BRINGING UP A BATTERY OF FIELD ARTILLERY.
In the meantime, during the closing weeks of November and the early days of December, no less than sixteen battalions of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and five batteries of field artillery had arrived at Durban, and with them had come General Buller to take over the command. Added to the 4,000 men already under arms in the colony outside Ladysmith, they gave an available British force in the field of a little over 21,000. In this force the infantry numbered 18,000, the cavalry and mounted infantry 2,600, and the artillery 750 with 30 guns. A mountain battery armed with six miserable little screw seven-pounder muzzle-loaders should be added to this total.
[Photo by Debenham & Smith.
Took part in the Ashanti War of 1873-4, and in the Zulu War of 1879 in command of the 4th Battalion of the Natal Native Contingent. He again saw active service in the Egyptian War of 1882 as D.A.Q.G., and went through the battles of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir. During the Soudan campaign of 1885 he was Assistant Military Secretary to Sir Gerald Graham. He commands the 6th Brigade of the South African Field Force.
[Photo by Evelyn, Aldershot.
Had the command, until the beginning of the war, of the 3rd Infantry Brigade at Aldershot. Originally destined for the Navy, in which he served from 1859 to 1867; three years later he entered the Army, and in 1876 became Captain in the Highland Light Infantry. From that time forward his advance was rapid, and he attained his present rank in 1899. He served with the Egyptian Expedition in 1882, and was present at Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir. From 1893 to 1898 he was Commandant of the Staff College. Commands the 2nd brigade in South Africa.