The Boer War
Page 99
5 See damning evidence of law case of Queen of Sekukuni v P. A. Cronje and others, C 417/226/363
6 Breyt I, 390–402, II, 37–8, 53–5, 466–7
7 Breyt II, 56, 61
8 Breyt II, 57–8
9 Ibid II, 58–62 (map opp 96). Methuen’s despatch SD I, 46. For Maj O’Meara’s sketch-map used by Methuen see Meth. See also Cuthbert 9, 12–13
10 Breyt II, 58–9. OH I, 243–4. Meintjes De la Rey 37, 48–52, 112–14
11 Ralph Towards Pretoria 180. Account of Boer eye-witness (cy) PC
12 Meintjes De la Rey 116–18, 133
13 Breyt II, 60–1. Cf OH I, 247–8
14 See map Breyt II, 96
15 Breyt II, 93–5. OH I, 248–9. According to one account Cronje had ordered the men not to fire till the British were too yards away but they fired when they were 400 yards off. See Narrative of a Boer in PRAI XXIX/7
16 Methuen–wife 1 Dec 1899, Meth
17 Dunn–Pattison Argyll & Sutherland
18 Colvile 10–11. Hall Coldstream Guards 53–8
19 Ralph Towards Pretoria 184
20 Colvile 10–11. Kinnear Methuen 108–33. TH, II, 352. Capt Chandos–Pole diary 28 Nov 1899, PC. Lt Lang–mother Nov 1899, (cy) PC. Capt E. M. Pakenham–Ly Longford 30 Nov 1899, PC. Capt G. Trotter–mother 30 Nov 1899, Trot
21 Colvile 8–10. Methuen–wife 1 Dec 1899, MS cit. Kinnear Methuen 103–33 called it ‘plom, plom’)
22 Ralph Towards Pretoria 182–3
23 Account of Boer eye-witness, (cy) PC. See also Narrative of a Boer PRAI loc cit. And see Boer correspondent’s report (Laffan’s Agency) quoted Daily Telegraph Jan 1900
24 Methuen’s despatch SD I, 46. Hall Coldstream 53–4
25 Colvile 7–8. OH I, 249–51
26 OH I, 251–2
27 H. R. Kelham’s account, Kel
28 Breyt II, 61, 74, 78. OH I, 251. See interview with Albrecht quoted G. Trotter–mother 4 Mar 1900 Trot 110
29 Breyt II, 75–6 inc quotes from van der Heever Hertzog 97–9. OH I, 252–4. TH II, 353
30 Methuen’s despatch SD I, 46. Lt Lang–mother Dec 1899 (cy) PC. OH I, 254–6. TH II, 355–6
31 Ibid
32 De la Rey–Steyn no 22 Nov 29 1899, Ley 711 quoted Breyt II, 468–9. De la Rey’s memoirs quoted Breyt II, 80–2. Meintjes De la Rey 120–1. OH I, 257
33 Ibid
34 Meintjes loc cit
35 De la Rey’s memoirs loc cit
36 Ibid. Meintjes loc cit
37 Breyt II, 90
38 Breyt II, 87–9
39 Methuen–wife 1 Dec 1900, Meth. Colvile 11–13. OH I, 259–60
40 Ralph Towards Pretoria 192–3. TH 358–9
41 De la Rey’s memoirs loc cit
42 Breyt II, 468–70
43 Prinsloo no 60 29 Nov 1899, quoted above
44 Kruger–Steyn no 130 Nov 1899, Ley 711. Breyt II, 91
45 Ibid
46 Steyn–Kruger no 7 30 Nov 1899, Ley 711. Breyt II, 96
47 De la Rey memoirs loc cit. Breyt II, 96–9, 100–2
48 Breyt II, 97–8
49 Breyt II
50 Info from Miss F. Barbour. For description of the trench in Feb 1900 see G. Trotter–mother 20 Feb 1900, Trot, and Percy Clive diary Feb 1900 (cy) PC. EGO in 1972 and 1977
