[1] Lieutenant-Colonel A. Baird-Douglas was a militia officer whose first appointment was dated October 1, 1881. His name is to be found among the list of officers of the reserve, who have held commissions in the Hon. Artillery Company of London, Militia, Yeomanry, or Volunteers. He had been Major and Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel of the 3rd Battalion of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders since March 1898; was attached to the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment, which was embodied on the 4th of December 1899. [2] The Earl of Airlie was born in 1856, and was the eldest son of the seventh Earl, whom he succeeded in 1881. He was educated at Eton, and entered the army in 1874. He served with the 10th Hussars in the Afghan War in 1878-79. In that war he distinguished himself on more than one occasion. He was present at the attack and capture of Ali Musjid, and in the engagement at Futtehabad. He next saw active service in the Soudan Expedition in 1884, and was present at the engagement at Temai. Then he joined the Nile Expedition as brigade-major under Sir Herbert Stewart, and was slightly wounded at Abu Klea, and in the reconnaissance to Metemmeh. He was frequently mentioned in despatches for conspicuous conduct, and for his distinguished services he received many medals, clasps, and orders. From 1889 to 1895 he was on staff service as an adjutant of the Hampshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and in 1897 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in command of the 12th Lancers, with which regiment he went out to South Africa last year. He was a Scottish representative peer, and deputy-lieutenant of the County of Forfar. [3] This block and that on p. 16 are from "Ian Hamilton's March," by permission of Mr. Winston Churchill and Messrs. Longmans. [4] See vol. i. p. 71. CHAPTER II GENERAL BULLER'S OPERATIONS--ROUTING THE BOERS FROM LAING'S NEK[5] The Natal Field Force, after the departure of Sir Charles Warren, was composed as follows:-- SECOND DIVISION (Lieutenant-General Sir C. F. Clery).--2nd Brigade (Major-General Hamilton)--2nd East Surrey; 2nd West Yorks; 2nd Devons; 2nd West Surrey. 4th Brigade (Colonel C. D. Cooper)--1st Rifle Brigade; 1st Durham Light Infantry; 3rd King's Royal Rifles; 2nd Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), 7th, 14th, and 66th Field Batteries. FOURTH DIVISION (Lieutenant-General Lyttelton).--7th Brigade (Brigadier-General F. W. Kitchener)--1st Devon; 1st Gloucester; 1st Manchester; 2nd Gordon Highlanders. 8th Brigade (Major-General F. Howard)--1st Royal Irish Fusiliers; 1st Leicester; 1st King's Royal Rifles; 2nd King's Royal Rifles. Two Brigade Divisions Royal Artillery--13th, 67th, 69th Field Batteries; 21st, 42nd, 53rd Field Batteries.