Chapter I: Introduction

This Journal, completed before leaving the front in October, 1900, does not assume to be more than a somewhat rough and unadorned record of my personal experiences during ten months of the South African (Boer) Campaign of 1899-1900 while in detached command of two 12-pounder guns of H.M.S. _Terrible_ and H.M.S. _Tartar_. Having been asked by some of my friends to publish it, I am emboldened to do so, in the hope that the Journal may be of interest to those who read it, as giving some idea of work done by a Naval Brigade when landed for service at a most critical time. A few notes on Field Gunnery are appended with a view to give to others a few ideas which I picked up while serving with the guns on shore, after a previous experience as Gunnery Lieutenant in H.M.S _Thetis_ and _Cambrian_.

For the photographs given I must record my thanks to Lieutenant Clutterbuck, R.N., Mr. Hollins, R.N., and other kind friends.

C.R.N.B.

_April_, 1902.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
Outbreak of the war -- The Transport Service and
despatch of Army Corps from Southampton -- Departure of
a Naval Brigade from England and landing at Capetown and
Durban -- I join H.M.S. _Philomel_ 1-10

CHAPTER II

I depart for the front with a Q.-F. Battery from H.M.S.
_Terrible_ -- Concentration of General Buller's army at
Frere and Chieveley -- Preliminary bombardment of the
Boer lines at Colenso -- The attack and defeat at
Colenso -- Christmas Day in camp 11-21

CHAPTER III

Life in Camp and Bombardment of the Boer lines at
Colenso -- General Buller moves his army, and by a flank
march seizes "Bridle Drift" over the Tugela -- The heavy
Naval and Royal Artillery guns are placed in position --
Sir Charles Warren crosses the Tugela with the 5th
Division, and commences his flank attack 22-32

CHAPTER IV

Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz -- General Buller withdraws
the troops and moves once more on Colenso -- We hold
Springfield Bridge -- Buller's successful attack on
Hussar Hill, Hlangwane, and Monte Christo -- Relief of
Kimberley 33-44

CHAPTER V

Passage of Tugela forced and Colenso occupied -- Another
move back across the river to Hlangwane and Monte
Christo -- The Boers at length routed and Ladysmith is
relieved -- Entry of Relief Force into Ladysmith --
Withdrawal of H.M.S. _Terrible's_ men to China -- I
spend a bad time in Field Hospital--General Buller's
army moves forward to Elandslaagte -- Boers face us on
the Biggarsberg 45-58

CHAPTER VI

End of three weary months at Elandslaagte -- A small
Boer attack -- The advance of General Buller by
Helpmakaar on Dundee -- We under General Hildyard
advance up the Glencoe Valley -- Retreat of the Boers to
Laing's Nek -- Occupation of Newcastle and Utrecht -- We
enter the Transvaal -- Concentration of the army near
Ingogo -- Naval guns ascend Van Wyk, and Botha's Pass is
forced -- Forced march through Orange Colony -- Victory
at Almond's Nek -- Boers evacuate Majuba and Laing's Nek
-- Lord Roberts enters Pretoria -- We occupy Volksrust
and Charlestown 59-72

CHAPTER VII

Majuba Hill in 1900 -- We march on Wakkerstroom and
occupy Sandspruit -- Withdrawal of H.M.S. _Forte's_ men
and Naval Volunteers from the front -- Action under
General Brocklehurst at Sandspruit -- I go to hospital
and Durban for a short time -- Recover and proceed to
the front again -- Take command of my guns at Grass Kop
-- Kruger flies from Africa in a Dutch man-of-war --
Many rumours of peace 73-86

CHAPTER VIII

Still holding Grass Kop with the Queen's -- General
Buller leaves for England -- Final withdrawal of the
Naval Brigade, and our arrival at Durban -- Our
reception there -- I sail for England -- Conclusion 87-100

CHAPTER IX

Gunnery Results: The 12-pounder Q.-F. Naval gun -- Its
mounting, sighting, and methods of firing--The Creusot
3"-gun and its improvements -- Shrapnel fire and the
poor results obtained by the Boers -- Use of the
Clinometer and Mekometer -- How to emplace a Q.-F. gun,
etc., etc. 101-120

APPENDIX I

Hints on Equipment and Clothing for Active Service 121-128

APPENDIX II

Extracts from some of the Despatches, Reports, and
Telegrams regarding operations mentioned in this Journal 129-145

APPENDIX III

Diary of the Boer War up to October 25th, 1900 146-152