THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS AT BADAJOZ.
From a Painting by R. Caton Woodville.
THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS
("The Garvies")
"Rangers of Connaught, the eyes of all Ireland are on you this day. On then, and at them, and if you do not give them the soundest thrashing they have ever got in their lives, you needn't look me in the face again in this world or the next."—Colonel-in-Command at the Front.
Towards the close of the Transvaal War the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers performed a heroic feat, which tended to mitigate the peace-with-little-honour feeling which marked the peace negotiations of 1879.
Lydenberg was garrisoned by some seventy men, fifty-three of whom were Connaught Rangers, the whole being under the command of Lieut. Long, a mere stripling lad of twenty-two. Soon after Brunker's Spruit the Boers called upon Lydenberg to surrender, thinking that the lad of twenty-two would do as he was told like an obedient boy. But they soon found that they were mistaken. Long wisely temporised, and made use of a few days thus gained to strengthen his defences. Soon came the Boers' second demand of surrender, and this time it was scornfully flung back. So, on the 6th January, the Boers' bombarded the place, but the little garrison held out, and, for twelve weeks, the forces of siege, sickness, hunger and thirst failed to break the spirit of the gallant band. Then, when peace was declared, the 94th had no cause to feel ashamed, for in their hands Lydenberg had never surrendered. The British flag still fluttered above it. Worn and exhausted by terrible hardships and privations, but still unconquered, the survivors came forth in peace.
THEIR BADGES AND BATTLE HONOURS, ETC.
Badges.—The Harp and Crown. The Elephant. The Sphinx, superscribed Egypt.
Motto.—"Quis Separabit."