TOPIC:

1899 - Kimberley siege day 45 (36%). Ladysmith siege day 27 (22%). Mafeking siege day 47 (21%). Battle of Modder River. Death of Lt Col Scott Turner at Kimberley
1901 - De Wet opens a Council of War at Spytfontein. Rimington marches there.


The battle at Modder River as seen by the Grenadier Guards


Lt Col Scott Turner

In Kimberley:

“No 1 can read you this. Shall we send you a message in Kimberley block cipher in an hour’s time from GOC”

“No 2 Have sent over to General for message, it can be ready in an hour.”

“No 3 From Lord Methuen. Lord Methuen thamks the merchants of Kimberley for their kind present of cigars; he is a non smoker; but has given them to his soldiers.”

“No 4 To Rhodes. The commodore is coming up in uniform.”

As I considered it very necessary to make the next movement I could to relieve the pressure on the relief column by drawing off and holding as many as possible of the enemy opposing its advance I ordered a strong reconnaissance this morning of all the mounted troops. 3 guns DFA. 3 Companies 1/LN Lan Regt. 3 Companies of Kimberley Regt. And some of the Town Guard. The whole under the command of Lt Col Chamier RA. I decided to siege the Kopjes in possession of the enemy known as “Johnstone’s” overlooking the rifle ranges, and if it could be so arranged for the mounted troops and some of the guns to move at once to Carter’s farm and shell the enemy on the ridge West of Lazaretto. Colonel Turner was of opinion that enemy were few and would clear from the redoubts on the ridge when shelled, but I cautioned him to be most careful not to press home an attack unless he thought there was every chance of success.

Details of this reconnaissance will be found elsewhere. I fear our loss is about: 23 killed; 28 wounded.

Colonel Scott Turner was killed when most gallantly leading his men to the attack of a redoubt. The very best of officers; he is indeed a great loss.

In Ladysmith:

Hopeful news came of British successes, both at Estcourt and Mooi River. The relief column is now thought to be at Frere, not far below Colenso. A large Boer convoy, with 800 mounted men, was seen trending away towards the Free State passes, perhaps retiring. Everybody was much cheered up. The Boer guns fired now and then, but did little damage. At night we placed two howitzers on a nek in Waggon Hill, where the 60th have a post south-west of the town.

In Mafeking:

The big gun was harassed by volleys all day, and did not fire much, a lively skirmish going on at intervals throughout the day on the eastern front, Maxims, guns and rifles; Cape Boys partaking from the south of the Molopo. Fitzclarence relieved Lord Charles Bentinck this evening. The Boers vacated the brick-kilns after the firing had been going on for some time.

From the diary of Trooper A J Crosby, Natal Carbineers

Parade 3.30. After an hour’s exercise we opened up in half sections either side of the road as far as the drift to prevent horses getting away as they passed through to the grazing ground amongst the thorns. Rumour of an engagement at Ulundi below Colenso, the Boers losing 1100 men. Had tea with Norton Smith and Prof. Lake and a few other N.M.R.

1899 - From the diary of Miss Bella Craw in Ladysmith

Immediately after breakfast Captain Arnot went down to camp and soon returned to tell us the news. A kaffir messenger had got through from Maritzburg leaving last Friday. He came by train as far as Mooi River, where he heard the line was torn up near Estcourt. So he walked from there going to Weenen. He met two other boys, friends of his, who told him the Boers had looted a lot of cattle, P. D. Symond's amongst them, and sent them up to the Free State; that there had been a very big fight at Mooi River last Thursday Nov.23rd, in which the Boers had been slaughtered and driven into the flooded Mooi River. He says on Sunday morning a large number of our troops left Estcourt and slept that night at Frere, so we may expect something exciting very soon now. All this has since been confirmed by the General who has received despatches since.

News has been received that General Buller was at De Aar on the 22nd inst., Lord Methuen at Naauwpoort, and Sir William Gatacre at Queenstown, each in command of a division. Sir Charles Warren has arrived at Kuruman to relieve Mafeking and take charge of the Western Border division. Private information is that Buller has crossed the Orange River and knocked the Boers. The Free State flag is flying at Aliwal North and Colesburg and is also supposed to be at Burgersdorp. Large herds of cattle and wagons have been seen to be trekking in the direction of Olivier's Hoek. A fresh 6-inch gun has been erected by the Boers south west of us, commanding the Military Camp (deserted now) Rumour again has it that our troops are at Colenso tonight and that the bridge is blown up. Also that Boers are entraining at Elandslaagte and Besters Station going back to the Transvaal and Free State. This latter is true they say. A body of Cavalry has been sent in the direction of Ulundi from Estcourt to intercept any Boers that may still be to the South.

Certainly a most memorable day from it's beginning on the wretched Modder, the short exchange between Methuen and Colville that preceded the hail of enemy fire has passed into legend, as far as I am concerned;

Paul Methuen "They are not here!"
Henry Colville "They are sitting uncommonly tight if they are, Sir!"

Bella Craw's report on the "kaffir messenger" (now more politely remembered as a "Native Scout") is interesting because it gives an insight into the hard and lonely journeys they made to reach besieged Ladysmith. Firstly the long and rough road from Mooi River to Weenen, and then cross-country from Weenen to Ladysmith through Boer lines and certain death if they were caught. There was little, if any reward waiting for them at the end of their journey. The British and Boer soldiers were there doing their duty, but what motivated these brave black men?

Brett

In some instances a certain loyalty to the Great White Queen, her Empire and it's subjects, in rather more instances, money, the Colony and ultimately the War Office paid them very well indeed.

Brett Hendey wrote: Bella Craw's report on the "kaffir messenger" (now more politely remembered as a "Native Scout") is interesting because it gives an insight into the hard and lonely journeys they made to reach besieged Ladysmith. Firstly the long and rough road from Mooi River to Weenen, and then cross-country from Weenen to Ladysmith through Boer lines and certain death if they were caught. There was little, if any reward waiting for them at the end of their journey. The British and Boer soldiers were there doing their duty, but what motivated these brave black men?

Brett