[Photo by Elliott & Fry.
Commands the 1st Brigade (Guards) of the South African Field Force. He was born in 1852, educated at Eton, and entered the Grenadiers in 1870. Was Aide-de-Camp to the General commanding at the Cape, 1880-83; served in the Soudan Expedition of 1884; the Nile Expedition (D.A.A.G. Intelligence Department), 1884-5; and with the Egyptian Frontier Force, 1885-6, as Chief of the Intelligence Department. He saw service in Burma in 1893, and in the same year was sent to Uganda as Acting Commissioner, and the following year commanded the Unyoro Expedition. Major-General 1898; in command of Infantry Brigade at Gibraltar 1899.
New bridge over the Modder.
The day after the battle the British column cleansed and occupied the Dec. 2-10, 1899.] Lord Methuen's Army Reinforced. Lord Methuen reinforced. [Dec. 7, 1899. Boer camp, and the Engineers set to work to replace the railway bridge over the Modder. So seriously had the iron girders been damaged that it was necessary to build a new timber bridge, diverting the railway. The work was by no means easy, as the Modder is liable to rise eight feet in a few hours, after the heavy thunderstorms which prevail in the country, so that the new bridge had to be of great strength, while, as the river banks are high, deep cuttings had to be excavated on either side. Yet so skilful and energetic were the railway engineers that by December 7 trains were able to cross to the British camp, and tents, supplies, and heavy baggage were sent forward to the troops. A pontoon bridge had been completed some days earlier, thus securing communications with the south. At the same time the search-light with Lord Methuen's army began nightly to exchange signals with Kimberley. Far away to the north, as the night fell, a beam of light struck the sky from the besieged city and spent its strength in the flickering dots and dashes of the Morse code. The welcome news came that all was well, and that the city was secure behind massive earthworks. While the army waited, to rest the men and give time for the arrival of reinforcements, supplies, and ammunition, it was joined by a regiment of Lancers (the 12th), the G battery of Horse Artillery, one long naval 4·7-inch gun, and four Highland battalions—the 2nd Seaforths, 1st Highland Light Infantry, 1st Gordons, and 2nd Royal Highlanders or Black Watch. Last of all, to complete its artillery, came one battery of 5-inch howitzers, firing 50-lb. shell. Thus, deducting all losses, Lord Methuen had 11,000 infantry, 850 cavalry and mounted infantry, and 750 artillery with thirty guns, not counting the naval weapons. On the line of communications were half the Northampton battalion and some small detachments from other regiments.
F. J. Waugh.] [After a photo.
ARTILLERY CROSSING THE PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE MODDER WITH ONE OF THE HOWITZERS.
British communications threatened.
The last reinforcements arrived from Orange River on December 10. Three days earlier an unpleasant incident showed how easy for an active enemy would be the interruption of Lord Methuen's line of communications. Early on the morning of December 7, a detachment of Northamptons, who had been left to hold the railway at Enslin, close to the scene of Lord Methuen's victory of Graspan, heard two loud explosions. A scout was sent out to ascertain the cause, but as the grey light of dawn gave place to clear day, the origin of the explosions was manifest. A force of the enemy from Jacobsdal, 1,500 strong, with three guns, was seen to be in position to the east of the railway and close to it. The line to the north had been broken and a culvert destroyed. Fortunately, the Boers had not yet cut the telegraph wire, and just before they did so, a message was despatched to Modder River camp announcing the enemy's presence and appealing for help. At once Lord Methuen despatched the 62nd Field Battery, the 12th Lancers, and half a battalion of Highlanders to aid the hard-pressed Northamptons.