The Record of a Regiment of the Line | Page 4

tea and
refreshments were given out free, by willing hands, to the soldiers in
the trucks.
Trains were running with about 500 to 600 yards distance between
them.

On October 6th between 7 and 8 a.m. the trains conveying the
Regiment reached Pietermaritzburg, and here the men had breakfast.
Pushing on again with as little delay as possible and passing Estcourt at
about 3 p.m., and Colenso about 4 p.m., Ladysmith was reached at 6
p.m.
Detraining took place at once, and the Regiment marched off to Tin
Town, about two miles distant, where camp was pitched in the dark.
The infantry at this time in Ladysmith consisted of:--
The Gordon Highlanders. The Devonshire Regiment. The Gloucester
Regiment. The Liverpool Regiment.
Rumours of war and warlike preparation on the part of the Boers were
continually being circulated, and at daybreak on October 11th the
Transvaal Boers crossed the frontier of Natal 18,000 strong with
fourteen guns.
On October 12th, at 2 p.m., orders were received for the Regiment to
prepare at once to go out as part of a flying column towards Acton
Holmes to check the advance of the Free State Boers, who were
reported to be crossing the Biggarsberg by Vanreenen's Pass; and at 2
a.m. a force consisting of four regiments of cavalry, four batteries R.A.,
and three regiments of infantry (Liverpools, Gordons, and Devons) left
Ladysmith, and after great delay reached Dewdrop at 9 a.m.
The cavalry having been sent on to gain touch, failed however to do so,
and the column returned at once to Ladysmith. The information turned
out to be incorrect.
On the return march the Regiment was joined by Captain W.B. Lafone
and Lieutenants Field and Green, who had arrived from England.
On Sunday, October 15th, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who had arrived
about two days previously, marched out of the Tin Camp Ladysmith to
entrain for Dundee, which place it was reported the Transvaal Boers
were threatening; and on the same day the news was confirmed that the

armoured train at Mafeking had been twice attacked.
It was said that our khaki uniform had completely nonplussed the Boers,
and that they had expected to meet us coming on in red, as in the days
gone by, and that they were consequently rather surprised and annoyed.
The Liverpool Regiment, 18th Hussars, and one battery left Ladysmith
by road for Colenso on October 18th, the Manchester Regiment, the
Devons, and Natal mounted troops covering their march from the
direction of Vanreenen's Pass. Refugees continually coming through
into Ladysmith from Acton Holmes during the day, reported fighting
going on between Boers and Natal Carbineers.
On its return to Ladysmith the same day, the Regiment moved from the
Tin Town Camp and encamped on the football ground under the
convent hill, and towards sunset the whole army marched out of
Ladysmith into strategical positions outside the town. The Regiment at
this time was reserve battalion.
On October 19th the Boers cut the telegraph wire between Dundee and
Ladysmith, and captured near Elandslaagte Station a train containing
forty tons of flour consigned to the force at Dundee, and the following
morning the Devons, Gordons, one battery, 5th Lancers, and some
Colonial mounted infantry, moved out towards Modder Station on the
Ladysmith-Newcastle road.
At about 11 a.m. news was received that a fierce battle was being
fought at Dundee, and that a large force of Free State Boers was
advancing towards Ladysmith from Bester's Station, having crossed the
Vanreenen's Pass. The column was halted about four miles out of
Ladysmith, and three companies of the Devons under Captain Travers
were sent to hold Pepworth Hill on the flank threatened by the Free
State Boers. But at 4 p.m. Sir George White came out and joined the
force, and he ordered the column back into Ladysmith.
He gave an account of the fighting at Dundee, which he had just
received. Dundee Camp was aroused in the morning by shells being
pitched into its midst. The artillery came into action, and the 60th

Rifles and Dublin Fusiliers were then sent to capture the position,
which was occupied by 4000 Boers. This was gallantly carried.
Another column of Boers was then turned on to, and at 1.30 p.m. the
enemy broke. Major-General Penn-Symons was mortally wounded, and
Major-General Yule had taken over command at Dundee.
By next day a detachment of Boers had reached the neighbourhood of
Modder Station and had taken up a position near Elandslaagte.
This detachment consisted of some 650 Boers, with two guns, under
the leadership of General Koch, who was charged with the task of
cutting off the retreat of the forces at Glencoe and Dundee, and who
had been sent forward for that purpose. General Koch had at the same
time practically joined hands with the Free