Besides the Middlesex Regiment, the Dorsets, and the Imperial Light Infantry, who had earlier in the morning moved up to the head of the valley dividing Three Tree Hill from Spion Kop, and who were now sent up to the actual summit of Spion Kop, other help had been despatched. With a soldierly intuition which did him infinite credit, General Lyttelton at Potgieter's Drift had seized the extremity of the emergency and had directed the 2nd Scottish Rifles to cross at Kaffir's Drift, above Potgieter's, and advance up the southern slope of the mountain. Yet, as the distance to be covered was great, it was not till late in the afternoon that they reached the scene of action. Further to the left Generals Hart and Hildyard made as though they, too, intended to assault the positions opposed to them, and had they been permitted so to do, it is certain that much of the pressure would have been taken off the forlorn hope on Spion Kop. However, a sharp fire was exchanged with the Boers, and then these two brigades fell to watching and waiting, unable to aid their comrades who were fighting for dear life on that grim summit. They could see the human anthill on the sky-line in confusion; tiny figures running to and fro; other figures with the gesture of command rallying the rout and restoring order. Instinctively they realised the tremendous gravity of the struggle.
R. Caton Woodville.]
It was not until the night of the 24th that an attempt was made to get guns to the top of the hill. It was then too late; the hill had been abandoned, and the shattered remnants of the British force were already descending.
[Photo by Wyrall & Son, Aldershot.
John Talbot Coke was educated at Harrow; entered the Army as 2nd Lieutenant in the 21st Foot in 1859, and was transferred to the 25th Foot (afterwards named the King's Own Scottish Borderers) in 1860; Captain, 1866; Major, 1879; Lieutenant-Colonel, 1885; Colonel, 1889; was put on half-pay, 1898. He served with the Suakin Field Force in 1888 during the investment of Suakin; was present in the engagement of Gemaizah; served in the operations on the Sudan frontier in 1889; was appointed senior officer at Mauritius in 1898, with local rank of Major-General, and left there to command the 10th Brigade of the South African Field Force, 1899.
Jan. 24, 1900.] Thorneycroft allows no Surrender.
A frightful struggle.
[Jan. 24, 1900.