LETTERS FROM OUR BOYS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1378, 23 February 1900, Page 3

LETTERS FROM OUR BOYS.

Trooper F. Wilson, writes from Slingersfontein, under date January 19:

We are now on the north side of Colesberg to •which place we got by coming round Colesbnrg, without taking the latter place, and I think the General is working on strategy and is trying to cut the Boers off, and perhaps they may give in when corneredWe hold a hill two miles from camp, which commands our water hole and "without which we should not be able to maintain this camp, and we (that is the N.Z.M.R.) took up that position when first we came here and held it for a week during which time there was continued firing, and one day the Boers made a very bold attack. They kept a hail of bullets on a barricade behind which were our men and some of the Yorks — an infantry corps. The firing was so strong that we could not lift our heads over the breast works, and under their fire about fifty or more Boers advanced to within a few yards and the case looked hopeless, The Yorks lost all their officers, and the next in command was a corporal. He kept the men to the fighting, but that would not have saved the position had not our captain (Haddocks) called all New Zealanders to the front ; then he gave the orders to fix bayonets and charge, and under the incessant fire they who were near jumped over the breastwork, and, led by Captain Maddocks, charged them. Sergeant Gourley was there and as he rose up over the barricade he got three bullets through his head and one through his lungs. He fell over wounded and died at 10 o'clock tjiat night, after 12 hours lingering. I helped to carry him out of fire, and knew at once he would not live long. So ended as brave and true a fellow as there was in the whole of Africa and one who was ] universally liked, and never a man had a word to say against him. He was my divisional sergeant, and many a tear fell on his grave next day and there seemed to be a gloom in all our camp. Another fellow from Auckland was shot through the heart through his love-letters and girl's photo. On the latter was written ' please bury with me.' We did not feel his loss so much as we did not know him so well, but he also died like a brave soldier in the charge. Myself and others were a quarter of a mile from the place when the first attempt was made, but when the second call was made we rushed up and were just too late for the first shock of the charge, but we sidled round close to the Boers and I did some excellent rifle practice, as did others who came up later after we had beaten them back some distance for they could not face steel. I went up and carried Gourley back and did all I could, assisted by a fellow named Dickenson, and George Mitchell. Ido not know who were there when the charge was given, for I was not by, but Captain Haddocks, Lieut. Hughes, Sergt. Gourley, Privates Geo. Mitchell, Boothe, Dickenson, Gestro, Wright, and two others, whom I for get, and Connell who was shot, were there. It was a wonder any came out alive as Capt. Haddocks shot one fellow just three yards from the breast works just as the fellow's rifle went off and the captain was only six feet from him. Another fired within four feet of the captain, but the point of a rock caught the bullet and turned it off, the splinters of rock going in the captain's face. He also killed another just as close. Well, the kopje is called New Zealand Hill now and the Yorks think and say no end of good things about us all, and the officer of the Worcester regiment told his men this : ' Follow the New Zea landers in everything for their daring and pluck, and keep with them and never fear we shall do well. They are only a volunteer corps, but they know a lot more than we do.' (That is correct ; the officer really said so.) The gunners are always wanting to know when they go out who is to go as escort and are disappointed if it is any other than our corps, and the Boers offer L 5 a head for Colonials. The infantry asked us if we were shifting along with all the other mounted men, but only half of us were, and they said, • Thank goodness, the Boers will not attack as long-

as the New Zealanders are here.' Now, there is enough puff for ourselves in this letter, but you will perhaps get some other versions of these tales which are quite true so far as I know and not * skite.' The General gave a speech, which I shall try to give word for word. He said, ' I have a very

pleasant duty to perform in telling you - that I am very pleased at the way you have acted, and this is not the first nor the second time I have had to

speak to and praise you for your excellent conduct which you have always shown under all circumstances, and I

hope that it will continue right through, and I speak of your officer especially.' He said more, but I cannot remember correctly. Major Robin was not with us, but only the 2nd division and a number of them were not there. I got a splinter of a bullet on the face, but it is right now, and itis a wonder that the rest of us got off without a "scratch.

