Dec. 11, 1899.] The Boers Checked on our Right.
Throughout these tragical events, as in the earlier part of the day, the conduct of the artillery had been beyond all praise. Exposed to every shot the gunners stood firm, even when the troops before them were melting away under the trials of battle. Their magnificent behaviour saved the British Army from a great disaster, for, had they wavered, had they even relented their impetuous fire, Lord Methuen's force must have been riven in two. Magnificent, too, was the conduct of the Coldstreams. They, also, stood like a rock in the rout, though their position was one of great danger. It was at this time that Major the Marquis of Winchester fell dead, "displaying an almost reckless courage." But a few days before, not far from the very spot on which he died, he had jestingly spoken of his rumoured fall in the battle of the Modder River. And now death had claimed him. Throughout the day he had insisted upon walking to and fro along the firing line, instructing the men as to where they were to aim their fire. Bullets rained around him; several passed through his helmet and his clothes, but he seemed to bear a charmed life. The fatal shot pierced his spine.
Edward Read.]
[Dec. 11, 1899.
The fight still grew in fierceness and intensity, though the second crisis had passed when the Boers failed to take advantage of the confusion of the Highlanders. Away on the left, General Pole-Carew, with the greater part of the Ninth Brigade, was demonstrating along the railway line and feeling the enemy's right to discover if it could be turned, as had been done at Modder River. But these efforts were unsuccessful; the line of entrenchments continued interminably far to the west, and was clearly held by the enemy in sufficient force to render an assault hopeless. Away on the right, the Boers seemed to be developing an attack and could be seen from the balloon concentrating for an advance. Hereabouts there was a considerable gap in the British line between the Grenadiers, on the right of the Coldstreams, and some companies of Yorkshire Light Infantry, who held a drift across the Modder and who were supporting the two Lancer regiments and the mounted infantry. The Yorkshiremen, however, met and defeated the Boer effort. With trivial loss they stormed a ridge held by the enemy, close to the river, and repulsed the counterstroke with a coolness and valour for which they received well-merited praise from Lord Methuen. In this brisk encounter they fired no less than 22,000 rounds. The Yorkshire Mounted Infantry had already begun to bring in the wounded on this flank and were far away from support when they were vigorously attacked by the Boers. Here Sergeant Casson, Lance-Corporal Bennett, and Private Mawhood did fine service, kneeling down in the open and by a steady and continuous fire checking the enemy. The Lancers' Maxims, too, were invaluable.
The afternoon was now declining, and it was evident to all, except to a few who took the Boer movement towards the British right for a retreat, that the battle was lost beyond hope. But the Guards would none the less have been sent in at dusk had not a fresh misfortune come as a blessing in disguise. Suddenly, after a prolonged silence since the early morning, the Boer artillery began to fire shell and shrapnel at the British guns. Just behind these guns were placed the sad remnants of the Highlanders—a dispirited mass of men in close order. One or two projectiles came shrieking amongst them, whereupon, suddenly and as if at the word of command, the men of the brigade once more precipitately retired, turning their backs upon the enemy and pouring in complete disorder past Lord Methuen's flag. This was the crowning touch—the culminating disaster. There now remained no troops whatever to support the Guards; for the Ninth Brigade would be needed to guard the flanks and the camp.
CORPORAL McKAY, OF THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS, PLAYING TO RALLY HIS FUGITIVE COMRADES.
