From the Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania), 8 July 1901
A GALLANT STAND
BY WODEHOUSE YEOMANRY
OUTNUMBERED AND SURROUNDED
THIRTY AGAINST SEVEN HUNDRED
SIX BRITISH CASUALTIES
(From the "Cape Times" Correspondent.)
DORDRECHT, June 1.
Captain Clark and the 30 Wodehouse Yeomanry liberated at Buffelsfonteln arrived here last evening on foot. The entire community, headed by Major Hogsett, turned out to meet and welcome them.
The "Frontier Guardian" publishes the following:
On Wednesday last a very unfortunate occurrence happened to the Wodehouse Yeomanry at Buffelsfonteln, the farm of Mr. H. H. Stretton, whereby they were outnumbered by a commando of Boers estimated at 700, under Commandant Fouche, and had ultimately to surrender.
The affair, as we know, throws no discredit on Captain Clark and his men, who acted with conspicuous bravery. Mr. H. Thackwray, of Snyman Kraal, one of the corps, brought the news into the town on the evening of Wednesday and the Information was received with the deepest regret. Hitherto in all their engagements the Yeomanry have shown themselves to be quite able to hold their own with the Boers, and no doubt was apprehended as to their success in this engagement. When they left town on Tuesday for the scene of action, it appears Captain Clark and his men made straight for Buffelsfonteln, where the night before a party of Boers had looted the stores and taken all available horses.
This farm is situated in a hollow, with hills all around, and this in a measure accounts for the disaster.
Captain Clark, seemingly, was misinformed as to the extent of the Boer forces, and when called into action he and his men fought bravely, never thinking of surrender, until they found that the corner was too tight, and that seven were lying about wounded. There was only 32 of them against 700 so that the odds were terrible. The conditions of surrender were made by Captain Clark. namely, that he and his men surrender, hand over their horses. guns, and ammunition, and afterwards be allowed their freedom. This was agreed to by Fouche and hostilities then ceased. The wounded were conveyed to the house of Dr. Stretton, and there attended to until the arrival of Dr. Rowland.
In an Interview with Dr. Rowland. who went to Buffelsfontein to attend the wounded the following particulars were gleaned:- From his account, it appeared that the Yeomanry were surrounded on all sides, had no chance of escape, and they did the best thing possible in the circumstances. They were virtually caught in a trap, and had they continued fighting, would have in all likelihood been exterminated. So good were the positions of the enemy that they covered our men entirely. Dr. Rowland could not say the exact number of the enemy, but from the way they swarmed the hills, surrounded the house, and occupied the building, they were numerous. Their scouts could be seen for miles around, occupying all the prominent positions commanding the district.
Dr. Rowland was asked by Commandant Fouche to go to his laager and attend to some of their Boer wounded, which the doctor promptly did in the cause of humanity. From what he could see, the enemy were very comfort able and self-satisfied, evidently well pleased at the discomfiture they had caused to our men. Twenty of the enemy slept in Mr. J. R. Stretton'e house at Freredale. while others accommodated themselves in outbuildings.
The following are the killed and wounded: --Sergeant George Keith Jackson, sen.. killed, shot through the head. Extreme regret is felt at the death of this brave veteran, who was beloved and respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and keen sympathy is felt for his widow and family. His body was brought into town last night, and the funeral took place this afternoon, with full Masonic honours. Dangerously wounded – Cook, shot through the left lung: and A. Thornhill, shot through the right lung. Slightly wounded - Alan Haw, Clement Kidson and Walter Bentley Bradfield.
