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
"The engine was backed and then pushed against the trucks on the line,
and it was when this operation was going on that another truck, behind
which the men were firing to cover the working party, fell over and
injured one or two D.L.I. seriously. They had been ordered to stand back
while the engine butted against the derailed trucks, but they evidently
did not hear the order.
"After nearly an hour's hard work and harder fighting, the line was
clear enough for the engine to go forward, but the waggons behind had to
be uncoupled and left. The Dubs who were in them and the Naval men,
however, had got out, and had gone away in extended order, and the
engine had moved on just when the line was clear.
"Captain Wyllie was shot in the thigh and dropped. Sergeant Tod, who had
also been injured in the hand, went to the Captain's assistance and
built up a cover of stones as a protection against rifle-fire. Just as
he was lying down a shell burst right in front, scattering the stones in
all directions, and some of the pieces struck Tod in the hip, inflicting
an ugly but not a serious wound.
"The engine in the meantime had gone forward, and was brought by
Lieutenant Churchill to pick up as many wounded as could be found.
Captain Wyllie and Tod were taken up on the tender, and the engine went
on some distance farther, when Captain Haldane of the Gordons and
Lieutenant Churchill jumped off and joined the men fighting their way
back; but the Boers were now closing all round, and the engine barely
got through."
The _Echo_, in a leading article, spoke warmly of Mr. Churchill's
exploit. It said: "In this affair Mr. Churchill, though a non-combatant,
displayed the courage of his stock, and cheered the men in the work of
rescuing the wounded and the bodies of the dead, crying, 'Come on, men!'
with all the courage that his father showed in political warfare or his
great ancestor on the fields of Blenheim or Malplaquet. When the engine
steamed off, Mr. Churchill remained behind to help. Every one will hope
that he is not killed."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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