Colonials at the Front.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9821, 21 July 1900, Page 8

Colonials at the Front.

In connection with colonial soldiers in South Africa, a fine piece of work is placed to the credit of Private Birch, of the Westralian Contingent, and late of the railway goods shed at Cue. Birch, who is a quiet looking young fellow, was on his way from Colesberg to the place his company had been camped, when he met a couple of Kaffirs. " Where are your passes?" he asked and as the travellers could not produce any he ordered them along before him as his prisoners. But the trio had not proceeded far when they met a couple of stalwart men, who turned out to be Germans, and who were equally unable to produce their passes. Birch promptly" took them also in charge, and, in answer to their objections, alighted from his horse and ordered them on at the point of hja rifle. Bayonet he had noDe, for he had lost it in some rough work on the previous day. Two or three times the Germans showed signs of rebelliou, but Birch kept them in hand, and, although darkness had falien, drove them along to a farm which had been the headquarters of his company, but from which, to his chagrin, it had moved. It was rather a tight place to be in, but Birch did not falter. He got his prisoners into a sort of barn, tied up his horse, and mounted guard for the night. Wearily the hours passed, but the dawn c<me at last, and the tired Westralian, who had turned to give attention to his horse, suddenly realised that the Germans had fled. They had found a hole in the wall opposite the door of the barn,-and made their exit without saying "Good morning." Birch was after them like a grey-hound, and caught sight of the pair making across a kopje. It took seven shots from his rifle to convince the fugitives that Birch meant business. Then ihev surrendered at discretion. Meanwhile the Kaffirs kept quiet, were even helpful, and the young Westralian marchpd the four safely into c*mp. Here he was warmly and deservedly complimented by Major King, the officer commanding the post. Alter examination the Kaffirs were released, but the Germans gave so poor an account of themselves that they were sent into Cole=berg on suspicion of being Boer spies, and they were to be dealt with later on. For a trying piece of single-handed, plucky work, it wonld be hard to beat that which ha« brought into prominence the Westralian private. The regiment is proud of him.