers was
wounded while out on patrol duty. Fortunately the injury sustained by
Lord Methuen was slight, and there was every hope that he would be equal
to active duty in the course of a very few days.
We must now leave this division in the enjoyment of its well-earned
repose and return to Ladysmith, which was fast becoming the cage of 9000
of our gallant troops.
FOOTNOTES:
[5] Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Cecil Edward Keith-Falconer, born in October
1860, was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers in January 1883. He was
promoted Captain in 1892 and passed through the Staff College with
honours. He served with the 13th Soudanese Battalion in the Dongola
Expeditionary force under Lord Kitchener in 1896, and acted as
Brigade-Major to Colonel H. Macdonald at the engagements of Abu Hamed,
Berber, Atbara, and finally at the battle of Omdurman. In recognition of
these services he was three times mentioned in despatches, promoted as
Brevet-Major in March 1898, and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in November
1898, and received the Khedive's medal with four clasps. He acted as
A.D.C. to Lord Loch when Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Victoria from
1887 to 1889, and subsequently at the Cape of Good Hope from 1889 to 1890.
Colonel Keith-Falconer was the eldest son of the late Major the Hon.
Charles J. Keith-Falconer, son of the seventh Earl of Kintore.
[6] Commander Alfred Peel Ethelston, of the cruiser _Powerful_, who was
among the killed at the battle of Graspan, joined the navy in 1875, and
two years later became a midshipman. In 1882 he attained the rank of
sub-lieutenant, was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1885, and was made
commander at the beginning of 1897. As sub-lieutenant of the _Helicon_ he
took part in the naval and military operations in the Eastern Soudan at
Suakim in 1884-85, for which he received the Egyptian medal and the
Khedive's bronze star. Commander Ethelston was appointed to the _Powerful_
two years ago.
[7] Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel H. Ponting Northcote, who belonged to the
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment, became a Lieutenant in 1877, Captain
in 1886, and Major in 1894. He served in the Sherbro' Expedition in 1883
with the 2nd West India Regiment, and was mentioned in despatches,
receiving a medal, and was afterwards created a C.B. In 1888 he served in
the operations in Zululand as Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General, while in
1895 he accompanied the expedition to Ashanti under Sir Francis Scott,
receiving the star.
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