51 Breyt II, 105. OH I, 305–8. TH II, 384–8
CHAPTER 18: MARCHING UP IN COLUMN
Head of chapter Verse by Pte Smith reprinted Morning Leader, 10 Feb 1900
1 Methuen’s despatch SD 1, 130. OH I, 311 and Map Vol I
2 Methuen–wife Nov 1899, Meth. Ralph Towards Pretoria 193
3 OH I, 311
4 DNB. Wilson With the Flag I, 178
5 OH I, 311. TH II, 397
6 Methuen SD I, 130. Methuen–wife 10 Dec 1899, Meth
7 Methuen SD I, 130. SJ 9 Dec 1899. OH I, 308
8 Kekewich diary 4 Dec 1899, Kek. OH I, 304. SJ 9–10 Dec 1899
9 For railway problems see Sir P. Girouard Railways. Lt Lang–mother 4 Dec 1899, (cy) PC
10 Methuen–Buller 2 Dec 1899, Bull (PRO) WO 132/15
11 SD I, 120. OH I, 312–15
12 March Phillipps 100
13 EGO
14 SD I, loc cit
15 Info from Miss F. Barbour
16 OH loc cit. Lt B Lang–mother 14 Dec 1899, (cy) PC
17 Lang MS cit. Wilson With the Flag I, 180
18 Colvile 14. SD I, 132 para 31
19 Colvile 14
20 March Phillipps 30–5. Ralph op cit 210–11
21 Pemberton 85. For his earlier confidence in the 4.7” see Methuen–wife 10 Dec 1899, Meth
22 TH II, 398. Cf OH I, 312–15
23 SD I, 130 para 13–17. OH I, 316. TH II, 397–9
24 Info from Miss F. Barbour
25 See J. H. Cuthbert 17. However, after a helicopter trip over the trench at balloon altitude, Miss F. Barbour is sceptical
26 A. G. Wauchope Black Watch 154–6
27 Ibid. Hughes Hallett’s report 13 Dec 1899, Bull (PRO) WO 132/14. Gardyne Gordons III, 97
28 OH I
29 Dunn–Pattison 91st 272. Pemberton 91–2
30 Lt Lang–mother 2 Feb 1900, (cy) PC
31 Ralph op cit 214–15. Wilson With the Flag I, 187–8 Conan Doyle 103
32 TH II, 400–1. Wilson op cit 183
33 Wauchope 155–6. Kelham’s account, Kel. Dunn–Pattison loc cit. SD I, 131
34 OH I, 401–2
35 Gardyne III, 101
36 SD loc cit. OH I, 321
37 Info Miss F. Barbour. SD I, 130 para 24. OH I, 329
38 TH II, 408–10
39 Breyt II, 114–15
40 OH I, 328–9
41 SD loc cit paras 26–7. Gardyne III, 100–2
42 Methuen–wife 14 Dec 1899, Meth
43 Ibid
44 See Col Crabbe ev RCSAW III, Q 19761
45 Lt B. Lang–mother 14 Dec 1899, (cy) PC
46 TH II, 410–11
47 Breyt II, 139
48 Gardyne III, 103–4, 429–30. Hughes–Hallett’s report loc cit. OH I, 327
49 Gardyne III, 103–4
50 Roger Poore quoted Pemberton 105
51 Gardyne III. OH I, 327–9, 429–30, 469. Breyt II, 170–4
52 Methuen–wife 14 Dec, 22 1899, Meth
53 SD loc cit paras 36–8. OH I, 329–30
CHAPTER 19: ‘WHERE ARE THE BOERS?’
Head of chapter Capt A. Trotter–mother 11 Dec 1899, Trot. Botha–Kruger 13 Dec 1899 tel no 39, Ley
1 J. B. Atkins The Relief of Ladysmith 140. Capt A. Trotter–mother 11 Dec 1899, Trot
2 See OH map vol I ‘Colenso and the Surrounding Country’. See also sketch-map by Capt A. Trotter 7 Dec 1899 Trotfrom kopje outside Frere
