South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 6 (of 8): From the Occupation of Pretoria to Mr. Kruger's Departure from South Africa, with a Summarised Account of the Guerilla War to March 1901Creswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 6 (of 8): From the Occupation of Pretoria to Mr. Kruger's Departure from South Africa, with a Summarised Account of the Guerilla War to March 1901
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
=Corporal H. J. Knight=, 1st Battalion Liverpool Regiment, No. 1 Company,
Fourth Division Mounted Infantry.--On the 21st August 1900, during the
operations near Van Wyk's Vlei, Corporal Knight was posted in some rocks
with four men covering the right rear of a detachment of the same company
who, under Captain Ewart, were holding the right of the line. The enemy,
about fifty strong, attacked Captain Ewart's right and almost surrounded,
at short range, Corporal Knight's small party. That non-commissioned
officer held his ground, directing his party to retire one by one to
better cover, where he maintained his position for nearly an hour,
covering the withdrawal of Captain Ewart's force, and losing two of his
four men. He then retired, bringing with him two wounded men. One of
these he left in a place of safety, the other he carried himself for
nearly two miles. The party were hotly engaged during the whole time.
=Private William Heaton=, 1st Battalion the King's (Liverpool
Regiment).--On the 23rd August 1900, the company to which Private Heaton
belonged, advancing in front of the general line held by the troops,
became surrounded by the enemy and was suffering severely. At the request
of the officer commanding Private Heaton volunteered to take a message
back to explain the position of the company. He was successful, though at
the imminent risk of his own life. Had it not been for Private Heaton's
courage there can be little doubt that the remainder of the company,
which suffered very severely, would have had to surrender.
=Lieutenant Guy G. E. Wylly=, Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.--On the 1st of
September 1900, near Warm Bad, Lieutenant Wylly was with the advanced
scouts of a foraging party. They were passing through a narrow gorge,
very rocky and thickly wooded, when the enemy in force suddenly opened
fire at short range from hidden cover, wounding six out of the party of
eight, including Lieutenant Wylly. That officer, seeing that one of his
men was badly wounded in the leg, and that his horse was shot, went back
to the man's assistance, made him take his (Lieutenant Wylly's) horse,
and opened fire from behind a rock to cover the retreat of the others, at
the imminent risk of being cut off himself. Colonel T. E. Hickman,
D.S.O., considers that the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Wylly saved
Corporal Brown from being killed or captured, and that his subsequent
action in firing to cover the retreat was "instrumental in saving others
of his men from death or capture."
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