| Kimber | Charles Dixon | | Lieutenant | He was killed in action at Wildfontein, near Ventersdorp, July 17th, 1901, while endeavouring to save a dismounted sergeant of his troop. Lieutenant Kimber was the second son of Henry Kimber MP, Lansdowne Lodge, Putney, and grandson of Lieutenant General Dixon, Royal Engineers. He was born October 24th, 1863, and educated at Epsom, and Merton College, Oxford. He was admitted a solicitor in January 1890, and was a member of the firm of Kimbers and Boatman, Lombard Street, London. Lieutenant Kimber volunteered for service early in 1900, and joined the Duke of Cambridge's Own as a trooper. He was present in the affair of Lindley, and taken as a prisoner to Nooigedacht, but escaped from there, reaching the British lines August 5th, 1900. He was then attached to the 1st Cavalry Brigade for duty, and was appointed Lieutenant in the Imperial Yeomanry September 1900, and afterwards saw much service. The evening before he was killed, his squadron consisting of three officers, Lieutenant Kimber and 45 men, was sent from camp at Grasslaagte to Wildfontein, distant about thirty miles, to surprise some Boers. Heavy rain fell during the night March and just as day was breaking the party reached its destination, and having captured some cattle, was attacked by some of Kemp's Commando. The squadron formed a rear-guard, but the Boers succeeded in getting round the left flank, and the cattle had to be abandoned. The party was then ordered to retire, and while the movement was being carried out, Lieutenant Kimber heard a shout for help and, looking round, saw one of his sergeants on foot whose horse had bolted. Riding back to assist him, and while the sergeant was in the act of mounting behind him, a Boer fired at them and Lieutenant Kimber fell shot through the heart. The sergeant was uninjured. Lieutenant Kimber was buried at Pietfontein, on the road to Ventersdorp. A history of this officer's life has been written by his sister, Mrs Thomson, Eirene, Putney, London, published by Nisbet and Co, the proceeds being devoted to a Soldiers' Home near Pretoria in memory of Lieutenant Kimber.
Source: Donner | 13th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry |
