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Lt. Col. Sam Steele - Report to Lord Strathcona - September 14th, 1900 12 years 2 months ago #5564
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The Rt. Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, C.G.M.G.
High Commissioner for Canada London, England Spitz Kop Sept. 14th. 1900 Dear Lord Strathcona, The following is taken from the Regimental Diary and covers the period from the date of my last report. Badfontein, Tuesday, Sept. 4th, 1900 The Regiment was ordered to place picquets on the high ridge to the right of the camp. The orders were transmitted to Captain Cameron who commanded the outposts on the left flank. Lieut. Leckie was sent to occupy a post on the high ridge to the right and Sergt. Logan, it appears, was sent with a section to a post on the same ridge still further to the front. Lieut. Leckie succeeded in getting to the ground, but found the enemy in considerable force. He then sent in to say that in order to hold the place support would be necessary. Lord Dundonald then ordered two troops of the Regiment to go out to his support. In the meantime it was reported that Sergt. Logan and three men were missing. Pte. McDuff one of his men, who remained some distance in rear returned to camp with this information. Two troops were ordered to carry out Lord Dundonald's orders, but unfortunately Lieut. Kirkpatrick, who was the Officer in Charge did not carry out the instructions which had been given to him through Major Jarvis and advanced to the rocky kopje which had been the cause of Sergt. Logan's party being missing, with the result that the troops became entangled among the snipers. Sergt. Brothers and Pte. Cruickshank were found to be missing. The troops were forced to return to camp. In the meantime Lieut. Leckie had to retire from his post. During the morning Sergt. Nelles and the scouts were sent out to examine the country to the right front and to take a sketch of it. He was also to see it if was possible for the enemy to place guns on the right front. A report was made that it was possible to mount guns and it looked as though they were doing so on the point to the extreme front of the ridge to right of camp. Private Garner of the scouts was wounded in three places but not dangerously. Badfontein, Wednesday, September 5th. The information which Sergt. Nelles and the scouts gathered yesterday proved to be correct. This morning a "Long Tom" opened on the camp from the ridge and shelled us from 9 to early noon. Lord Dundonald ordered a shift of camp and the horses and saddlery were moved to a point under the ridge. Our artillery shelled the ridge and the Infantry proceeded up, reaching the summit after meeting with considerable opposition. The Boer gun ceased fire about noon and towards evening the horses etc., returned to camp. Late at night the Infantry reported that the bodies of Sergt. Brothers and Private Cruickshanks had been found and arrangements were made for their burial in the morning before marching. Badfontein to Schuman's Farm Thursday September 6th. The Regiment marched this morning at 9 o'clock, 4th Division M. I. leading, Strathcona's Horse following. Before marching, word was received that the bodies of Sergt. Logan, Ptrs. Jones, West and Wiggins had been found. A burial party, accompanied by the Brigade Chaplain, Rev. Mr. Webb-Peplow, was sent up. The position occupied by the enemy was carefully scouted, and found to be safe. The Brigade then ascended the long hill and proceeded through the valley to Schuman's Farm where it encamped. General Hamilton's Force which came up by the Belfast Road could be seen on our left moving towards Lydenburg. Information received that Boers have "Long Tom" trained on road from right of Lydenburg. Schuman's Farm to Lydenburg Friday, September 7th. The Regiment was in advance to-day covering the right front and front. Outside of Lydenburg picquets were sent out to protect the right front. These were furnished by "B" Squadron and 1 troop of "A". During the afternoon Mr. Fall's troop and a force under Major Belcher met with a hot fire. The enemy are in position on the heights to the right of Lydenburg and shelled the town and camp all afternoon. Headquarters reached camp after dark. Owing to a mistake in the transmission of orders the troops covering the right were left till a late hour and resulted in the whole Regiment being on duty to-night. Camp N. of Lydenburg Saturday September 8th, 1900 Reveille was made very early this morning as it was supposed that the camp would be again shelled. This proved to be correct and the Regiment was fortunate in being ready when ordered to take shelter in a donga on the left. The 3rd Mounted Brigade covered the left of an attack on the enemies position which was on the ridge of hills to the Eastward and was very strong. The S.A.L.H., supported the advance the other Regts. of the Brigade and the Battery being held in reserve. The position was taken with small loss Lydenburg to Knuckle Spruit