South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 5 (of 8): From the Disaster at Koorn Spruit to Lord Roberts's Entry into PretoriaCreswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 5 (of 8): From the Disaster at Koorn Spruit to Lord Roberts's Entry into Pretoria
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
On the 29th of May, part of the Cavalry Division, General Ian Hamilton's
Mounted Infantry, the 19th and 21st Brigades, and some Colonials who had
moved parallel to the main advance since it left the Vaal, found
themselves about twelve miles south of Johannesburg. East of Doornkop
some 4000 Boers, with six guns, had taken up a menacing position,
strengthened with various natural obstacles, while the ground had been
blackened with grass fires to afford an effective background to
approaching kharki. The troops, supported by the guns, at once steadily
advanced to attack the Boer centre, while Generals French and Hutton
operated on the west to turn the right flank of the position. After an
hour's smart fighting the infantry were able to push on, Porter's
brigade having ridden five miles to the west, and turned the enemy's
right, while the infantry, with fixed bayonets, had driven the enemy
from every cherished kopje. In the attack, the Gordons in the centre of
the right, the City Imperial Volunteers in the centre on the left,
advanced gradually on the Boer position. The gallant nature of the
advance over the burnt and blackened ground, which made the infantry
into targets for the foe, excited the admiration of all. Grandly the
Gordons flung themselves upon the enemy, in spite of the Boer guns and
"pom-pom," that dealt death and destruction among their numbers. Seventy
of the dashing fellows dropped, and the only consolation for so great a
loss was, that by nightfall 6000 Dutchmen were scudding away in the
darkness, while General Hamilton was bivouacking on the ground seized
from them, and Generals French and Hutton, who had turned the right
flank of the position, were threatening Krugersdorp. The conduct of the
City Imperial Volunteers was magnificent, and to them, as well as to the
Gordons, much of the credit of the day's work was due. They behaved as
skilled troops, taking cover with great ingenuity, and returning the
attacks of the enemy with amazing coolness and precision. Their
sustained volleys succeeded in clearing out the Boers immediately in
front of Roodepoorte. Commandant Botha--not Louis Botha, but a
kinsman--with a hundred foreign and Irish subsidised sympathisers, was
captured, and, in addition to these, a Creusot gun and twelve waggons of
stores and ammunition were secured.
The losses among officers in this engagement were comparatively few.
Captain St. J. Meyrick, 1st Gordon Highlanders, was killed. Among the
wounded were:--
City Imperial Volunteers--Capt. G. W. Barkley. 1st Gordon
Highlanders--Capt. G. E. E. G. Cameron, Lieut.-Col. H. H.
Burney, Capt. P. S. Allen, second Lieut. A. Cameron,
Surg.-Lieut. A. H. Benson, Dr. R. Hunter. Vol. Co. Gordon
Highlanders--Capt. J. B. Buchanan, Lieut. J. Mackinnon, Lieut.
H. Forbes. Royal Army Medical Corps--Lieut. A. H. Benson. 2nd
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry--Lieut. H. W. Fife (since
dead). 10th Hussars--Lieut. T. Lister.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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