TOPIC:

Almond's or Alleman Nek is a pass that lies 14 miles (20km) west of Volkrust. It was used by Buller to outflank the Boer defences at Laing's Nek and enter the Free State via Botha's Pass and into the Transvaal where he would rendevous with Roberts.



Conan Doyle described it succinctly: General Buller had spent the latter half of May in making his way from Ladysmith to Laing's Nek, and the beginning of June found him with twenty thousand men in front of that difficult position. Some talk of a surrender had arisen, and Christian Botha, who commanded the Boers, succeeded in gaining several days' armistice, which ended in nothing. The Transvaal forces at this point were not more than a few thousand in number, but their position was so formidable that it was a serious task to turn them out. Van Wyk's Hill, however, had been left unguarded, and as its possession would give the British the command of Botha's Pass, its unopposed capture by the South African Light Horse was an event of great importance. With guns upon this eminence the infantry were able, on June 8th, to attack and to carry with little loss the rest of the high ground, and so to get the Pass into their complete possession. Botha fired the grass behind him, and withdrew sullenly to the north. On the 9th and 10th the convoys were passed over the Pass, and on the 11th the main body of the army followed them.

The operations were now being conducted in that extremely acute angle of Natal which runs up between the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. In crossing Botha's Pass the army had really entered what was now the Orange River Colony. But it was only for a very short time, as the object of the movement was to turn the Laing's Nek position, and then come back into the Transvaal through Alleman's Pass. The gallant South African Light Horse led the way, and fought hard at one point to clear a path for the army, losing six killed and eight wounded in a sharp skirmish. On the morning of the 12th the flanking movement was far advanced, and it only remained for the army to force Alleman's Nek, which would place it to the rear of Laing's Nek, and close to the Transvaal town of Volksrust.

Had the Boers been the men of Colenso and of Spion Kop, this storming of Alleman's Nek would have been a bloody business. The position was strong, the cover was slight, and there was no way round. But the infantry came on with the old dash without the old stubborn resolution being opposed to them. The guns prepared the way, and then the Dorsets, the Dublins, the Middlesex, the Queen's, and the East Surrey did the rest. The door was open and the Transvaal lay before us. The next day Volksrust was in our hands.

The British lost 28 killed and 134 wounded. The Boer lost 4 men.


Source: The Graphic, Volume 62

The lantern slide depicting the Dorset Regiment at Almond's Nek.

The casualties from 11-14 June 1900

Acourt, C, 3320, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Aldridge, A, 4447, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Anderson, J, 3492, Private, Scottish Rifles, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Ashton, P, 2474, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Avery, J, 3451, Lance Corporal, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Barrett, P F, 6020, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Bates, W, 3732, Private, Scottish Rifles, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Batten, F, 4571, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Bellows, F J, 2970, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Birch, W, 2099, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Brennan, P, 6362, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Briggs, J, 3412, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Brinklow, J, 2045, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Brittain, H, 2242, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Broom, E, 4929, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Burke, E, 2227, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Burke, J, 1372, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Burt, J, 1023, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Byant, W, 1000, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Cardy, R, 4488, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Carman, G, 5646, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Carpenter, W, 2506, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Cathersides, G T, 2927, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Charles, G, 3074, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Childs, H, 1051, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Clarke, F, 5467, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Colenutt, E, 3236, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Collins, F, 3229, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Collins, T, 5655, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Connor, J, 704, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Conroy, L, 5448, Corporal, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Constable, W, 5816, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Cooper, A E, 2928, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Corrall, A, 4914, Lance Corporal, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Cox, T G, 5629, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Cox, W T, 5875, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Critchell, W, 4276, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Crocker, G, 2776, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Crocker, R, 3189, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Davey, J E, 3563, Sergeant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Davis, C, 2407, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Davis, F, 5680, Lance Corporal, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Davis, W, 4392, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Dawding, F, 5775, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Desafas, J P, 6513, Private, TMI. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Dewland, W, 5364, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Doran, T, 2943, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Downs, A, 4752, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Doyle, J, 4022, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Duffy, M, 6484, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Emery, E, 3969, Lance Corporal, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Evans, H, 1173, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Fawdry, S, 5423, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Feares, G, 3432, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Feltham, H, 5406, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Fenn, A, 2434, Sergeant, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Fenn, C, 5700, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Finch, R, 5230, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Ford, E, 4314, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Fox, E, 5583, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Frankish, T, 5418, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Goulstone, C, 3202, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Groves, H, 1385, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Hackett, R, 6836, Private, TMI. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Heaney, J, 3791, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Heath, C, 1379, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Heathman, C, 3388, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Hellier, R, 5397, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Herbert, G M, , Lieutenant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Hicks, A, 5571, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Hider, G, 5497, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 8 June 1900
Husband, R E, 7377, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Hyde, A E, 7138, Sergeant, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Jacobs, C, 7354, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Jefferson, W, 4355, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Jordan, W, 6640, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Kitson, R, 5572, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Knight, W, 5510, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Lawrence, H, 1061, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Lewendon, A, 3386, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Lloyd, W, 5411, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Locke, W, 4685, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Lofthouse, J, 1103, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Lynch, C, 2165, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Lyons, D, 3898, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Mansel, H A, , Captain, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Marchant, C, 5562, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Marchant, H, 1495, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Markwell, A, 3159, Colour Sergeant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Marsh, H, 2713, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
McCafferty, W M, 2504, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
McKernon, A, 4153, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Merefield, W, 2753, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Mills, G A, , Lieutenant Colonel, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Severely wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Mooney, E, 2705, Lance Corporal, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Moore, W, 4085, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Morton, A, 5552, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Murray, P, 3780, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Nesbitt, T, 5561, Corporal, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Newport, E, 2769, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Newsham, J, 3950, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Nicholls, T, 5924, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Noonan, P, 5596, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Norman, W, 6462, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Penny, T, 2754, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Pike, J, 4616, Sergeant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Puttock, E, 4654, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Randall, J, 5116, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Read, J, 2323, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Reynolds, F, 2821, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Robertson, W, 3404, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Rose, H, 2390, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Savory, G, 5698, Private, Middlesex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Seppings, J W, , Lieutenant, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Severely wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Shoebridge, W, 5426, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Shurlock, H, 2315, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Simmons, J, 7335, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Skinner, C, 5250, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Smart, F, 3742, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Smith, A, 4659, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Smith, H, 3399, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Died of wounds, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Smith, H, 5727, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Sorrell, G, 496, Sergeant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Stead, J, 2758, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Storey, V, 2869, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Summerfield, C, 3736, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Taylor, J, 4097, Corporal, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Thomas, J, 2796, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Thompson, J H, 1435, Colour Sergeant, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Thorpe, W, 6610, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Tomlin, R, 2963, Private, Scottish Rifles, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Tutte, T, 4601, Private, RWSR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Vater, E, 3011, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Waterman, L, 3286, Private, Dorset Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Wellman, J, 6369, Private, ESR, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 14 June 1900
Weyer, M, 6342, Private, RDF, 2nd Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900
Williams, A E, 6024, Private, South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion. Wounded, Almonds Nek, 11 June 1900

Love the white helmets!

djb wrote: The lantern slide depicting the Dorset Regiment at Almond's Nek.

Casualty summary:

Not the most accurate of pictures but it would have made for a colourful introduction for a description of the engagement.

I initially thought the Boer in the centre of the picture was using a shoulder-mounted Mauser but I see now that this is two rifles.