TOPIC:

Hi everybody,
I am new to this excellent site which I discovered trying to find information on one of my relatives who died in the Boar War. I am a young 64 year old living in Essex UK.

Whilst compiling my family tree I became very interested in My Great Grand Uncle Edward John Dodge. First because my father who is a spritely 84 year old, has his campaign medal but more importantly I wanted to understand how he died in South Africa having married in UK 6 months earlier. It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey but I have learnt a lot.

The reason why I have joined the forum is to try and unravel some confusion I have developed reading various articles and books. Edward John Dodge enlisted in the 1st Rifle Brigade in 1890 for 7 years and was called up again in 1899 as a reservist. My understanding is his regiment (1st Rifle) was part of the 4th Brigade under N.G.Lyttelton. According to records he died the 27th February 1900 on Pieter's Hill. However, the literature states that the 4th Brigade attacked Hart's Hill after Pieter's Hill had been taken by Barton's Brigade. Did the 1st Brigade attack Pieter's Hill or Hart's Hill with the 4th Brigade?

If somebody can point me in the right direction to clarify the situation I would be grateful.

Welcome to the forum Mick......

I am sure that you have read the Units section of the forum.....

www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/im...ts/644-rifle-brigade

Mike

Hi Mike,
Thanks for response. Yes I have read the document but it seems to confirm my confusion. It states that the 4th Brigade under Norcott took the left flank which would have been against Hart's Hill and not Pieter's Hill where my relative was stated as being killed. This would have been on the right flank which was attacked by Barton's 6th Fusilier Brigade. Can you see my confusion. Could he have died on Hart's Hill and the place mistaken after the event? Or am I misunderstanding the battle formations? It may seem a small point but I would like to confirm where he fell. Was the 1st Rifle Brigade separated from its main 4th Brigade at the time?

Thanks again

Mick

Dear Mick,

I hope that the following can help:

In Steve Watts's book "In Memoriam - Roll of Honour Imperial Forces Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902" (2000), 931 Rifleman E. Dodge, 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade is recorded as being Killed in Action at Hart's Hill on the Tugela Heights on 27th February 1900. He is interred in the Hart's Hill cemetery.

The official casualty return lists him as Killed at Pieter's Hill on 27th February 1900.

I can see why this could be confusing!

My understanding is this last and ultimately successful attempt to break through to relieve Ladysmith was generically known as the Battle of Pieter's Hill, though as you point out yourself and is recorded, it was in fact a battle covering various hills. To add to the confusion Hart's Hill is also known as Inniskilling Hill where the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers suffered severe casualties on 23rd/24th February.

According to a reference in "British Regiments in South Africa 1899-1902" by John Stirling (1903), there is an account of the Rifle Brigade's actions during the Relief of Ladysmith in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle for 1900. If you can't trace a copy then the museum of the Royal Green Jackets will certainly have one. It should, I think, give you the best account of the Battle of Hart's Hill on 27th February 1900 from Rifleman Dodge's perspective.

As a footnote, but you may already know, he is commemorated by name on the Rifle Brigade memorial in Winchester Cathedral.

Justin

Hello and welcome to this forum,
As Justin points out Dodge is shown on the casualty roll of the Natal Field Force as being killed at Pieters Hill on Tuesday the 27th of February and it was indeed the final assault on the enemy positions before Ladysmith, it did cover quite a large area, the day after, Lord Dundonald rode into Ladysmith and the awful siege of the previous one hundred and nineteen days was, at last, ended!
You can be very proud of your great uncle, moreover, a visit to Winchester would be worth doing if possible.
Regards Frank

The battle took place in the area to the centre on the north side of the Tugela where the river turns to the east.




His entery in WO100/210.




In the remarks column.

Hi Frank,
Thank you for your response and kind words. I will certainly be visiting Winchester when the weather improves.

Best regards

Mick