LIEUT GRANT'S EXPLOIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 259, 9 November 1901, Page 5

LIEUT GRANT'S EXPLOIT.

HOW HE CAME TO STICK UP f SCHEEPER'S LAAGER.

Our cables some weeks ago mentioned the daredevil action of Lieut. Grant of the 12th lancers in sticking up alone Seheeper's laager on September '23. Heuter's correspondent is responsible for the following account of the affair:— Lieut. Grant was in charge of an escort of Colonel Atherton's baggage, riding with the advance guard. At nine p.m., at the far side of a nek, he came suddenly ' on a patrol of thirty men on the road, and saw Scheepers' laager on the right of the road. Giving orders to the sergeant-major to form up the waggons and hold the nek, with one troop he dashed through the picket, thinking the second troop was following, but his orders were not explicit enough, as lie had told them to Hne the nek if they heard firing in front. He sent an order back for the troop to follow him, but the order miscarried.

He stopped on the road on the far side of the picket and laager, and held up all Boers retreating. Three surrendered and three refused. He shot two dead and wounded the third. He was then surrounded and captured, and taken 'to a house. The Boers were very excited, and much firing took place among themselves. One Boer was shot dead and several wounded, also some horses. They left hurriedly at midnight, leaving Lieut. Grant sleeping in the house. Next morning he recovered the three rifles and bandoliers he had hidden, buried the two Boers he had killed, and brought on his convoy

safely. The Boers treated him very well, evidently admiring his performance, and called him the inaduest and bravest '"khaki" they had ever seen.