Trooper W. Bunten, writes under elate- Baasfontein, January 14th, as

follows :— " lam sure if you saw me at the present moment you would be surprised. I am sitting writing this on top of a beastly big hill in the broiling sun. I have made a little shelter with my rifle and blanket, but it is not a palace by any means. As I write the Boers are swarming round us, but they are too cunning to come within range. It is very aggravating to be here within half a mile of Colesberg and not be able to get in. They say that the finest swimming bath in Africa is at Colesberg. lam anxious to test it, and goodness knows we all want a swim badly. Fred has just gone back to camp after being out all night ; he says it was extremely cold up here at night. That is the worst part of this game all day long you are gasping with heat and thirst and at night, it is regular winter, especially as we generally can't take our blanket. We can see the Boers just now getting Long Tom into position on a kopje about 2 miles away, so we will probably have a lively night of it. That Long Tom is a brute, our guns are too small for him, as he can blaze away at them long before we can get into range. The Major of our artillery, yesterday asked the General if he t wanted Long Tom taken, if so to give him the New Zealanders with his battery, and he would have it before night. The General would not do it, however. I hope he will change his mind as it will mean a real willing go right into the thick of them. Buffalo Bill has just arrived up here in "great nick." He was out scouting and struck a farm ; he made the old lady there cook him a nice dinner of mutton and stewed pears, so he has scored over the rest of us. It is a au event here to get a decent meal. To fell you the truth we are living like a lot of savages and dirtier if possible. I did not get parted from old Belle Mahone after all. When we landed at Capetown I secured her at once. One of the Enniskillen officers took a fancy to her. I must ring off now as it is my turn to go on sentry. I only hope a Boer will come near. —January 17th. We had a great day on the 1 5th. We were on a kopje with a few of the Yorks when the Boers attacked us. They were very cunning about it. There were several hundred of them round us, and they posted men all lvund who kept up a rifle fire while others crept up to us through the bushes. The first we (New Zealanders) knew of it was the Yorks calling out for help, when our Captain (Haddocks) called to us to come with him. We followed him along the top and found the Boers had just reached the top and were driving back the few Yorks there. Captain Haddocks ordered us to fix bayonets and charge ; that was enough for the Boers ; as soon as we got at them with the bayonet they started to run, and then we had our turn. It was like rabbit shooting as they bolted from bush to bush. lam sorry to say that two of our men were killed Sergeant Gourlay and a young chap Connell who was number three in my section. Gourlay had three bullet wounds in his head, and Connell was ' shot through the heart. The Yorks ! had six killed and seven wounded, their Captain being shot in three places. There were several of the Clutha boys in it, but by good luck none of them were touched. I was jolly glad when it was over, we wore all dead beat ; and I know my head was aching and I was as deaf as a post with the continual shooting. It did not seem to disturb Fred a bit, and he blazed sway as if he was shooting at a target. It seems very serious afterwards, but at the time you don't think much of it. To give an instance : two of us were behind a large rock where they could not hit as. Of course you had to put you head and shoulders out to get a shot, 'l was "just getting up my rifle for a shot when bang came a bullet en the rock, I popped in again mighty quick (without firing,|of course) the other chap laughed fit to bust himself, and I had to join in. We have just got orders to pack up and get ready to start oft to-morrow for Orange River, so I expect you won't get letters for some time. Hugh Smith has been seedy for a day or two but is all right again. He and I got into a Boer orchard and had a great feed of half-ripe peaches. I am sure that is what turned him up. Fred is away out as messenger to the Royal Irish so I can't send any message from him, but can assure you he is thriving. Geo. Smyth and all the rest are well, in fact none of the Clutha boys have ever been laid up.

Trooper Hugh Smith writes uuder date Slingersfontein, January 17th, as follows : — ' We are now camped among the hills at the side of Colesburg, but will not see the town as we are too much to the right when we move on again. We had a great set-to with the Boers on the 10th. About 50 of the York Regiment and ourselves had been holding one of the kopjes for two days, when one morning the Boers attacked us from the left and got to within 20 or 80 yards from the top, and would have been on the top if the order had not been given to fix bayonets and charge, which turned them back, but not before they had shot the captain and six men and wounded 10 of the Yorks and shot two of our men — Sergt. Gourley aud Private Connell. If they had got to the top not one of our men would 'have been left.

Poor Gourley had two shots through his hat, but only one hit him on the side of the head. He was the most popular fellow in the contingent Connell camo from Auckland, and was a very nice young fellow. The Boers had aboixt forty killed and there must have been about one hundred wounded. The next day General French sent for the New Zealand Contingent, and congratulated them on their good work the day before, and said it was the third time he had to mention them for good work in his report. We are having very hot weather just now, and it is terribly dusty ; the country has not improved a bit yet. I would not take all the land I have seen so far if I got it for nothing. We are off the railway line now, so everything is very dear — Is 3d for a small tin of jam, the same for milk, and everything the same.

Trooper G. Mitchell, writing under date January 14, says :

