BOER DOCTORS AND AMBULANCE.
Early in the afternoon the Scottish Rifles arrived, and were at once thrown into the firing line. They served to defeat the last determined Boer attempt to rush the position, replacing the shattered fragments of the Lancashire Regiments. At the same time mules came up with a supply of ammunition, which had been running low, and with a certain amount of water, which was served out to the wounded. The most critical moment had passed, though the murderous shell fire still continued. So determined were the Boer rushes that at times the enemy came within thirty yards. Yet, as the day went on, and the sun began to sink, ground was distinctly gained.
Jan. 24, 1900.] Lyttelton's Attempt to Divert the Enemy.
The King's Royal Rifles storm a ridge.
A second move of General Lyttelton's unquestionably contributed to the repulse of the Boers. Again, of his own initiative, he sent his finest battalion, the 3rd King's Royal Rifles, to assail the eastern face of Spion Kop. They marched by way of Kaffir's Drift, direct upon two precipitous kopjes which rose from the ridge a mile or so from the main summit, the left half battalion upon the western, and the right half battalion upon the eastern kopje. The resolute skill with which they went forward is described as the most splendid feat of the day. The Boer trenches succeeded one another, line after line, along the slope of the ridge; line after line they were carried with swift rushes. Repeated charges with the bayonet were made, but the enemy always fell back before coming to hand-grips. The attention of the Boers being mainly concentrated upon Spion Kop, the Rifles were not opposed with the fierceness that might have been expected; yet their advance was by no means bloodless. They left on the field some seventy or eighty men, but about 5 p.m. they effected a lodgment on the crest, and stormed the two kopjes. At this point, unhappily, they began to suffer from the fire of the British artillery on Three Tree Hill, which, unaware of their success, burst several shrapnel over them. Their position was isolated—between them and Spion Kop intervened a deep valley—and it was difficult to support them fully. They were, therefore, recalled from the heights they had won as evening drew on. They fell sullenly back, indignant at being called off just when it seemed to them that success was within their grasp; yet, in the light of after events, it was fortunate that they were not left at their post of peril. "We were wild at getting the order to retire after getting right up to the top," writes one of the King's Royal Rifles. "We had to come down again in the dark, nearly breaking our necks, falling over rocks and down into deep holes. I did not get back to our camp till 6 o'clock the next morning. I had been sitting all night with a chap that had got wounded, but I had to leave him in the morning, or I should have got captured by the Boers."
OFFICERS OF THE THIRD KING'S ROYAL RIFLES, WHO SERVED IN LYTTELTON'S BRIGADE AT SPION KOP.
Col. Buchanan Riddell, commanding, sits in the centre of the group, with the Adjutant, C. W. Wilson, on his right. Colonel Buchanan Riddell was killed on January 24.