Sunday 9th. September The force moved at 7.30 this morning. The horses were led from the first ridge to the 2nd and assembled behind a rocky kopje. We were the moved over to cover the artillery which at this time was under heavy fire from Pom-Poms, rifles and artillery. This subsided for a few minutes and we were ordered forward moving with troops extended. When the Regt. got out of cover the Pom-Pom fire became very hot and we were ordered back. Again the Regt. was brought forward and a troop of "C" Squadron under Lieut. Leckie was sent out to scout in front. Captain Cameron with the remainder of "C" Squadron going in support. Later on that portion of the Regt. in reserve and finally the whole of it took positions on the rocky range. The maxims, which were along, did excellent work. The scouts on the right flank discovered the Army's convoy in retreat. This was reported to the General with the result that the whole of the 3rd Mounted Brigade was ordered forward. The enemy covered the retirement of the convoy and a heavy rifle and Pom-Pom fire principally directed at the S.A.L.H., Strathcona's Horse being under cover in reserve. Later a party was sent out under Lt. Tobin for the purpose of covering the right flank and succeeded in discovering a large cache of provisions and other supplies amounting to something over 50 tons in weight. A guard was placed over it and the Regt. returned to camp after dark. Knuckle Spruit to Devil's Knuckles Monday, September 10th. The Regiment was taken out to left of camp this morning. Some wagons were found with women and children left behind by the enemy. The Regt. was then ordered down to the advance with directions to report to General Kitchener. This was done and the Regiment assembled under cover near where we were last night. Later on we advanced by Squadrons to the ridge on which the guns were placed. It was reported here that one of the enemy's "Long Toms" was disabled and the Regiment was pushed forward rapidly, taking cover under the high kopje to the right. From there the regiment again pushed forward to the stony kopje about 2 miles to the front and in advance of all the rest. "B" & "C" Squadrons were finally sent to the 2nd kopje in front and two troops of "A" to the high rocky kopje on the right. The other 2 troops of "A" went to the lower one to cover the flank. The rifle fire of the enemy was subdued and the positions held until the guns were brought forward to the kopje in rear of us, which was supposed to command the enemy's position. A wagon of the enemy was captured by us loaded with ammunition and supplies. A crane was also found. They had to abandon these owing to our rapid advance. A fire was kept up on the enemy as long as was necessary. I sent to General Sir Redvers Buller to say that we held the farthest advanced position that it could be safe to hold without support and he sent word back that we had gone far enough, and to withdraw with care. Private Nicholson and Corporal Flintoff were wounded. General Sir Redvers Buller and General Kitchener both expressed themselves as pleased with the work of the regiment to-day. Devil's Knuckles to Spitz Kop Tuesday, September 11th. Sir Redvers Buller sent for the Regiment, which he had previously ordered to wait for the 3rd Mounted Brigade, to come forward to the front. This was done, and he directed us to carry the left of the position while the K.R.R. did the right. He expected serious opposition at the time. The Regiment was sent forward by Squadrons and held the different points while it moved successively to the ridge. It was found that the ridge was only occupied by some snipers and on the left some outposts could be seen retiring. The Regt. covered the left as far as Spitz Kop and then halted for further orders. Sir Redvers Buller came up to the ridge occupied by us and from which the Boer Army could be seen in full retreat on the low ridge lying between Spitz Kop and ourselves. They passed through the village of Spitz Kop and retired north. Spitz Kop, Wednesday, September 12th. The Regt. was on the move with force at 9 and ascended the high hill. At the top the Force returned but the Regt. sent forward 100 men under Major Jarvis to guard the mine and village some 8 miles further on where the Boers left over 100 tons of supplies. Two troops were sent as escort for convoy proceeding to Devil's Knuckles and returned late to-night. Every available man in Regt. was on duty to-day. In addition to those mentioned the Regt. supplied an outpost on high kopje to front of camp and another to guard the cross roads 3 miles to south. Spitz Kop, Thursday September 13th. The Squadron is still on duty at village. Major Jarvis reported some Boers having surrendered to him yesterday. I am, Yours respectfully, (Signed) S. B. STEELE, Lt. Col. Commanding, "Strathcona's Horse" Life Member
Past-President Calgary Military Historical Society O.M.R.S. 1591 |
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- Lt. Col. Sam Steele - Report to Lord Strathcona - September 14th, 1900