South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Guerilla War, from February 1901 to the Conclusion of HostilitiesCreswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Guerilla War, from February 1901 to the Conclusion of Hostilities
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
While all this ferreting and hunting was going forward in the south,
some brilliant deeds were taking place in the Kimberley district. De
Villiers and Conroy, with a strong force, made a lunge upon
Griquatown, the garrison of the place being only 100 in number. The
force, though small, was determined, and the aggressors were sent to
the right-about. This was on the 12th of August. On the 24th the
hostile hordes made a vigorous dash on a convoy, for which they
doubtless hungered with a hunger that lent heroism to their attack.
Certain it is that they came to very close quarters, and that fighting
between them and the escort (74th (Irish) Squadron, Imperial
Yeomanry), under Captain Humby, was carried on more stubbornly and
fiercely than usual. The Boers--400 of them--surrounded the convoy,
and it seemed at one moment as though they must inevitably annihilate
the little British force; but the men stood their ground like rocks,
or, rather, like fervid volcanoes spouting fire, and fighting with
such daring and determination that eventually, at nightfall, the enemy
were forced to withdraw. The gallantry of the officers and men of the
Yeomanry was superb--Lieutenant Despard and Lieutenant Kidd (Diamond
Fields Artillery) performed splendid work, and the magnificent manner
in which Captain Humby extricated his convoy from the hellish vortex
and succeeded in getting to his destination without the loss of a
waggon is a tale that needs pages to tell. Nine men of the escort,
however, paid with their lives for their grand tenacity, and 2
officers and 21 men were wounded.
The captures from and losses of the enemy during August were 186
killed, 75 wounded, 1384 prisoners, 529 voluntary surrenders, 930
rifles, 90,958 rounds of ammunition, 1332 waggons, 13,570 horses, and
65,879 cattle--a sum-total which makes a really wonderful and
practical testimonial to the ceaseless energy and zeal of the British
troops.
Before closing the record of the events of August 1901, reference must
be made to the visit paid by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York
to the Cape. Their Royal Highnesses, who had been on a tour round the
world, landed at Simonstown on the 19th of August, and thence
proceeded to Capetown. The demonstration made by the Cape loyalists
was enthusiastic beyond words, the weather was superb, and the
scene--the brilliant decorations, the British cheers, the massed
bands, the Kaffir war-dances and whoops--was one never to be forgotten
by those who took part in it. The Prince, in his reply to the loyal
addresses, made this memorable allusion to the heartiness of the
Colony's reception:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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