The most southerly point reached by small raiding parties of the Boers was Nottingham Road, twelve miles to the south of Mooi River Camp. Here they looted farms, destroyed the farmers' furniture, and did an immense amount of wanton damage.
TOUGH WORK FOR TOMMY; DRAGGING A HEAVY GUN UP A HILL.
[From an Instantaneous Photograph.
BRINGING IN THE WOUNDED FROM THE WILLOW GRANGE FIGHT.
The Willow Grange fight.
Nov. 22, 1899.] The Action at Willow Grange.
[Nov. 22-24, 1899.
To check this advance an effort was at last made on the 22nd by the troops at Estcourt. In the afternoon of that day the West Yorkshires, East Surreys, and Durban Light Infantry, with a naval 12-pounder, moved to Willow Grange. The gun was dragged up a steep hill known as Klobber's Kop. The Boers were in position upon Brynbella Hill, three miles away, and fired a couple of shots at the gun. During the night the column was strengthened by all the available mounted troops—two more battalions and a battery of artillery. The West Yorkshires and the East Surreys then advanced to storm the Boer position at daybreak in a terrific hailstorm, during which hailstones fell as big as eggs and wounded two or three men. They climbed the slopes of Brynbella and were close to the Boer camp when a picket challenged and opened fire. In a moment the British troops with fixed bayonets were upon the picket, but the Boers in camp had taken the alarm and fled along a ridge which extended for about a thousand yards, to the main force, now seen to be posted at the further extremity of the ridge. A heavy fire was opened upon the West Yorkshires, and the battalion promptly took shelter behind a low stone wall. Here the Boer guns shelled them with effect, while as the naval gun was unfortunately unable to reach the enemy, the British had no artillery of their own to reply. The position was quite untenable; there was nothing left except for the infantry to retire. The retreat was covered by the mounted men, and by a squadron of the Imperial Light Horse; it was not effected without difficulty, as the Boers poured in a tremendous fire, moving their guns forward to shell the infantry. The British losses were eleven killed and sixty-seven wounded, while Major Hobbs and eight men were taken prisoners. Major Hobbs had stayed behind to give aid to a wounded man. The affair was far from satisfactory, as the British force, with a great numerical preponderance, failed to dislodge or capture the enemy's commando. It had, however, in the end the desired result, since the Boers became anxious about their retreat and at once began to fall back.