LIEUT SOMMERVILLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 290, 6 December 1900, Page 5

LIEUT SOMMERVILLE.

was an officer for whom I had &* wafmest regards and admiration. 1 think I may say that Lt. Sommemlle and Lt. Finlay did as much solid work as any officers sent from New Zeaalnd., without-saying1 much about it. I used to fancy that an unusual amount or dangerous scouting work fell to their lot, whatever they took in hand W as well carried out, and you heard very little about it afterwards in •camp." As a result' they commanded the respect and thorough confidence of their men, who I am certain would have followed them anywhere, and

were willing to do anything for them. Lt. Sommerville seemed to have a curious faculty for getting associated with the West Australians. From Victoria West he had a very exhausting ride to Vosburg to recall Major Pilking'ton's contingent from that village. Later on he went through

A'MOST EXCITING EXPERIENCE at the Vet River,- in an attempt to extricate a few "Sandgropers" from a trap into which they had fallen. He was out scouting- with about twenty men and had reached ihe railway line where he met Capt. McMasters, of the West Australians, who was also engaged on scouting- duty. They thought they Avere quite safe, Avhen they heard firing-, and a man came in ■to report ;that some of the scouts were being cut off. Captain McMasters at once ordered everyone to go to the rescue. Lt. Sommerville afterwards discussed the point whether the West Australian captain-, had authority to order him about, but he did not hesitate to obey immediately. The Captain was his superior officer, and anyhow, it was enough that British troops were in trouble-. Just where the scouts were in. difficulties, the Vet River swept round, in a wide curve, with high kopjes on the far side, where the main Boer position was located. The little relieving- party liact to <rro»s the railway line, which was enclosed on both sides with a wire fence. While a wire cutter was at work'Lt. Somuierville enjoined his men to keep a good distance between them. As they passed through the gap bullets were hitting the wires, and one or two men who passed through had to gallop away to safety. Seeing it was impossible to advance, Lt. Sommerville ordered his men to dismount and lie along under cover of the railway embankment. Capt. MeMasters took shelter at the foot of an iron telegraph post, and there the party had to remain for several hours under a hea%'y fire from hundreds) of rifles, to which they could not reply.

The only casualty, however, which occurred to the New Zealanders was sustained by Trooper Smith, who lay up the embankment instead of along it, one bullet inflicting a slight wound on his shoulder, but another hit him very severely in the groin. Lt. Sornerville crawled along to him, but beyond placing him in a.s comfortable a. position as possible, could do nothing for him. Presently a number of Boers came down out of the kopje and advanced to capture them. One more daring than the others walked along the railway line. Lt, Sommerville covered him and was positive he could bring him down, as the range was very short. The. Litut. was probably the best shot in the contingent. Capt. McMaslers, however, would not let him shoot. "Don't," he exclaimed, "that's one of our men, I'm sure." By the time he had been convinced of his> error the Boer had hopped down under cover. At last volunteers were called for to go to help, and two West Australians "mounted their horses, and galloped out of range. They met Lord Roberts' main body. The British guns were soon at work. "I never heard such a pleasant sound in my life," said Mr Sommerville to me afterwards, "as the noise, of our shells going over our heads." ■ LIEUT. MONTGOMERY. Another of the wounded officers, Lieut. Montgomery, was the baby of the officers hi the Second Contingent, though he only beat his chum, Lieut. Banks, by a few months for the position of youngest subaltern. Neither of .them* I think, were over twentythree. They were full of boyish. enthusiasm and kept; their companions alive with jokes and pranks. I don't think any of the officers had a firmer hold on the affections of their men than these two young officers. Their orderlies were really devoted to them, and were willing-to go to any trouble to make them as comfortable as circumstances would permit. LIEUT. TUCKER. Lieut. Tucker is an officer whoso misfortune will be especially lamented in Canterbury. His work in the field, showed that'he thoroughly deserved his place, and he has probably seen as much fighting as any of the junior 'officers despatched from the colony. With all his success he has remained a modest unassuming young fellow. He had a story to tell of Lord Kitchener, which shows how the real fighter is at heart a thoroughly modest man. When the Third Contingent reached Aliwal North in the train they were sitting about wondering what they had to do next. A man with no decorations about him, dressed in shabby and worn khaki serge, with a forage cap pulled down over his head, walked up. "Who are you?" he said. "Oh, yes," he went on, "you'll join General Brabant and .go to such and such a place." They did not take a great deal'.of'notice till he remarked, "My name is Kitchener." Then Lieut Tucker jumped up and saluted. "It's all right," said Lord Kitchener, and talked for a while about the proper way'to fight' the Boers. "When you come tip to a hill," he said, "don't attack it from the fro-nt. Go round th"c back and look at their horses, and they'll clear away at once." Then lie wished them luck and said good-day.

Lieut. Tucker and his comrade, Lieut. Bradburne, who now lies in a soldier's grave, had two interesting little fox-terriers. One had boarded the Knight Templar at Albany and followed the contingent right to Pretoria. He was branded along one side with the two leter.? N.Z. cut large in his hair, and as he was a very small chap and almost pure white, he went by the name of "Bobs." Lieut. Bradburne would sit on the ground with "Bobs" between his legs. When he gave the word to> attack the little animal would rush out and tackle the other dog, and when the officer called "retire,". "Bobs" would gradually retreat with his: face to the enemy, growling viciously all the time. "Into the kopjes, Bobs," his owner would say, and the little, dog would whip round and rush in between his b'o6ts.

OAMARU. this day

Mr Crawshaw, father of Captain Crawshaw, reported wounded at Reitfqntein, has received a cable from the Imperial authorities, stating that his son has a slight wound in the abdomen, the bullet not penetrating. Captain Crawshaw is now at Pretoria.