TOPIC:

Charles's QSA


Medal roll


Taken from on line Danny House brochure.


Bird bath
Courtesy of Find a Grave

While cataloguing a bunch of H.M.S.O papers I came across this.










Pretoria Residency,
10th July, 1901.

Sir,

I have the honour to forward a report from Brigadier-General Dixon on his action at Vlakfontein, describing how the rear guard was surprised at close range by preponderating Boer force. Brigadier-General Dixon at once supported his rear guard from main body and drove off the enemy. I regret to report the heavy loss incurred by Brigadier-General Dixon's rear guard. Rumours having been circulated regarding the shooting of some of our wounded on the field by the enemy, enquiries have been made, and from affidavits obtained there seems to be no doubt that five or six cases did occur.

I have, &c.,
KITCHENER.



Sir,

1. My force (strength attached) arrived at Vlakfontein on 28th May. A convoy and a certain number of Boers was seen on that day, but nothing pointed to the presence of a really large force.

2. On the 29th, having left sufficient to guard the camp, which was in a good defensive position, the force matched to Waterval (68) at 8 a.m., to search for two guns supposed to be buried there.

The force was distributed as follows: –

(a) LEFT, under Major Chance, R.A. –
2 guns, 28th Battery.
1 pompom.
230 Imperial Yeomanry.
1 company, Derbyshire Regiment (100 strong).

(b) CENTRE, [under Brig.-General Dixon] –
2 guns, 8th Battery.
1 howitzer.
2 companies, King's Own Scottish Borderers (about 75 each).
1 company, Derbyshire Regiment (about 100).

(c) RIGHT, under Lieut.-Colonel Duff –
2 guns, 8th Battery.
200 Scottish Horse.
2 companies, King's Own Scottish Borderers.

3. The left party went west along the high ground, to a position (marked Y) about 2,000 yards to the east of a very large and deep valley, which runs roughly north and south.
The centre, which I accompanied, went to the farms at Waterval, while the right went along the line of kopjes parallel to the left.
The place where the guns were supposed to have been buried was found; but the guns themselves had been removed.

4. I then turned about with the centre as shown in *sketch, to look for some ammunition reported to be buried at Vlakhoek (216), the original left party covering the movement as a rear guard.
*Not printed.
On arriving with the centre at X, at about 2 p.m., I found that to dig up the ammunition would require an extensive movement, for which there was no time that day, so I ordered a general return to camp.

5. A certain amount of firing had been heard for some time from the direction of the rear guard, which became very heavy, as the centre party was crossing the valley towards camp. It was also observed that a large veldt fire was burning on the high ground, on which the rear guard could be seen.
About the time the firing was heard to be increasing in volume (2.30 p.m.), a messenger arrived from Major Chance, saying he was hard pressed.
I immediately sent a message to Lieut.-Colonel Duff, who was on the ridge at Z, to hurry all his troops to Major Chance's assistance, while I galloped across the valley to the scene of action, catching up the pompom on the way, and bringing it along with me.
On arriving at the west picquet of the camp, I found that the two guns and howitzer, which had been with me, were in action west of the picquet. And that these guns together with the company of the Derbys which had been on picquet, and the details which had been left in camp were hotly engaged, some of the enemy being within 800 yards of the picquet, and our guns and camp were being shelled by the enemy at about 1,600 yards range. I then realized that the guns with the rear guard had been captured. The flashes of these guns could be seen through the smoke of the veldt fire, and the position was very critical, so I immediately gathered together all available men, and advanced west along the high ground.

6. The two guns with Colonel Duff, about Z, were shelling the enemy who were advancing along the valley from the Waterval Farm, while the two companies of the King's Own Scottish Borderers with a Maxim, which were also with Colonel Duff, came across the valley and secured my right.

7. The Boers held on to their position until the general advance, moving by rushes, had got to within 600 yards of them. They then mounted and galloped off, and we recaptured the guns, and occupied the ground over which the enemy had advanced.
Having no mounted troops at this point I was unable to pursue.
Our casualties (list attached) were very heavy, and mostly occurred among the gunners of the captured guns, the Derbyshire company, and the Imperial Yeomanry.
We can account for 41 Boers killed, and they must have suffered heavily.

8. From the Officer Commanding rear guard, I gather that as soon as the retirement from the donga commenced the Boers lighted the grass, and under cover of the smoke advanced along the ridge towards the camp. They were seen and shelled, which stopped their direct advance. The guns then retired for about 1 mile on to the Infantry company, which was extended on each side of the guns, again came into action and checked the advancing Boers; the Imperial Yeomanry falling back on to the Infantry.
The wind was blowing from north to south, and the veldt fire drove back the Yeomanry flank guard on the left of the guns (as facing in action). The Boers suddenly appeared through the fire on the left of the guns and Infantry, shot down the gunners and inflicted great loss on the Infantry and Yeomanry. An attempt was made to fire into them with case, but the cartridges in the magazine had been set on fire, and before anything could be done the guns were captured.
The drivers attempted to get away both the limbers and wagons, but the horses were shot.

9. Ambulances and stretcher parties were out all the evening, and, on the morning of the 30th, collecting and bringing in the dead and wounded. General Kemp sent in a flag of truce at 10 a.m. on 30th, with a letter asking to be allowed to remove his dead and wounded. He was permitted to remove the dead.

10. I thought it advisable to return to Naauwpoort for the reasons given below, and started at 9 p.m. on 30th.

(a) I did not see what good a single force like mine could do under the circumstances in that neighbourhood, and by returning here I could secure a few days' rest for my men and horses, which was especially required for the Yeomanry after what they had undergone, and also that I should be in a better position to make good casualties and deficiencies.

(b) If I had remained and sent the wounded to Krugersdorp, which is the nearest hospital, I should only have had two doctors, one ambulance, and very little hospital equipment available for future operations. The gathering in the valley now is phenomenal anything over 3,000.

The list of Officers, non-commissioned officers and men whom I wish to bring to your notice will be forwarded to you at the earliest opportunity.

I have, &c.,
H. G. DIXON, Brigadier-General.









..