| 1901. |
12th April
13th” | Came under command of Colonel Park forming part of Park’s column together with 1/ Gordon Highlanders, 53rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery, 4th M.I., one Company 4th Divisional M.I. The battalion fell in at 6.15 P.M. The infantry got into ox waggons after crossing Mission Drift and rode 5 miles to Gun Hill: marched from there to Vlakfontein and halted till dawn, then marched across Klipplaats drift, total distance 27 miles. |
| 14th | ” | Marched at 5 A.M. to De Groot boom, crossing Speckboom River. No opposition; some casualties in the Mounted Infantry who acted as rear-guard; road very bad in places. |
| 15th | ” | Battalion fell in at 5.15 with orders to take and hold the ground commanding Oliphant’s Poort road. No opposition. Camped at Doornhoek. |
| 16th | ” | Marched at 5.30 A.M. expecting to attack laager at Bergfontein, no opposition; laager vacated except by women and children. Road extremely bad. |
| 17th | ” | Marched at 2 P.M. for Reitfontein. |
| 18th | ” | F, G, and H Companies, 1 gun R.F.A., one Company Mounted Infantry, under Lt.-Col. Guinness; A, B, C, and D companies (under Capt. Grogan), 1 pom-pom, 1 company Mounted Infantry, under Major Eustace, King’s Royal Rifles, formed two separate columns; the former to work to the N.W., the latter to the S.W. to round up D. Shuman reported in kloof to the west. Col. Guinness’ column marched to Dwars River East, Major Eustace’s to Boschfontein. Colonel Guinness’ column met no opposition. Major Eustace’s was sniped. No casualties amongst the Royal Irish. |
| 19th | ” | Having received information that D. Shuman was in kloof about 8 miles away, Col. Guinness’ column marched at 6.15 A.M. up the Dwars River West. Met no opposition and halted about 7 miles from former camp up Dwars River West. Major Eustace’s column proceeded at 5 A.M. through Nek west of Boschfontein; C Company under 2nd Lieut. Hon. H. Deane-Morgan captured 24 Boers and 900 cattle. |
| 20th | ” | Lieut.-Colonel Guinness’ column marched at 7 A.M. to camping ground of 18th inst. Major Eustace’s column after farm clearing returned to Boschfontein. |
| 21st | April | Lieut.-Colonel Guinness’ column marched to Reitfontein; Major Eustace’s column to Boschoek; total bag of combined columns 92 Boers, and 1200 cattle. |
| 22nd | ” | Major Eustace’s column halted at Boschoek. |
| 23rd | ” | Major Eustace’s column marched to Modder Spruit, parts of a blown-up “Long Tom” brought into camp. |
| 24th | ” | Major Eustace’s column marched to Reitfontein, A, B, C, and D companies rejoining Headquarters. |
| 25th | ” | F and H companies under Captain White proceeded on convoy duty to Steelpoort drift. A, B, C, and G Companies with Headquarters fell in at 6.15 P.M. and, with Colonel Park and one 15-pounder gun and one company mounted infantry, marched to Nek about 5 miles due east of Reitfontein, there to bivouac and co-operate next day with Major Gough from Lydenburg and Colonel M‘Bean, Gordon Highlanders, to S. and S.E. |
| 26th | ” | Fell in at 5.30 A.M. and captured by combined movement about 60 prisoners, 1 pom-pom, and 600 cattle. Returned to camp via Drepgezat and Modder Spruit, a very exhausting day. F and H companies returned from convoy duty. No casualties. |
| 28th | ” | B and D companies under Lieut. Farmer proceeded on convoy duty to Magnet Heights. |
| 4th | May | Marched at 7 A.M. for Boschfontein. No opposition. |
| 5th | ” | Marched at 4.30 A.M., A and G Companies under Major Orr proceeding by Kopjes Kraal and Kraaibosch occupying Nek between latter Kaffir Kraal, for Kaffir Kraal Valley. There was some firing at mounted infantry in valley, but no casualties. Camped on Oshoek. |