3 Heliographic communication established on 7 Dec 1899. See Buller’s ev to RCSAW III, 173
4 Atkins 140–1
5 Ibid
6 OH I, 334–5
7 Breyt II, 328–30. TH II, 424
8 Mai Elton, PRAI XXVIII 397–8.
9 Maps in Sandbach MSS Sand. Maps in Jones MSS PC. Cf sketch-map in Hart–Synnot Letters
10 Buller’s ev to RCSAW III, passim
11 SD I, 485 (tel no 19)
12 Atkins 129–30. Treves Tale of a Field Hospital 3–4. B. Herbert diary 7–13 Dec 1899, Herb
13 Treves 4
14 Lyttelton–wife I Dec 1899, Lyt 548. SJ 29 Nov 1899
15 Buller’s tel quoted SJ 26 Nov 1899
16 Treves 5. It was open by 6 Dec. See SJ 6 Dec 1899
17 Lt Alford Dec 1899-Jan 1900, Alf
18 Natal Mercury 23 Dec 1899
19 See complete list of sailings in OH I, 471–6
20 Lyttelton–wife Nov–Dec 1899, Lyt
21 Atkins 128–9
22 See note 5 and soldiers’ diaries, (cy) PC
23 Daily Mail early Oct 1899 passim
24 Melville II, 293–4, 302–10. Lewis Butler 78–82. Nevinson Essays in Freedom 96–9 (London 1911). See testimo
nials from ordinary soldiers, Bull (Crediton)
25 Tape interviews in 1970 with Ptes Packer and Hall, PC
26 Ibid
27 Treves 6
28 See note 25
29 Lyttelton–wife 1, 20 Nov 1899, Lyt 544, 545
30 Atkins 131
31 Atkins 124–5. Treves 5
32 Capt A. Trotter–mother 7 Dec 1899, Trot
33 Capt A. Trotter passim, Trot. See Melville II, 307–8. There were similar stories about Kitchener’s drinking
34 Buller–L 4 Dec 1899 (Pte), Lan
35 See CT and SDI, passim. Cf Buller–wife 2 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)
36 See note 34
37 Buller–wife 2 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)
38 See note 34
39 Buller–L 8 Dec 1899, CT no 42. Buller–L 12 Dec 1899, SD I, 24. Buller–White 7 Dec 1899, CT no 7, 11 Dec, CT no 19. Buller’s ev to RCSAW III, 174 17 Feb 1903
40 Buller–R 28 Dec 1899, Bobs R 10/18
41 H. Lang–Buller (enc with Buller–L 12 Dec 1899), SD 1, 25
42 Buller’s ev to RCSAW III, 174
43 See note 9
44 Buller–L 12 Dec 1899, loc cit
45 White–Buller 8 Dec 1899, CT no 14. Buller–White 9 Dec 1899, CT no 16
46 Buller–L 12 Dec 1899, loc cit
47 Buller–L 13 Dec 1899, CT no 50
48 White–Buller 8 Dec 1899, CT no 12, SD 1, App 487
49 Buller’s ev to RCSAW III, 174
50 Buller–Sir A. Bigge 4 Jan, 15 Mar 1900, Big
51 See Lyttelton–wife 1 Nov 1899, Lyt 544. Lyttelton Eighty Years 182, 203–4
52 See Buller–L 2 Dec 1899, CT no 7, SD 1, 20. Hildyard–wife 22–8 Dec 1899, Hil
53 Buller–L 4 Dec 1899 (Pte) Lan
54 Buller–L 1 Dec 1899, CT no 34C ‘Barton I hear is useless’
55 See note 53
56 Lyttelton Eighty Years 211. Romer & Mainwaring 36. Hart–Synnot Letters passim. TH II, 444
57 See Atkins Incidents and Reflections 126 (1947). For Buller’s later comment see RCSAW IV, 409 ‘ridiculous expedition’
58 Buller–L Nov 1899 (Pte) Lan. Cf TH II, 40
59 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
60 OH I, 334. For Douglas see Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
61 Hildyard–brother 22–8 Dec 1899, Hil
62 Bigge–Buller 25 Nov, Buller–Bigge 26 Nov, Bigge–Buller 10 Dec 1899, Bull (PRO) WO 132/7/841. Cf Warren Christian Victor 306–9
63 Buller–L 4 Dec 1899 (Pte) Lan
64 Melville I, 128–9
65 Sir E. Wood–R 24 Sep 1899, Bobs R 91/7
66 See note 39
67 Buller–L 13 Dec 1899, CT no 50. Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
68 GOC Cape quoting Gatacre 11 Dec 1899, CT no 49B
69 SJ 10 Dec 1899. Gatacre SD I. OH I, 285–303
70 Buller–Gatacre 11 Dec 1899, CT no 49D paraphrase
71 Methuen–L (via Cape) 12 Dec 1899, CT no 49H
72 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
73 Ibid. Buller–wife 18 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton) ‘forlorn hope’
74 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
75 Ibid. The ‘lachrymose telegram’ has not apparently survived. But that Methuen was planning a retreat to Orange River is confirmed by Methuen–wife 14 Dec 1899, Meth
76 TH II, 427
77 Vol II was published in 1902. Buller gave his evidence to the RCSAW in 1903
78 Buller–White 13 Dec 1899, SD App I, 489
79 Buller–L 13 Dec 1899, SD I, 25
80 Buller–L 13 Dec 1899, CT no 50
81 Buller–L 17 Dec 1899, SD I, 36, 40. Buller’s ev RCSAW 174. Buller–R 27 Mar 1900, WO 105/25/34. OH I, 345–6
82 FID blueprint maps in Sandbach MSS Sand, and Jones MSS PC. Gunners’ map in PRAI XXVIII 397–8
83 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 174
84 OH I, 341 (lines 4–9) omits ‘punt drift’ (2)
85 See Hely–Hutchinson–CO 23 Nov 1899, CT no 32B ‘Tugela rose during day, and is now reported to be impassable.’ Cf Hildyard ev RCSAW III, Q 16154–8
