The condition of the British subjects, the petition concluded, was intolerable. They were prevented by the direct action of the Government from ventilating their grievances; 'wherefore the petitioners pray Her Majesty to extend her protection to them, to cause an inquiry to be held into their grievances, to secure the reform of abuses, and to obtain substantial guarantees from the Transvaal Government and a recognition of the petitioners' rights.' This important petition was accompanied by affidavits substantiating the various allegations made in it.
To have refused a petition like this under the circumstances which had arisen, would have been tantamount to resigning the position of paramount power. Negotiations and conferences ensued, in the vain hope of adjusting racial differences, under Boer domination. They came to nothing, and only proved that the Pretoria Government were merely waiting their time to strike a blow which they hoped would for ever terminate British authority in South Africa. The opportunity, they thought, had at length come, and on Monday the 9th October an ultimatum of the most insolent nature was presented to the British Government, demanding not only the immediate withdrawal of our troops on the borders of the Republic, but that all reinforcements which had arrived since 1st June should be removed from South Africa. Not only so, but that any of Her Majesty's troops now on the high seas should not be landed in any part of our colonies! To these requirements an immediate answer in the affirmative was demanded 'not later than 5 o'clock on Wednesday'! No more ridiculous message has been received by the British Government for over one hundred years. Her Majesty's Government declined to discuss the conditions of the ultimatum, but expressed regret that the Transvaal Government should contemplate so extreme and so serious a step as war. The invasion of Natal by the Boers followed at once, and the Orange Free State, though in no way involved in the matter in dispute, gratuitously sided with the Pretoria Government, and an invasion of Cape Colony was made later on chiefly by the Free Staters. With great boldness and, it must be said, with much military skill, the Boer forces seized the passes, attacked the small garrisons on the frontiers, and after several successes and defeats they finally settled down to besiege Ladysmith in Natal, and Kimberley and Mafeking in Cape Colony—sieges which will be long memorable in the history of British South Africa.
The war had only proceeded for about a week when General Wauchope received a commission to command the Third or Highland Brigade, forming part of the western column under General Lord Methuen for the relief of Kimberley and Mafeking. This position was undoubtedly the highest honour he had achieved, and its acquisition afforded him the utmost satisfaction. He was residing at Niddrie at the time, and as soon as it became known that he was ordered to the front, there was a general desire among the miners and villagers that he should have a suitable 'send-off,' and some arrangements had actually been made for the occasion. But time was short, and besides, the General, always a modest man, shrank from publicity where he would be the central figure, and he would not consent to it.
Embarkation for the Cape
This, however, did not prevent him saying farewell to his old friends. Amid all the bustle of preparation he found time to call at the cottages of not a few in the grounds and in the village, to shake hands with their inmates before he left; not, it is said, without forebodings that it was for the last time. To a friend in Edinburgh who, in saying 'good-bye,' expressed the hope that he would soon be back again with fresh laurels, he replied with a shake of the head, 'I don't half like the job we have got; we have a very hard nut to crack with these Boers.' On Sunday, the 8th October, the General and Mrs. Wauchope attended as usual the service in New Craighall Parish Church. It forms a part of the parish of Liberton, and the church was erected chiefly for the large mining portion of the population at the east end of the parish, in which the General took so much interest. He liked the simple, natural, artless form of the Presbyterian service, and as his minister has since remarked, 'We know how reverently and heartily he worshipped, and the pleasure he had in hearing and in joining in the singing of the old psalms and paraphrases, without any accompaniment.' It was his last quiet Sabbath in Scotland. With a view to avoid fuss he slipped away that evening by rail for London, without some of his nearest friends knowing he was off, to see to the embarkation of his brigade.
The Highland Brigade was made up of the Seaforth Highlanders, the Second Battalion Royal Highlanders (or Black Watch), and the Gordon Highlanders—three crack Scotch regiments, which any man might have been proud to command. The two first embarked for South Africa at Tilbury Fort on the 21st and 22nd October in the transports Mongolian and Orient respectively, the total equipment in the latter being about 1200 officers and men, including staff of a cavalry brigade, medical corps, etc. These were followed a fortnight later by the Gordons under Colonel Downman from Edinburgh, among the citizens of which city officers and men had earned an honoured name.
General Wauchope joined the transport Aurania at Southampton on 23rd October, and some of his letters written on the eve of embarkation are touching illustrations of kindly interest in others, and specially in those dependent on him. To his old friend and colonel in the first Soudan Expedition, Colonel Bayly, he writes:—
'MY DEAR OLD COLONEL,—Many thanks for your kind and affectionate letter. I wish you were going out in charge of the brigade. I shall sadly miss your wise counsels. Well, I will do my best; and this I know, whether I succeed or fail, you will stick up for me.—Yours ever, A. G. WAUCHOPE.'
To Mr. Martin, the manager of the Niddrie Collieries, he wrote as follows:—
'SOUTHAMPTON, 23rd October 1899.