| 6th | ” | Marched to Boschoek (1341). |
| 10th | ” | March at 7 A.M. for Lydenburg. |
| 15th | ” | ” 3 A.M. for Manchberg. |
| 16th | ” | ” 5 A.M. for Klipgat (209). |
| 17th | ” | ” 9 A.M. for Tweefontein (520). |
| 18th | ” | ” 7 A.M. for Bosjes Kop (199). |
| 19th | ” | ” 9 A.M. for Nelspruit. |
| | A, B, C, and D Companies proceeded to Godwan, Nooitgedacht, Alkmaar, and Elandshoek respectively on detachment to guard the line. |
| 23rd | ” | A, B, C, and D companies rejoined Headquarters. |
| 25th | ” | Marched at 8 A.M. to camp near Bosjes Kop, crossing Crocodile Drift. |
| 26th | ” | Marched at 6 A.M. for Doorn Kraal. |
| 27th | ” | Marched at 8 A.M. for Tweefontein, camped S.E. of Nelspruit Drift. |
| 28th | ” | A, B, C, D, and F companies paraded at 6 A.M. and proceeded with Colonel Park to burn farms, &c., D company proceeding across Nelspruit to piquet hills to N.W., B and C companies to hills to W., and A and F companies to Krugers farm. |
| 29th | ” | Marched at 4.40 A.M. for Bosjes Kop. |
| 30th | ” | Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Alkmaar. Half the force got across the drift (which was rapid and difficult) and camped on south side, remainder camped on north side. |
| 31st | ” | Marched into Alkmaar. |
| 10th | June | Marched at 8.30 A.M. and crossed the Crocodile by drift, infantry by sheep bridge. |
| 11th | ” | Marched at 8 A.M. for Heidelburg, and camped with Burney’s column, with which was General Spens. |
| 12th | June | Marched at 8.15 A.M. to Tweefontein. |
| 13th | ” | Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Reitvallei. |
| 15th | ” | Marched at 6 A.M. for Houtboschtoop. |
| 16th | ” | Marched at 9 A.M. for Elandsdrift over very bad road. |
| 17th | ” | A Company proceeded on convoy duty to Lydenburg. B, D, F, G, and H Companies searched klooffs to the west running up Drakensberg range. Bag 5 prisoners: no opposition. |
| 18th | ” | Marched at 6.30 A.M. to Kalmoesfontein: very bad road. |
| 19th | ” | Erected blockhouses in the Nek south of camp and also S.W. of camp. |
| 20th | ” | Moved camp about 3 miles to the east. D company under Captain Milner with one gun R.F.A. proceeded on convoy duty to Kaffirfootpad to meet convoy with A company. |
| 21st | ” | A and D companies rejoined with convoy from Lydenburg. |
| 22nd | ” | A, C, D, F, and G companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness with 1 Company Mounted Infantry and 1 gun R.F.A. paraded at 6.30 A.M., and marched to ground overlooking Crocodile valley with the intention of stopping the enemy retiring from Colonel Benson’s column, operating on Somerset and Kodoeshoek. No Boers. |
| 24th | ” | A, B, C, and H Companies with mounted infantry and one section R.F.A. carried out the same duty as on 22nd inst. No Boers. |
| 25th | ” | A, B, C, and F Companies performed manœuvres much similar to those of yesterday. No Boers. Some farms cleared of women and children. |
| 26th | ” | Battalion (except G Company) fell in at 6.30 A.M. D Company proceeded with 1 gun R.F.A. under Major Gavin to occupy spur overlooking Buffels Kloof, Kleinfontein. The remainder moved west across Buffels Kloof and to Crocodile valley. Heavy climbing. No Boers. Some cattle captured. |
| 27th | ” | Marched at 8 A.M. for Kaffirfootpad. |
| 28th | ” | Marched at 6.30 A.M. for Lydenburg. |