86 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 174
87 Buller’s orders SD I, 40
88 OH Map Vol I. EGO (I got lost there!)
89 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 174. OH I, 341. Melville II, 100 quoting earlier draft of Buller’s ev for RCSAW
90 See note 81
91 Buller–R loc cit
92 Pemberton 124
93 See Lyttelton–wife 14 Dec 1899, Lyt 550 Hildyard–Gedge 22–8 Dec 1899, Hil. Capt A. Trotter–mother 11 Dec 1900, Trot
94 Atkins 148 and (‘fun’) 155
95 Ibid 149
96 Ibid 149–50
97 OH I, 346
98 Capt A. Trotter–mother 18 Dec 1899, Trot
99 Biograph photo in Wilson With the Flag I, 91. See also Capt A. Trotter–mother 18 Dec 1899, Trot
100 Buller–wife 18 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton)
101 Atkins 155–8. Bron Herbert diary 10–15 1899 Herb. Capt A. Trotter loc cit. OH I, 354–5
102 Barnard 58
103 Hofmeyr Zes Maanden bij de Commandos 209
104 W. J. de Kock J. de V. Roos 40–2, quoted Barnard 47–8
105 Barnard 48, 57
106 Barnard 46. Breyt II, 238–9. Naudé Vechten en Vluchten 69
107 Breyt II, 244–5 OH I, 340–1 & Map Vol I. Cf TH II, 427–32
108 Barnard 47–9
109 Barnard 53–4. Breyt II, 246–7
110 Kruger–Botha 13 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (d) tel no 39. Gen Burger–Kruger 14 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (b) tel no 14. Barnard 54
111 Barnard 54–5
112 Kruger–Botha 14 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (b) tel no 6. Barnard 55
113 Barnard 55–6. Breyt II, 249
114 Barnard 56. Breyt II, 249–50
115 Botha–Kruger 14 Dec 1899, Ley 713 (b) tel no 51. Barnard 56–7
116 Barnard 57. Breyt II, 250–1
117 Barnard 49–50
118 Barnard 57
119 Ewing–HTD Pretoria Ley 713 (c) tel no 1–2 Dec 15 1899
120 Barnard 58–9
121 Barnard 59. C Burne Naval Brigade 15–16
CHAPTER 20: ‘A DEVIL OF A MESS’
Head of chapter Moberly Bell–Amery 13 Oct 1899, Times MS Letterbooks
1 Treves 9–11
2 Treves 46–7
3 TH VI, 517–18, III, 99–100. Treves 74–6. Buller–L 12 Dec 1899, SD I, 107. But see PPW 270 for evidence they stole from wounded! See M. K. Gandhi An Autobiography (1930) 142–8
4 Treves 11–13
5 Jourdain Natal 8. TH II, 444. Romer & Mainwaring 34–5. OH I, 352–3
6 Romer & Mainwaring 35. TH loc cit
7 OH I, 354
8 OH I, 354. Jourdain 8. TH II, 464–5
9 OH loc cit. TH loc cit
10 Jourdain Natal 8 (see also diary and autobiog). OH loc cit
11 Romer & Mainwaring loc cit. OH loc cit. TH II, 445
12 Romer & Mainwaring 36–7. OH 1, 356–7
13 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 400
14 Romer & Mainwaring 37
15 Gen Hart 26 Dec foll 1899, Hart–Synnot Letters 296–308
16 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 400–2
17 Buller–L 19 Dec 1899, SD I, 42 (WO 32/7890)
18 See esp Buller–L 16 Dec 1899, CT no 55. Buller–L 19 Dec 1899, SD I, 42. For failure of Lyddite see PRAI and Hildyard ev RCSAW III, Q 16134–8
19 Buller’s draft ev for RCSAW quoted Melville II, 108
20 Capt. A. Trotter–mother 18 Dec 1899, Trot. Buller loc cit. OH I, 357