We have been sent out to form a picket on top of the kopje* we now occupy. It is very rough and high and took three-quarters of an hour to climb to the top, but it is a splendid position when we are here anc 1 commands a grand view of the country for miles around. We relieved No. 1 Company at daylight this morning, and they relieve us again to-morrow morning. We have been pot-shooting all day with little or no ffivct as the range is too grea^, especially among rocks (2000 yds), and even then some of their bullets were coming very close. I should think ihvre are about 350 or 400 Boers on one small range of kopjes below us. They tried to put a shnil into our camp with 'heir Ling Tom \>\i* it. dropped about half a mile short. Yesterday about 4 o'clock shn roirpH again, and this time the shell caniH ; screaming over and burst among the horse lines, killing one horse. This, of course, livened things up and the guns were out like a shot, and an artillery duel set in, but not; before they had put four shells in and around the camp. Luckily no one was killed, bun it caused half the camp to be shifted round out of sight. | 15th. j A day has passed since I wrote last ! part of my letter to you, and a day that will live fresh in my memory all ■ <oy life. We had been en picket on top of the big kopje I mentioned in the former part of my letter known as New Zo 'land Hil'. We were r^leved by uuoiher division of our company aJ'OUt 5 o'clock, and we were to d that we were to stay on ih« kopje and act as a reserve, at the same time we were to rn^ke ourselves comfortable and have 24 hours' complete rest. We had our breakfast and then made ourselves comfortable. There was a very steady j (ire kept up from daylight, and it was ' seen that the Boers had closed in all around us during the night, and were firing from all directions. About 7 ! o'clock the reserve were called out and placed all round the edge of the hill, and the point was guarded by a small company of Yorks (infantry) under command of their captain. In front of them they had a small breastwork, then about 10ft out was some large stones forming a small precipice, and over that the hill was steep and covered with large boulders and thick scrub, which afforded splendid cover, the hill being somewhat of a basin shape, that is, hollow in the centre. It was impossible to see right up underneath from the breast works on top. A large force of Boers had crept up into the hollow of the hill through the night and lay there until the remainder of their force were well scattered about (he kopje around us, and were forcing in a hot fire from all directions to take our a'tention of those who were to charge the kopj •. About. 9 o'clock a cry caviif: from the corner post that the ' Boers wern on the kopjn, and mx moment our GaUant C ; ip am celled -v, New Zeila'iJers to reinffrc^ he p> ition, and some of 'is rush<«rl up to ilt.* front after our Officer. As w^ were i ffoirg up we passed the ctpbiin of h* ! Yorks who had already got three bu'lct j holes through him. As we passed he cheered us on, and shouted at the top of his voice f Goon New Zealand, go on.' When we got to the top there were two Yorks crawling out of the fire, one being shot in the head the bullet grazing from the left temple right along his head scooping out a wound about, half an inch de^p. The other was shot in tde groin. The firing was at this moment terrible, and the Boers were* right up to the edge when our captain called in a very firm voice, ' Who'il follow me in a bayonet charge V The answer came from all in one voiqp, ' I will.' Then he stood up and said • Are you ready bds ; then come on 1 In an Instant we jumped over the wall after him and down the kopje. That instant onr brave sergeant fell rigtn on the left of the captain, and poor Connell on his right, and one of the Yorks jus I {-hind us. The Boers could hot face the cold steel and retired. We could not follow th^m down the face as the fire from the neighbouring kopje was too strong, but we were that close to them that their powder burnt the captain's face, and he shot one man not two yards : away while we were at about eight or teu yards. When we had stopped their , charge we again got behind the breast ! works and the firing eased a little. In , the tne&nt-iwe five of our men (W,

Renton being one) got down the hill on our left and got in a good cross fire doing; very good work, as the enemy did not expect it from that quarter. Behind the breastworks the York's sergeant lay dead, and over the other side about 10ft away lay Sergeant Gourley covered in blood, and rubbing the wound in his head. Lieutenant Hughes got over the wall to him and give him some spirits and bound a handkerchief round his wound ; then two others got over the wall and the three lifted him back again and carried him oat of firp. Bit poor Connell was shot through the heart and must have died instantly. He threw up his hands and fell forward over the precipice right down among the Boers, so we could not get his body while I was there, but they got it after dark. As soon as the thick of it was over a section of us was sent down the right flank — two New Zealanders and two, Yorks — and we were pot shooting ail the remainder of the day, and managed to put three more out of action, The total casualties on our side for the day were seven killed and five wounded, which considering the few men engaged was pretty heavy. The Boers' loss we do not know but there were a doz«n or more lying over the precipice. So we have sepn war in earnest and it was a hot corner ; I never wish to be in as hot a one again. It sterns heartless when a man gets wounded in front of you that you simp:y get him out of the road and let him fare as best he may until it is over. One poor sergeant of the Yorks fell dead in front cf the breastworks and two of us were lyim* over him shoeing ; another oiu* was shot (*vp. knew not wh^rp at, the time), he was moaning and one of his tn^tps calling him \-y name said. •• A>l righ Barty, it'l be ovtr in a minute.'' And so it was, for a few inmuffs afterwards one of our men picked him np and laid him across his knee, and h« died there almost instantly. He was sho' right through the crown of the head, and hi? drains ha-d run down on the rocks. The Yorks have been burying 'he dead Boers to-day. They have, buried 30 and I hear they have some to do yet. There are also five blacks sho; who were lighting with the B.)ers. We are gaing to Orange River to-morrow. Some of the New South Wales Lincpts were cut off to day, and 15 are missing. One returned, and they found two others, one being, dead, and the other died on the road to camp. The B .ers are using explosive and dumJiim bullets, which make a small hole on entering and a r err b]e gash when leaving the. body. One of the Australians got shot in the jaw. There was only a small pea hoe, , where the ballet entered, hut the j iw was broken clean away on the other side. His body is lying in one of oar tents, and is to bs buried to nij>ht.