Chapter XXXVI: Appendix: 8

OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH OF THE TRANSVAAL.

EXTRACT FROM THE “RECORD OF SERVICE,” FROM APRIL 12, 1901, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1901, SHOWING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE FIRST BATTALION DAY BY DAY DURING THIS PERIOD.

1901.

12th April Came under command of Colonel Park forming part of Park’s
13th ” column together with 1/ Gordon Highlanders, 53rd Battery,
Royal Field Artillery, 4th M.I., one Company 4th
Divisional M.I. The battalion fell in at 6.15 P.M. The
infantry got into ox waggons after crossing Mission
Drift and rode 5 miles to Gun Hill: marched from there
to Vlakfontein and halted till dawn, then marched across
Klipplaats drift, total distance 27 miles.

14th ” Marched at 5 A.M. to De Groot boom, crossing Speckboom
River. No opposition; some casualties in the Mounted
Infantry who acted as rear-guard; road very bad in
places.

15th ” Battalion fell in at 5.15 with orders to take and hold the
ground commanding Oliphant’s Poort road. No opposition.
Camped at Doornhoek.

16th ” Marched at 5.30 A.M. expecting to attack laager at
Bergfontein, no opposition; laager vacated except by
women and children. Road extremely bad.

17th ” Marched at 2 P.M. for Reitfontein.

18th ” F, G, and H Companies, 1 gun R.F.A., one Company Mounted
Infantry, under Lt.-Col. Guinness; A, B, C, and D
companies (under Capt. Grogan), 1 pom-pom, 1 company
Mounted Infantry, under Major Eustace, King’s Royal
Rifles, formed two separate columns; the former to work
to the N.W., the latter to the S.W. to round up D. Shuman
reported in kloof to the west. Col. Guinness’ column
marched to Dwars River East, Major Eustace’s to
Boschfontein. Colonel Guinness’ column met no opposition.
Major Eustace’s was sniped. No casualties amongst the
Royal Irish.

19th ” Having received information that D. Shuman was in kloof
about 8 miles away, Col. Guinness’ column marched at
6.15 A.M. up the Dwars River West. Met no opposition and
halted about 7 miles from former camp up Dwars River
West. Major Eustace’s column proceeded at 5 A.M. through
Nek west of Boschfontein; C Company under 2nd Lieut.
Hon. H. Deane-Morgan captured 24 Boers and 900 cattle.

20th ” Lieut.-Colonel Guinness’ column marched at 7 A.M. to
camping ground of 18th inst. Major Eustace’s column
after farm clearing returned to Boschfontein.

21st April Lieut.-Colonel Guinness’ column marched to Reitfontein;
Major Eustace’s column to Boschoek; total bag of combined
columns 92 Boers, and 1200 cattle.

22nd ” Major Eustace’s column halted at Boschoek.

23rd ” Major Eustace’s column marched to Modder Spruit, parts of a
blown-up “Long Tom” brought into camp.

24th ” Major Eustace’s column marched to Reitfontein, A, B, C,
and D companies rejoining Headquarters.

25th ” F and H companies under Captain White proceeded on convoy
duty to Steelpoort drift. A, B, C, and G Companies with
Headquarters fell in at 6.15 P.M. and, with Colonel Park
and one 15-pounder gun and one company mounted infantry,
marched to Nek about 5 miles due east of Reitfontein,
there to bivouac and co-operate next day with Major Gough
from Lydenburg and Colonel M‘Bean, Gordon Highlanders, to
S. and S.E.

26th ” Fell in at 5.30 A.M. and captured by combined movement
about 60 prisoners, 1 pom-pom, and 600 cattle. Returned
to camp _via_ Drepgezat and Modder Spruit, a very
exhausting day. F and H companies returned from convoy
duty. No casualties.

28th ” B and D companies under Lieut. Farmer proceeded on convoy
duty to Magnet Heights.

4th May Marched at 7 A.M. for Boschfontein. No opposition.

