Two Years on Trek: Being Some Account of the Royal Sussex Regiment in South AfricaDu Moulin, Louis Eugène
History
Two Years on Trek: Being Some Account of the Royal Sussex Regiment in South Africa
Du Moulin, Louis Eugène
Great Britain. Army. Royal Sussex Regiment; South African War, 1899-1902 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The country south of Dewetsdorp and east of Edenburg is intersected by a
series of long ridges from two to five hundred feet in height, between
which lie valleys and plains of irregular shape, often many miles
across. At this time these valleys were full of stock of all kinds, the
inhabitants were on their farms, and the local commandos, under
Commandant Brand and others, had lived undisturbed upon the fat of the
land. The size of the country, and the power of splitting up possessed
by the commandos, made it extremely difficult to get at the latter. An
effort was therefore made to cut off their supplies, and General
Lyttleton's columns were turned into the district to clear it. Major du
Moulin started from Edenburg with a convoy of 152 wagons for these
columns on the 13th of March, reached Dewetsdorp on the 16th after some
sniping, and on the 21st handed in at Bloemfontein 2,000 horses, 5,000
cattle, and 80,000 sheep collected during the week. A number of refugees
were also brought in. The Boers had been engaged at Geluk on the 19th,
two of them being killed and three wounded. Some South African Light
Horse had been attached, to assist the escort of the convoy.
This trek into Bloemfontein from Dewetsdorp was a truly remarkable one.
The convoy had grown so enormously in taking over the captures of the
various columns, that it was no less than 10 miles long. Sometimes the
rearguard did not leave one camping ground until two hours after the
advanced guard had reached the next. The rearguard had a very difficult
job. The great masses of sheep were very slow, and often a kopje had to
be held until it was difficult to get away in the face of the Boer
snipers, who constantly harassed the rear. This sniping continued right
up to the outposts of Bloemfontein.
Here a great change was noticed in the look of the troops in the town.
Instead of the torn and dirty uniforms of Lord Roberts' advance, neat
new Khaki was to be seen all round, while at the Club starched collars
and red tabs seemed the rule.
At Bloemfontein Capt. Montrésor joined the column, and there the Royal
Irish Rifles left it. The weather continued extremely bad, the heavy
rain causing the greatest discomfort to the troops.
Entraining for Springfontein, the force started thence with another
convoy for the east of the line on the 27th of March. There were then
under Major du Moulin 12 officers and 375 men of the Royal Sussex, of
whom 250 were mounted; and a section each of the 39th and 85th batteries
R.F.A.
The convoy was constantly sniped; but a trap laid by the Boers near
Leeuwfontein failed, the widely extended flank guards getting in their
rear without being conscious of the fact. The want of a pom-pom was very
much felt, as the guns could not leave the convoy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account