TOPIC:

Spink have for auction a group to HLI which gives more information on the engagement at Commissie Bridge.

Stirling mentions the engagement saying "A few days after Dewetsdorp a half-company of the battalion under Lieutenant Blair did a fine piece of work in retaining their hold on Commissie Bridge, on the Caledon River, against De Wet and probably 2000 Boers, who after twenty-four hours gave up the attempt to take the post. Lieutenant Blair and 4 men were mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches for exceptionally good work on this occasion."

A newspaper article from 10 Dec 1900:


The note accompanying the medals says:

In December 1900 half of ‘D’ Company, under Blair, was given the task of holding Commissie Bridge: ‘We found the Commissie Bridge to be a fine iron one about 200 yards long, supported by four massive stone pillars, and spanning the Caledon River, which there runs between high banks; therefore an important place to protect, for, although there is a drift a little higher up the river, the destruction of the bridge would have caused our forces a good deal of inconvenience had the Boers succeeded in blowing it up. The only buildings were a stone house, occupied by a native labourer connected with the bridge, and a tin one for the toll collector who had disappeared.’ (Recipient’s own account in the H.L.I. Chronicle, April 1901, refers).

The defences consisted of four trenches covering either end of the bridge and four more from which fire could be directed up or down the gorge. Although Blair had been left alone with his Platoon of 40 men in this remote spot for some weeks, he was evidently keeping a sharp look-out, so that when, on the 6th December, scouts of De Wet’s advanced guard arrived they were immediately spotted: ‘The Boer Scouts having reported the bridge held, the advanced guard of some 300 men attempted to cross at a point where the gorge levelled out lower down, but were frustrated by the enfilade fire which Blair opened on them and withdrew out of range. An envoy under a flag of truce then arrived, was halted some distance away, and then brought in blindfolded. He handed Blair a written order from De Wet to surrender within ten minutes, but was sent back a reply which was, the Cape Times stated “a sarcastic one”.

The Boers then brought up two of the guns which they had captured at Dewetsdorp and bombarded the defences at either side of the bridge, while their riflemen dismounted and endeavoured to work forward from three sides. Unable to make any headway, they then desisted for a while and finally renewed the attack from in front in considerable force, but could get no closer than 300 yards. Finally they drew off discomforted, having been held up by Blair and his men for 24 hours. Hector MacDonald in his official report of this incident stated that “Second Lieutenant Blair’s presence of mind and resolution are in the General’s opinion worthy of all praise”. It may only have been a small affair, in which Blair and his Platoon did no more than their plain duty, but still it was something for a Second Lieutenant to have beaten De Wet.’ (Proud Heritage, The Story of the Highland Light Infantry, by Lieutenant Colonel Oates refers).

The medals to be sold are to Major D A Blair, HLI:

I think anyone who had the misfortune to find himself chasing De Wet would be hard pressed!

"Worthy of all praise" indeed!