TOPIC:

A little known engagement that took place on Boxing Day 1900 is documented for a lot appearing at the next Spink Sale.

There is little documented about this engagement that I could find. Sterling says no more than "On 26th December 1900 a part of the battalion had very severe fighting near the Oceana Mine, the company guarding the baggage being attacked while the others were out clearing farms. That day 10 men were killed and 2 officers and 40 men wounded."

The Spink catalogue, under the title 'The Rifle Brigade at Grootvlei, Boxing Day 1900' says:

After a quiet Christmas based at the Oceana Mine near Grootvlei, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Colville, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade, proceeded on a farm-clearing expedition, with a small column consisting of six companies of the 1st Battalion, a squadron of the 13th Hussars, four guns of 63 Battery, Royal Field Artillery, as well as one ‘pom-pom’. Colville left ‘F’ Company under the command of Captain Radclyffe, as well as some artillerymen, to guard the baggage wagons based at the mine. The Column moved out in the direction of Roddewal, where after five miles they became involved in a small skirmish at the first of the target farms. During the skirmish a large party of approximately 450 Boers were spotted heading towards the Oceana Mine. A signal was sent to Captain Radclyffe informing him of this development, and he at once set about disposing his small force in an attempt to protect the baggage, with the pom-pom located near a small hollow. After a couple of hours had passed a number of mounted Boers appeared on a ridge a thousand yards away. As Radclyffe’s men opened fire the Boers dismounted, pushed forward, and sent out small parties to the left and right in an encircling movement against the Rifle Brigade position. Under heavy and accurate fire the pompom was moved down towards the hollow and back towards the compound- of the nine men who assisted in moving the pom-pom one was killed and the other eight all wounded.

Seeing that the enemy were now advancing in considerable force, Radclyffe decided to send the baggage back to the Column, whilst attempting to hold the Boers in check for as long as possible. Under cover of heavy Rifle Brigade fire from behind the wagons, the native teams began inspanning the oxen. When they were ready to move the native teams started off the wagons in the direction of Colville’s column and, as they did so, the small Rifle Brigade covering party came under very severe fire and had to retire, as the Boers saw that they were losing their target. During this time, Radclyffe and his sections continued their holding action but suffered a number of casualties, with their ammunition running out fast. With the baggage now well on its way, Radclyffe, who was lying wounded, ordered those in advanced positions who could do so to retire to the compound so as to avoid capture. No.1 section provided covering fire until their ammunition ran out, at which point the Boers advanced rapidly, forcing their surrender, along with the wounded soldiers. Fortunately, at this point, the main column appeared on the horizon, forcing the Boers to withdraw, leaving their wounded prisoners behind. For some time the wounded on the ridge were exposed to fire from both the returning column and the Boers, and a corporal was seen to make a valiant attempt to carry the wounded Radclyffe to safety. Total losses that day were heavy, with 13 Officers and men killed, 44 wounded, and 19 taken prisoner. For his gallantry in defending the position, Captain Radclyffe was awarded the DSO.

The DSO entry for Captain Radclyffe says, like most entries, that the DSO was awarded for services in South Africa and makes no mention of this engagement.

Spink are selling the medals to 2090 Pte E Barton, Rifle Brigade, a trio consisting of the Queen's Sudan, QSA and Khedive Sudan.

I wrote about this action in Soldiers of The Queen (Victorian Military Society) issue 80 March 1995.

I have the pictures from the ABW of Lt FW Jarvis Loyal Suffolk Hussars attached 13th Hussars. Jarvis was at South Rand in command of 30 men from the 13th Hussars. I used some of Jarvis' excellent images in the article.

Three other officers present were awarded DSOs at the same time as Radclyffe, Jarvis and one other were awarded DSOs in WWI.

Two DCMs were awarded to men present at South Rand Mine.

Regards
Meurig

One of the D.C.M. recipients, my grandfather Sgt Percy Shaw

Thanks for sharing. Do you have his medals, or any other relics that you could show here?

Regards
Brett

Hello
Medals on display in Rifles Museum

Rifles Museum