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Good morning Brett,
Thanks for the link, I missed it because of course I was not a member of this forum a year ago, do you have an address for him in the potteries?
I can't say as I blame him for wanting to settle in Natal, still perhaps a wild frontier land, but, with many opportunities too.
A lovely group and I see the answer to my question is that his Great War service was indeed confined to GWSA.
I have always felt a little sorry for the Irish Brigade for being commanded by "No bob's" another of your "Donkey's" perhaps, that you made reference to on here last year.
I think Hart relied a little too much on his native guide, a "trusty kaffir", and did not bother to actually consult his map, I think the guide quickly and quite wisely disappeared.
Had the river been dammed by the Boers? I seem to remember reading that the water was normally only knee deep, but on that day was up to more like ten feet?
Even as this all begins to unfold, what does Hart do, he continues to urge the Dublins forward in more pointless sacrifices, you know Brett, it is at this point that I start to feel sorry for Buller, who has to watch it all happen, after seeing Colonel Long getting himself into a devil of a mess, he remains powerless to stop it further.
The word Donkey comes to the fore again!
Regards Frank

Good day Frank, Brett & welcome IB,

Brett, nice group with the trio also

Frank, I haven't read any where that the Tugela was dammed, as I understand it, the level varied according to the rainfall and there were fords to cross by; They were supposed to ford the river before the loop not in the loop.
I do feel sorry for the Irish being led by a "donkey" into the loop and whilst I also feel sorry for Buller, but having said that, why wasn't the assault on Hlangane pursued?
I actually believe that the British Generals, at the time, only tactic was the forward assault "and we'll muddle through somehow" but the last war against a European army was the Crimea and no new tactics were in place.
I've just read in "the story of the ILH" where 2 of Long's guns were recaptured by the ILH at Hartebeesfontein.

regards, Iain

Hello Iain,
I believe the enemy had not only dammed the river, but, had also placed barbed wire entanglements in the river bed.
More than one source refers, Bennet Burleigh springs to mind!
Hart's objective was, from memory, Bridle Drift, which is upstream from the "Loop" and not actually in it.
We are not talking about a skirmish here, we are talking about bloody carnage "a la" Magersfontein! with the advantage (for the enemy!) of being able to bring enfilading fire from three sides onto the Irish Brigade.
I have read at least two accounts, one from the dairy of a private in the Inniskilling's who left me in no doubt that the fight went on for several hours.
Regards Frank

Good Morning Everyone.....

Here is my Xmas present to myself a Royal Dublin Fusiliers.....

Mike

Posted once before.....

Dear Irish Brigade
Here is my little tribute to a Most Gallant band; the Ist Inniskilling Fusiliers. The attached QSA is impressed to "2884 Pte M.Forbes, 1st Rl. Innis: Fus:". Shown as Wounded, Natal 23.2.1900 (Inniskilling Hill) and then subsequently shown as Sev. Wounded 27.8.1900 at Bergendal Farm (as l/cpl).
There is an excellent description of the work of the Inniskillings in John Stirling's "Our Regiments in South Africa".
Thanks for informing of where the statue of Queen Vic outside Sydney's QVB came from; I did'nt know!
Regards
IL.

Good morning Mike,

a nice group and I see the GSWA medal in there; presumably the recipient settled in SA?

Iain

QSAMIKE wrote: Good Morning Everyone.....

Here is my Xmas present to myself a Royal Dublin Fusiliers.....

Mike

Posted once before.....