With the Naval Brigade in Natal, 1899-1900: Journal of Active Service

CHAPTER V. Passage of Tugela Forced and Colenso Occupied -- Another

Passage of Tugela forced and Colenso occupied -- Another move back across the river to Hlangwane and Monte Christo -- The Boers at length routed and Ladysmith is relieved -- Entry of Relief Force into Ladysmith -- Withdrawal of H.M.S. Terrible's men to China -- I spend a bad time in Field Hospital--General Buller's army moves forward to Elandslaagte -- Boers face us on the Biggarsberg 45-58

CHAPTER VI. End of Three Weary Months At Elandslaagte -- a Small

End of three weary months at Elandslaagte -- A small Boer attack -- The advance of General Buller by Helpmakaar on Dundee -- We under General Hildyard advance up the Glencoe Valley -- Retreat of the Boers to Laing's Nek -- Occupation of Newcastle and Utrecht -- We enter the Transvaal -- Concentration of the army near Ingogo -- Naval guns ascend Van Wyk, and Botha's Pass is forced -- Forced march through Orange Colony -- Victory at Almond's Nek -- Boers evacuate Majuba and Laing's Nek -- Lord Roberts enters Pretoria -- We occupy Volksrust and Charlestown 59-72

CHAPTER VII. Majuba Hill in 1900 -- We March on Wakkerstroom and

Majuba Hill in 1900 -- We march on Wakkerstroom and occupy Sandspruit -- Withdrawal of H.M.S. Forte's men and Naval Volunteers from the front -- Action under General Brocklehurst at Sandspruit -- I go to hospital and Durban for a short time -- Recover and proceed to the front again -- Take command of my guns at Grass Kop -- Kruger flies from Africa in a Dutch man-of-war -- Many rumours of peace 73-86

CHAPTER VIII. Still Holding Grass Kop With the Queen's -- General

Still holding Grass Kop with the Queen's -- General Buller leaves for England -- Final withdrawal of the Naval Brigade, and our arrival at Durban -- Our reception there -- I sail for England -- Conclusion 87-100

CHAPTER IX. Gunnery Results: the 12-Pounder Q.-F. Naval Gun -- Its

Gunnery Results: The 12-pounder Q.-F. Naval gun -- Its mounting, sighting, and methods of firing--The Creusot 3"-gun and its improvements -- Shrapnel fire and the poor results obtained by the Boers -- Use of the Clinometer and Mekometer -- How to emplace a Q.-F. gun, etc., etc. 101-120

Appendix I

Hints on Equipment and Clothing for Active Service 121-128

APPENDIX II

Extracts from some of the Despatches, Reports, and Telegrams regarding operations mentioned in this Journal 129-145

APPENDIX III

Diary of the Boer War up to October 25th, 1900 146-152

APPENDIX IV

The Navy and the War: A Résumé of Officers and Men mentioned in Despatches for the Operations in Natal 153-156

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

To face page TWENTY THOUSAND MEN ENCAMPED UNDER GENERAL BULLER Frontispiece

A BATTERY CROSSING THE LITTLE TUGELA 8

NAVAL BATTERY OF 4.7's AND 12-POUNDERS AT DURBAN 8

NAVAL BRIGADE PITCHING CAMP AT FRERE, DECEMBER, 1899 14

NAVAL GUNS IN ACTION AT COLENSO 22

LIEUT. BURNE'S GUNS FIRING AT SPION KOP 34

4.7 EMPLACED ON HLANGWANE 34

COLT GUN AT HLANGWANE FIRING AT BOERS 48

NAVAL 12-POUNDERS ADVANCING AFTER ALMOND'S NEK 70

4.7 ON A BAD BIT OF ROAD 70

BRINGING IN A BOER PRISONER 82

IN CAMP AT GRASS KOP 82

ONE OF LIEUT. HALSEY'S NAVAL 12-POUNDERS 82

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR H. J. T. HILDYARD, K.C.B. 95

CAPTAIN PERCY SCOTT, C.B., R.N. 102

NAVAL 12-POUNDER EMPLACED 120

BOER GUN POSITIONS AT COLENSO 120

CAPTAIN E. P. JONES, R.N. 154

MAP at end

WITH THE NAVAL BRIGADE IN NATAL

CHAPTER I. Outbreak of the War -- the Transport Service and Despatch of Army

Outbreak of the war -- The Transport Service and despatch of Army Corps from Southampton -- Departure of a Naval Brigade from England and landing at Capetown and Durban -- I join H.M.S. Philomel.