| 2nd | July | A, B, C, and D Companies fell in under Major Gavin at 10 P.M. for a turning movement on Vosloo’s Farm near Kruger’s Post. F, G, and H Companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Guiness, C.B., fell in at 11.15 P.M. The former party proceeded on foot across the country, the latter along the Lydenburg-Kruger’s Post road together with guns and mounted infantry. Surrounded Vosloo’s Farm by dawn 3rd inst., but piquet had gone. |
| 3rd | ” | Moved on to Kruger’s Post and bivouacked there, some casualties in M.I., but enemy not in force. |
| 4th | ” | Marched at 7 A.M. for Lydenburg. The enemy followed up the rear-guard. There were no casualties. |
| 5th | ” | Rendezvoused at 12 noon, and marched to Witklip, 2 companies M.I., 2 guns, 42nd Batty. R.F.A., and 1 pom-pom. |
| 6th | ” | Marched at 4 A.M. for Wemers Hoek. |
| 7th | ” | Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Balmietfontein. |
| 8th | ” | A, D, F, G, and H companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness, C.B., “fell-in” at 6.55 A.M. and with M.I. and 2 guns R.F.A. proceeded south to burn farms and collect families. No opposition. |
| 9th | ” | Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Klipbank Spruit. |
| 10th | ” | ” to Oshoek. |
| 12th | ” | ” to Weemershoek. |
| 13th | ” | ” to Lydenburg. |
| 26th | ” | ” at 6.30 A.M. for Zwaggershoek. |
| 27th | ” | ” to Elandspruit. |
| 28th | July | Marched to Dulstroom, and were joined by 4th Battalion M.I. and 2 guns R.F.A. |
| 29th | ” | ” to Witpoort. |
| 30th | ” | ” to Blinkwater. |
| 3rd | August | Blinkwater. D and F companies with two guns R.F.A. marched at 4.30 A.M. for Konterdanskloof, the M.I. having gone on at 1.30 A.M. 2 Boers killed, 3 wounded, 200 cattle, 400 sheep captured. |
| 4th | ” | Marched at 10 A.M. for Roos Senekal. |
| 7th | ” | Marched at 9 A.M. for Paardekloof. |
| 8th | ” | At 12 midnight A, B, C, and H companies with machine gun under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness, C.B., marched by Kaffir path over the eastern spur of the Tantesberg at midnight to the N.N.E. to surprise and capture Boers and cattle. Two Companies M.I., one section R.F.A., and pom-pom under Colonel Park moved by road more to the east. Captured 136 cattle and about 20 horses. |
| 11th | ” | Got waggons up Tantesberg and marched on about 6 miles. |
| 12th | ” | Marched to Goedgedacht to remain there with a view of stopping the roads to the east and south-east. |
| 17th | ” | Five companies and two guns marched at 8.30 A.M., news being brought in that Boers and cattle were at Paarde Plaatz. Force got there too late. |
| 22nd | ” | Marched to Paardekloof. |
| 25th | ” | Marched to Roos Senekal. |
| 26th | ” | H company and the 4th Battalion M.I. went along Lydenburg Road to co-operate with us the next day. |
| 27th | ” | A, B, D, F, and G companies, 1 section R.F.A., pom-pom, and 2 companies M.I., under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness, C.B., marched at 3 A.M. along road leading to the sources of the Tonteldos. Met Major Walker’s party at about 10 A.M. They had been sniped. Camped at Schoongezicht. |
| 28th | ” | Marched at 2 P.M. for Roos Senekal. |
| 30th | ” | ” to Paarde Kop. |
| 2nd | Sept. | ” ” Blinkwater. |
| 6th | ” | ” ” Groot Reit Vlei. |
| 7th | ” | ” ” Hoed Spruit. |
| 9th | ” | ” ” Bankfontein. |
| 10th | ” | ” ” Gun Hill, about 2 miles N.E. of Middelburg. |
| 13th | ” | ” ” Moved to camp where Colonel Benson had been, about 1 mile N. of Middelburg. |
| 16th | ” | ” ” Pan. |
| 17th | ” | ” ” Wonderfontein. |
| 18th | ” | ” ” Bergendal. |
| 19th | ” | ” ” Machadodorp. |
| 23rd | ” | ” ” Helvetia. |
| 24th | ” | ” ” Shumans Kloof. |
| 27th | ” | ” ” Badfontein. |
| 28th | ” | ” ” Witklip. |
| 29th | ” | ” ” Lydenburg. |