The New South Wales Lancers first saw active service at Belmont, where they covered the retirement of the 9th Lancers, who, in attempting to cut off a number of Boers, were in turn pursued by them.
The British losses were heavy considering the immense numerical advantage which Lord Methuen possessed, and of which little use was made. Fifty-three officers and men were killed and 245 wounded, of whom twenty-two died of their wounds. The scene after the battle was a very sad and terrible one. It is thus described by Mr. Kinnear:—"The Boer rifles appeared to have got in chiefly in the abdomen and lower limbs. The khaki was dyed so deeply with crimson that some of the dead and wounded must have received more than half-a-dozen shots. Indeed, it was frequently discovered through the campaign, notably in the case of officers, that they had been hit five or six times. This proves, I think, that in spite of the order removing badges and other marks of rank, the keen-eyed enemy is able to spot and pot his man."
Nov. 23, 1899.] Frontal Attack not Intended.
The dead lay tranquil as if overcome by Death's twin brother Sleep. Silence came upon the victorious soldiery as they turned their gaze upon these sad victims of the conflict, who had offered up the last and greatest sacrifice that man can make. The wounded, too, were silent. Few complained; they bore their pain with stoicism, or even made light of their wounds. Lieutenant Russell, with his face streaming blood, maintained that he had nothing more than a scratch. The ambulance corps and bearers moved to and fro amongst them, bandaging the wounds, administering relief, and preparing them for passage down to Wynberg, whither all the less serious cases were despatched by the hospital train.
REMOVING THE DEAD.
Frontal attack criticised.
From the first the wisdom of "taking the bull by the horns," or attacking full in front the Boer positions, was questioned in England. It was asked why did not Lord Methuen, with quite three men to the enemy's one, surround them, or only make a demonstration in front while delivering his real attack from the flank. Again, if he determined to attack in front, it was questioned why he did not make a greater use of his artillery, instead of flinging his superb infantry upon an intact and entrenched enemy. By a fuller artillery preparation, it was said, many lives might have been saved, and not impossibly the Boers might have been dislodged with infinitesimal British losses. Some of these doubts have not yet been answered, but from Lord Methuen's own despatches it is clear that the frontal attack was not of his planning. He meant to fall upon the enemy's flank, but here, as at Stormberg, a succession of accidents prevented the general's original intentions from being carried out, and rendered the task of the infantry very much harder. In attacking, at all costs, when it was evident that the Boers were on the alert, and when the intended flank movement had failed, Lord Methuen wished to show the enemy that the British soldier was morally his superior; that no position of whatever strength could stop the British Army, and that an invisible foe, raining death upon our men in the open, was no terror.
MAUSER CARTRIDGE.