With the Flag to Pretoria: A History of the Boer War of 1899-1900. Volume 1

by Herbert Wrigley Wilson

[Photo by Lafayette.

Served in the Afghan War of 1879-80; accompanied Sir F. (now Lord) Roberts on his march to Cabul, and was present at the battle of Kandahar; served in the Boer War of 1881; at Majuba his bravery won his life at the hands of the enemy; he was Garrison-Adjutant at Assiout (Upper Egypt) in 1885, and was in the Sudan during the operations of 1888-91. In 1896 he took command of the 2nd Infantry Brigade under Sir H. (now Lord) Kitchener, and in 1897-8 commanded Egyptian brigades, being present at the battles of the Atbara and of Khartoum. He was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1898. While acting as Brigadier-General commanding at Umballa (India), he was summoned to take command of the Highland Brigade, under Lord Methuen, in succession to General Wauchope. The appointment of "Fighting Mac," as he is called, was hailed with satisfaction by the Brigade.

[Dec. 11-12, 1899.

Lord Methuen now determined to cling stubbornly to his position, in the hope that here, as at Modder River, the enemy might retire during the night. Accordingly, though the infantry and artillery fell back from the most advanced positions, there was no general retreat. The whole force bivouacked on the field. The night, like its predecessor, was bitterly cold. It was again impossible to remove the wounded from the ground before the Boer trenches. Only a very few had been brought in by the devoted efforts of the medical staff and the stretcher bearers. The others had to spend a cruel night, tortured by cold, after the sufferings caused by the fierce heat of the day. Many officers and men were twenty, thirty, even thirty-six hours upon the ground, without food or water and with wounds undressed. Further to the rear the wounded were carefully attended to and sent back to camp during the night.

British retirement to Modder River.

With day, the artillery recommenced its fire. The men of the Guards during the night had entrenched their position and were in good spirits, ready even for an assault upon the Boer lines in broad daylight. Meantime, Lord Methuen scrutinised the Boer trenches and received the reports of his Intelligence Department. Everything showed that the enemy still held their position. General Colvile was for continuing the battle, to wear the Boers down, but the other officers were all for a retirement, and it was evident that what the whole force could not effect upon December 11, was out of the question for it on the 12th, with quite one third its strength for all practical purposes eliminated. During the night the supply train had fallen back to the old camp, and now a general retirement was ordered. The moment the Boers observed that the British force was retreating, they opened a hot fire from all their guns. But the range was long and the effects of the fire insignificant; it did not shake or demoralise the British infantry, who slowly and steadily, as if on parade, marched back the three miles to Modder River camp, defeated but not disgraced.

Alec Ball.]

Dec. 12, 1899.] Losses of the Highland Brigade.

Very early in the morning, a flag of truce had come in from the Boers requesting Lord Methuen to remove the British wounded who were lying close to the trenches, in the most urgent need of medical help. The motive of this message was kindly and humane, and it should be said that the enemy had treated the Highlanders with tenderness, giving them food and water and roughly bandaging their wounds. The ambulances at once pushed in, drivers and stretcher-bearers being blindfolded by the Boers, who streamed out of their trenches to watch the operations. "They were," says Mr. Ralph, "courteous, helpful, and respectful. By not one word did they give offence." Yet two regrettable incidents occurred. The first was that one of the ambulance men was found to have a revolver, and was seized and made prisoner by the Boers, despite his explanations and expostulations. The other was that the naval 4·7 opened fire suddenly upon the trenches. The officer in charge was unaware of the flag of truce, and saw, as he supposed, the Boers issuing for an attack upon our men. Fortunately, his shots had no effect and soon ceased, but the Boers were so incensed at what they considered treachery, that they opened a hot fire upon the Horse Artillery near them. The Horse Artillery made no reply, and, seeing this, the Boers also ceased fire.