Joined Buller in Natal in time to take part in the operations about Venter's Spruit, Spion Kop, Brakfontein, Vaal Krantz, and the final fourteen days' fighting about Colenso. In his despatch of 8th February 1900 General Buller said, "Lieutenant Archdale, 78th Battery, is especially mentioned for the manner in which he withdrew the battery waggons under a heavy enfilade fire, which struck two of the three waggons and several horses". Lieutenant Blake Knox in his 'Buller's Campaign’, referring to the retirement at Brakfontein, says: "It so happened that as three of the guns of the 78th Battery were retiring one of the enemy's shells struck a gun-carriage and disabled it and at the same time wounded Captain Dawson. Despite a terrific hail of shrapnel the brave gunners repaired the carriage, and putting their horses in motion, rescued their weapon and brought it under the shelter of one of the kopjes, the 73rd Battery covering its retirement. This was a really magnificent piece of work". One officer and 1 non-commissioned officer of the 78th were mentioned in General Buller's despatch of 30th March 1900. The battery was brought round to Cape Colony and taken to the Transvaal. On 11th July 1900 the battery was with Smith-Dorrien near Krugersdorp in a stiffly-contested fight. The guns had been pushed too far forward and were rescued with great difficulty, Captain W E Gordon of the 1st Gordons getting the VC for gallantry in helping to pull out the guns, and Captain Younger, who was killed, being stated as worthy of it. The battery remained in this district under Barton, and was often in heavy fighting in October, particularly about the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, when the Boers were severely defeated. Two guns were with Colonel E C Williams in the South-West Transvaal in 1901 (Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th July), and two in the same district with Colonel Hickie (despatch of 8th July). The battery took part in several stubborn actions in the Western Transvaal under General W Kitchener and Sir Ian Hamilton at the close of the campaign, and always did well. Few of the batteries saw more hard fighting. Four officers and 4 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches.
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