The rest of the British forces engaged lost but lightly. They had 17 killed, 105 wounded, and 10 missing. The total list of casualties, as officially issued, is not in entire agreement with Mr. Ralph's figures, but places the loss at 171 killed, 692 wounded, and 107 missing, a total of 970, or not far from one tenth of the force engaged. As to the Boer losses there was really no information. Stories went round the camp to the effect that the slaughter wrought by the lyddite shells and shrapnel had been awful, whole commandos being "wiped out." But as the Boer trenches were in sandy soil where the lyddite shells would do little damage, and as the gunners had great difficulty in locating their exact whereabouts, it is most improbable that the enemy suffered heavily. Three or four hundred killed, wounded, and prisoners would be a fair approximation to their casualties.
H. M. Paget.]
Many incidents such as that here depicted, in which a British soldier is lighting the pipe of a wounded and helpless Boer, have occurred in the hospitals, and not a few on the field of battle itself. A nurse relates how two men, a Briton and a Boer, both fresh from the operating-table, lay side by side eyeing each other; how Tommy pulled a couple of cigarettes, which had been given him, from under his pillow and handed one to his wounded enemy, and how both men, under the stress of pain and mutual commiseration, burst into tears. On another occasion a wounded Boer, lying on the hot hillside, offered his water-bottle to a wounded Englishman, who in return shared his ration of bread with the Boer.
Cronje's account.
Cronje's official account of the battle rendered full justice to the bravery and determination of the British troops. It was as follows, and it will be seen that it was comparatively accurate, though it just doubled the British losses:—
Dec. 12, 1899.] Cronje's Account of the Battle.
"Having received large reinforcements, and his army having rested since November 28, Lord Methuen advanced against General Cronje's army, which occupied a position extending for many miles on both sides of the railway. The fighting was opened by a heavy cannonading at four in the morning, under cover of which dense masses of infantry moved towards our position. They were received with a heavy, steady fire, which repulsed the advance before the English had come within measurable distance. A second attack met the same fate. The bravery of the English was wonderful against the hail of Mauser bullets that met them. About this time the corps of Scandinavians, who had a great record for reckless courage, charged. They were cut off on a scrub-covered kopje, and lost several killed and wounded and many were taken prisoners. In the afternoon all the British reserves were brought into the attack, which was delivered with sublime courage. The plains north of the Modder River were black with the forces deployed for the charge. But no courage could break through the Boer defences, and late in the day the British retreated to the Modder River, leaving the ground covered with their dead and dying.
"Exclusive of the losses suffered by the Scandinavians, of whom eighteen were killed and forty-three wounded and taken prisoners, the Boer loss was insignificant. The English loss in killed and wounded is calculated to be 2,000. Prisoners we have taken say that the Black Watch was quite cut up."