5th ” Marched at 4.30 A.M., A and G Companies under Major Orr
proceeding by Kopjes Kraal and Kraaibosch occupying Nek
between latter Kaffir Kraal, for Kaffir Kraal Valley.
There was some firing at mounted infantry in valley, but
no casualties. Camped on Oshoek.

6th ” Marched to Boschoek (1341).

10th ” March at 7 A.M. for Lydenburg.

15th ” ” 3 A.M. for Manchberg.

16th ” ” 5 A.M. for Klipgat (209).

17th ” ” 9 A.M. for Tweefontein (520).

18th ” ” 7 A.M. for Bosjes Kop (199).

19th ” ” 9 A.M. for Nelspruit.

A, B, C, and D Companies proceeded to Godwan, Nooitgedacht,
Alkmaar, and Elandshoek respectively on detachment to
guard the line.

23rd ” A, B, C, and D companies rejoined Headquarters.

25th ” Marched at 8 A.M. to camp near Bosjes Kop, crossing
Crocodile Drift.

26th ” Marched at 6 A.M. for Doorn Kraal.

27th ” Marched at 8 A.M. for Tweefontein, camped S.E. of Nelspruit
Drift.

28th ” A, B, C, D, and F companies paraded at 6 A.M. and
proceeded with Colonel Park to burn farms, &c., D company
proceeding across Nelspruit to piquet hills to N.W., B
and C companies to hills to W., and A and F companies to
Krugers farm.

29th ” Marched at 4.40 A.M. for Bosjes Kop.

30th ” Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Alkmaar. Half the force got across
the drift (which was rapid and difficult) and camped on
south side, remainder camped on north side.

31st ” Marched into Alkmaar.

10th June Marched at 8.30 A.M. and crossed the Crocodile by drift,
infantry by sheep bridge.

11th ” Marched at 8 A.M. for Heidelburg, and camped with Burney’s
column, with which was General Spens.

12th June Marched at 8.15 A.M. to Tweefontein.

13th ” Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Reitvallei.

15th ” Marched at 6 A.M. for Houtboschtoop.

16th ” Marched at 9 A.M. for Elandsdrift over very bad road.

17th ” A Company proceeded on convoy duty to Lydenburg. B, D, F,
G, and H Companies searched klooffs to the west running
up Drakensberg range. Bag 5 prisoners: no opposition.

18th ” Marched at 6.30 A.M. to Kalmoesfontein: very bad road.

19th ” Erected blockhouses in the Nek south of camp and also S.W.
of camp.

20th ” Moved camp about 3 miles to the east. D company under
Captain Milner with one gun R.F.A. proceeded on convoy
duty to Kaffirfootpad to meet convoy with A company.

21st ” A and D companies rejoined with convoy from Lydenburg.

22nd ” A, C, D, F, and G companies under Lieutenant-Colonel
Guinness with 1 Company Mounted Infantry and 1 gun R.F.A.
paraded at 6.30 A.M., and marched to ground overlooking
Crocodile valley with the intention of stopping the
enemy retiring from Colonel Benson’s column, operating
on Somerset and Kodoeshoek. No Boers.

24th ” A, B, C, and H Companies with mounted infantry and one
section R.F.A. carried out the same duty as on 22nd inst.
No Boers.

25th ” A, B, C, and F Companies performed manœuvres much similar
to those of yesterday. No Boers. Some farms cleared of
women and children.

26th ” Battalion (except G Company) fell in at 6.30 A.M. D Company
proceeded with 1 gun R.F.A. under Major Gavin to occupy
spur overlooking Buffels Kloof, Kleinfontein. The
remainder moved west across Buffels Kloof and to
Crocodile valley. Heavy climbing. No Boers. Some cattle
captured.

27th ” Marched at 8 A.M. for Kaffirfootpad.

28th ” Marched at 6.30 A.M. for Lydenburg.

