The Second Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War: With a Description of the Operations in the Aden HinterlandRomer, Cecil Francis
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The Second Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War: With a Description of the Operations in the Aden Hinterland
Romer, Cecil Francis
Great Britain. Army. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. 2nd Battalion; South African War, 1899-1902 -- Regimental histories
There is little doubt that any one who shared in that next day's march
will never forget it. As we proceeded across the illimitable plain a
strong head-wind began to blow, increasing in strength as the day wore
on. De Wet had fired all the grass ahead of us, with the result that
the air was laden with millions and millions of particles of minute
ashes and sharp cinders. These soon filled eyes, ears, nostrils,
throats, and lungs, until breathing became well-nigh impossible, and
the agony caused by their penetration into our eyes almost
intolerable. But woe to him who endeavoured to alleviate his distress
by wiping his eyes with grimy hands. Such action merely had the effect
of 'rubbing it in,' and so accentuating the misery and discomfort. The
men very soon began to fall out in ever-increasing numbers. On one
occasion Captain Nelson, R.M.L.I., was seen straggling off right away
from the column. Lieutenant Bradford went after him and found that he
was temporarily quite blind. At last, after hours of torment, we
reached a pass in the Gatsrand, on the far side of which we halted, as
night fell. A big grass fire almost immediately broke out, and as the
grass was long and thick, and a strong wind still blew to fan it,
things looked very ugly. The flames swept right through the camp, but
luckily the tents were not up. But what would happen when they reached
the guns and ammunition? What, indeed, might have happened, but for
the gallantry of the gunners and naval detachment, it is hard to say.
As it was the ammunition-waggons caught fire and were sufficiently
charred to demonstrate the closeness of the danger. But, as ever, 'the
handy-man' was to the fore, and with promptitude and courage, that
could not have been excelled, managed to extinguish the flames.
And now for a wash--what, no water! No water, which, hungry and
exhausted as they were, every one wanted even more than food. But,
alas! it was too true, and after contenting ourselves with some liquid
mud, flavoured with charcoal, called coffee, and some few mouthfuls
of tough old trek-ox, liberally peppered with burnt grass, we only
waited to hear that reveille was to be at 1.30 a.m. before sinking
down to snatch what rest was possible. This delightful spot rejoiced
in the refreshing name of Orange Grove.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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