21 Buller loc cit 108–9. Buller–R 27 Mar 1900, and Long’s own 4-page report, WO 105/25/34
22 Buller’s draft ev for RCSAW quoted Melville II, 109
23 Ibid
24 Long’s action was afterwards severely censured both by R and W. ‘Grave error’ acc R–L 5 May 1900, ‘disastrous’ acc Grove–R 11 Oct 1900, WO 105/25/34. See Barton’s ev, RCSAW III and see Rawlinson diary Dec 1900, Rawl
25 Buller–R
27 Mar 1900 quoting Col Hunt’s objections, WO 105/25/34. OH I, 358–61. Jeans Naval Brigades 246–8 (inc Lt Ogilvy’s account)
26 Ibid. And see Herbert–Dods 26 Dec 1899, Herb
27 Burleigh 216–20. PPW 289. Wilson I, 91–3
28 Botha–Kruger 15 Dec 1899, Ley 713 no 54. Barnard 67. Cf OH I, 360–1, 365 and see note 55 here
29 Buller’s draft ev for RCSAW quoted Melville II, 109. Buller–L 17 Dec SD I, 36. Buller’s ev RCSAW III, Q 15303. quoting Hildyard’s report on Colenso. OH 1,363–4
30 W. Waters German Official Account of the War I, 72–3 Cf TH II, 458
31 ‘Sold by a d-d gunner’ Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big. Note irony: Bigge was a gunner, too
32 See note 29. Cf TH II, 459. Pemberton 136–7
33 Lyttelton–wife 15 Dec 1899, Lyt 550. Lyttelton Eighty Years 208–10. OH I, 369–70
34 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers loc cit. Lyttelton–wife loc cit
35 Jourdain loc cit. Maj–Gen Hart 26 Dec 1899 Hart–Synnot Letters 293–8. OH I, 369–70
36 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 404. PPW 312–13
37 See note 29. Also Lt Lafone–mother 18 Dec 1899, Laf 39558/27–30. Lafone was in F Coy of the Devonshires
38 OH I, 364–5. Jeans Naval Brigades loc cit
39 Anon quoted PPW 304. See also Trooper Billings, one of Buller’s bodyguard, quoted PPW 292
40 Pte Richardson RAMC quoted PPW 292–3. TH II, 452
41 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big
42 Buller–wife 18 Dec 1899, Bull (Crediton). Capt A. Trotter–mother, Trot
43 Gunner C. H. Young quoted Morning Leader 9 Feb 1900
44 Capt Congreve–Henry Wilson 18 Dec 1899, Con Cpl [Nurse] quoted PPW 296–7. See letter of Hildyard quoted Warren Prince Christian Victor 313–14
45 Capt Congreve - 16 Dec 1899, and diary 15 Dec 1899, Con MSS
46 Corpl [Nurse] loc cit
47 Pte Burnett quoted PPW 294. Bombardier Stephenson quoted PPW 298–9. OH I, 365–6
48 TH 11, 453–4. Lyttelton Eighty Years 210. No doubt Lyttelton was one of Amery’s main informants. Cf OH I
49 Buller’s ev RCSAW III, 201–2 Q 15305–7. Buller’s draft ev quoted Melville II, 110–11
50 Buller–L 16 Dec 1899, CT no 65
51 Buller’s draft ev for RCSAW loc cit
52 Dundonald Mr Army Life 104–8. OH I, 366–9. Barton s ev RCSAW III, 660 in protest against TH account. See TH II, 447–9
53 PPW 135
54 See note 45
55 Col Bullock’s ev at inquiry 6 Aug 1900, also Col Hunt’s ev on 15 Jun 1900, and Maj Walter 8 Aug 1900, RCSAW IV, 411–12. Congreve loc cit
56 Treves 14–15
57 Treves 15–23. See also Atkins 155: ‘fun’
58 Buller–Bigge 15 Mar 1900, Big. Atkins 174–5