2nd July A, B, C, and D Companies fell in under Major Gavin at 10
P.M. for a turning movement on Vosloo’s Farm near
Kruger’s Post. F, G, and H Companies under Lieutenant-
Colonel Guiness, C.B., fell in at 11.15 P.M. The former
party proceeded on foot across the country, the latter
along the Lydenburg-Kruger’s Post road together with guns
and mounted infantry. Surrounded Vosloo’s Farm by dawn
3rd inst., but piquet had gone.

3rd ” Moved on to Kruger’s Post and bivouacked there, some
casualties in M.I., but enemy not in force.

4th ” Marched at 7 A.M. for Lydenburg. The enemy followed up the
rear-guard. There were no casualties.

5th ” Rendezvoused at 12 noon, and marched to Witklip, 2
companies M.I., 2 guns, 42nd Batty. R.F.A., and 1
pom-pom.

6th ” Marched at 4 A.M. for Wemers Hoek.

7th ” Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Balmietfontein.

8th ” A, D, F, G, and H companies under Lieutenant-Colonel
Guinness, C.B., “fell-in” at 6.55 A.M. and with M.I.
and 2 guns R.F.A. proceeded south to burn farms and
collect families. No opposition.

9th ” Marched at 8.30 A.M. for Klipbank Spruit.

10th ” ” to Oshoek.

12th ” ” to Weemershoek.

13th ” ” to Lydenburg.

26th ” ” at 6.30 A.M. for Zwaggershoek.

27th ” ” to Elandspruit.

28th July Marched to Dulstroom, and were joined by 4th Battalion
M.I. and 2 guns R.F.A.

29th ” ” to Witpoort.

30th ” ” to Blinkwater.

3rd August Blinkwater. D and F companies with two guns R.F.A. marched
at 4.30 A.M. for Konterdanskloof, the M.I. having gone
on at 1.30 A.M. 2 Boers killed, 3 wounded, 200 cattle,
400 sheep captured.

4th ” Marched at 10 A.M. for Roos Senekal.

7th ” Marched at 9 A.M. for Paardekloof.

8th ” At 12 midnight A, B, C, and H companies with machine gun
under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness, C.B., marched by
Kaffir path over the eastern spur of the Tantesberg at
midnight to the N.N.E. to surprise and capture Boers and
cattle. Two Companies M.I., one section R.F.A., and
pom-pom under Colonel Park moved by road more to the
east. Captured 136 cattle and about 20 horses.

11th ” Got waggons up Tantesberg and marched on about 6 miles.

12th ” Marched to Goedgedacht to remain there with a view of
stopping the roads to the east and south-east.

17th ” Five companies and two guns marched at 8.30 A.M., news
being brought in that Boers and cattle were at Paarde
Plaatz. Force got there too late.

22nd ” Marched to Paardekloof.

25th ” Marched to Roos Senekal.

26th ” H company and the 4th Battalion M.I. went along Lydenburg
Road to co-operate with us the next day.

27th ” A, B, D, F, and G companies, 1 section R.F.A., pom-pom,
and 2 companies M.I., under Lieutenant-Colonel Guinness,
C.B., marched at 3 A.M. along road leading to the sources
of the Tonteldos. Met Major Walker’s party at about 10
A.M. They had been sniped. Camped at Schoongezicht.

28th ” Marched at 2 P.M. for Roos Senekal.

30th ” ” to Paarde Kop.

2nd Sept. ” ” Blinkwater.

6th ” ” ” Groot Reit Vlei.

7th ” ” ” Hoed Spruit.

9th ” ” ” Bankfontein.

10th ” ” ” Gun Hill, about 2 miles N.E. of Middelburg.

13th ” ” ” Moved to camp where Colonel Benson had been,
about 1 mile N. of Middelburg.

16th ” ” ” Pan.

17th ” ” ” Wonderfontein.

18th ” ” ” Bergendal.

19th ” ” ” Machadodorp.

23rd ” ” ” Helvetia.

24th ” ” ” Shumans Kloof.

27th ” ” ” Badfontein.

28th ” ” ” Witklip.

29th ” ” ” Lydenburg.