During a short leave of absence in Scotland, after my return from Flag-Lieutenant's service in India with Rear-Admiral Archibald L. Douglas, that very kind friend, now Lord of the Admiralty, appointed me (5th October, 1899) to the Transport Service at Southampton, in connection with the embarkation of the various Army Corps for the war in South Africa. As the summons came by wire, I had to leave Stirling in a hurry, collect my various goods and chattels in London, and make the best of my way to Southampton. I reported myself at the Admiralty Transport Office on Monday the 9th, and at once commenced work, visiting certain ships with Captain Barnard, the Port Transport Officer, and picking up the "hang" of the thing, and what was wanted. Captain Graham-White, R.N., came down in the afternoon to take charge of our proceedings. From that date up to the 22nd, or thereabouts, we Transport Lieutenants simply had charge of certain vessels fitting out, and had to inspect for the Admiralty the many freight and transport ships which came in from other centres, such as London, Liverpool, etc., to be officially passed at Southampton; among others the Goorkha and Gascon, two Union Liners, came particularly under me, and I shall always remember the courtesy of their officials, particularly Captain Wait and the indefatigable Mr. Langley, who saw that we transport officers were well looked after on board each day. Everything in connection with this Line seemed to me during my time at Southampton to be very well done, and so our work went swimmingly.

Besides myself were Lieutenants McDonald, Nelson, and Crawford, R.N., as Transport Officers, and we co-operated with a staff of military officers under Colonel Stacpole, D.A.A.G., with whom we got on very well, so that we ran the work through quickly and without a hitch. Sir Redvers Buller left Southampton in the Dunottar Castle on the 15th October, and we all saw him off; in fact, McDonald and I represented the Admiralty at the final inspection of the ship before sailing. There was, of course, a scene of great enthusiasm, and many people were there, among whom were Sir Michael Culme Seymour, Alexander Sinclair his Flag-Lieutenant, and Lady and Miss Fullerton. All this time we were more than busy inspecting and getting ships ready up to the 22nd, when the departure of the First Army Corps commenced; we got away five transports that day within half an hour of each other, all taking some 1,500 men; they were, if my memory serves me, the Malta, Pavonia, Hawarden Castle, Roslin Castle, and Yorkshire; the next few days we did similar work from 8 a.m. till dark, getting away about three ships a day on an average.

During the week Commander Heriz, R.N., and myself, representing the Admiralty, inspected the hospital ships Spartan and Trojan before their start; they had been fitted out under the Commander's superintendence, and were perfect; in fact, one almost wished to be a sick man to try them! All these continued departures aroused great public interest; on one day we had the Commander-in-Chief (Lord Wolseley), Lord Methuen, Sir William Gatacre, and many other Generals; and on another the Duke of Connaught came to see the 1st Bn. Scots Guards off in the Nubia and gave them a message from the Queen; he came again a few days later to see his old regiment, the Rifle Brigade, off in the German, and he and the Transport Officers were photographed many times. I was told afterwards that my own portrait appeared very often in the cinematographs of these scenes, which were then very popular and were exhibited to crowded audiences in all the London and Provincial Music Halls and elsewhere. I was very pleased on this occasion to meet my old First Lieutenant of the Cambrian, now Commander Mark Kerr, R.N., who was also seeing the Rifle Brigade off with a party of relatives whom I took over the Kildonan Castle.

Here I may mention, to show the different rates of speed, that the German carrying the Rifle Brigade, actually arrived at Capetown some hours after the Briton (in which I myself left later on for South Africa), although it started ten days before us. I have very pleasant recollections of being associated with Major Edwards of the Berkshire Regiment in embarking the Reserves of the 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards in the Goorkha, which ship I had been superintending for so long; I was able to get their Commanding Officer, Major Kincaid, two good cabins, for which I think he was much obliged to me. These Reserves were going to Gibraltar to pick up the main Battalions of their regiment which took part later on (3rd and 4th November) in Lord Methuen's actions at Belmont and Graspan.

After the 27th October the transport ships left Southampton in ones and twos, and we were not so hard pushed; in fact, the work was becoming rather monotonous, till, on the evening of the 2nd November, our Secretary, Mr. Alton, R.N., rushed up to me with a wire telling me to be prepared immediately to leave for the Cape. I was very pleased, and thought myself extremely lucky to get out to the scene of war with a chance of going to the front; and after saying a hurried good-bye to all my friends I left Southampton on the 4th November in the Briton; my father saw me off and gave me some letters of introduction; Lord Wolseley also kindly wrote about me to Sir Redvers Buller; all my old colleagues of the Transport Service gave me a most cordial send-off, and we steamed out of the docks about 7 p.m. in heavy rain, which did not, however, damp the enthusiasm of hundreds of people who waited to see the last of us. In saying farewell to the Transport Service I could not help thinking how much courtesy and assistance we transport officers received from the captains and officers of all the ships under our inspection, and how much we admired their keen feeling and hard work in the interests of the public service. I hope this may be recognised when war rewards are given.

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