SECOND EDTIOM, NEW ZEALANDERS DOINGS AT SLINGERSFONTEIN.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 22 February 1900, Page 6

SECOND EDTIOM, NEW ZEALANDERS DOINGS AT SLINGERSFONTEIN.

WHERE GOURLEY AND CONNELL LOST THEIR LIVES. BOER ATTACK ON AN OUTPOST. THE TIMELY RALLY OP CAPTAIN MADOCKS. * GALLANT CHARGE BY A LITTLE BAND. COMPLIMENTS FROM GENERAL FRENCH. (From Our Correspondent with. No. 1 Contingent.) Slingersfontein Camp, 22nd Jan. One of the most daring attacks and most sturdy defences yet known in this part of the war occurred on Monday, the 15th January, at New Zealand Hill, about one and a half miles from Slingersfontein Camp. This post had been held on the Sunday night by ;Wo companies of the Yorkshire Regiment, under Captain Orr, and half of No. 1 Company of the- New Zealand Mounted Rifles, with Lieuts. Chaytor and Canavan in command of divisions It had been intended that only these two divisions (or half a company of the New Zealand Rifles) should do dutjy on the hill, but Major. Robins being informed that he could, exercise his discretion, two additional divisiocs — viz., half, of the No. 1 Company, under the command of Captain Madocks (Wellington), and Lieut. J. Hughes (Napier) were despatched before daylight on Monday to reinforce their comrades. It was providential that the Major's anxiety about his men led him to strengthen the force in this manner. Had he not done so the New Zealanders and Yorkshiremen would probably have been annihilated, the position wrested from them, and all General French's efforts in extending his eastern flank and encompassing the enemy nullified. The New' Zealanders, under Lieuts. Canavan and ' Chaytor, were holding the right flank 'and right rear of the hill, and th 6 Yorks, under Captain Orr, holding the front and left frdht of the point of defence. The Boers were in occupation of some kopjes two thousand yards distant. The crest on which our men were placed ended somewhat abruptly, and steep rocky slopes, covered with boulders and bushes, continued^ downwards and to the Boer kopjes. The intervening space consisted of a tableland, — apparently level, but in reality a succession of small kopjes — broken and uneven country, covered with bushes and dull-coloured rocks, and affording splendid cover for the enemy, who must have taken up their position before daylight. This tableland in turn, descended gradually to the plain, the veldt continuing right up. to the Boer laager on the opposite side of the plain and north-west of our position. To the left or west a deep gully lay between the Boer position and our posts, the ridge which the enemy occupied being covered with small green bushes and brown boulders. Thus the Boers were enabled to fire from splendid cover, and as they all use smokeless powder, tjhe men on the front right 'flank and left front of the hill were compelled to maintain a ceaseless watch on the main kopjes, low kopjes, and plain to do any effective shooting. All the morning the rattle of musketry was heard, and about 11 o'clock the Boers attempted to carry out a cleverlyarranged and daring programme. Under cover of the fire from the top of their kopjo and the tableland they pushed up on the left front of New Zealand Hill. The severe fire from other points taxed the energies of the New Zealanders and Yorks to the utmost, and the first movement was not noticed by the defending forces. Captain Orr, whose men. were making a gallant stand, was about this time shot in the • abdomen, and a moment .later- his Col. -Sergt— Roberts, one of the crack shots of the Regimentwas killed. Other non-com, officers and men of the Yorks fell" back wounded, and the corps became somewhat demoralised. Not that the men lost courage — on the contrary, they returned every shot sent at them— but they were without a leader. Noting the confusion into which the Yorks had fallen, the Boers attempted to force the position. The party that had crept over the space between our hill and their main position, appeared over the crest of the kopje, and, firing rapidly and independently, made a wild rush for the ramparts. Just as the Yorks hesitated, and tne Boers appeared at close quarters, Captain Madocks rushed up, realising the gravity of the situation. "Make a charge, my lads," ordered the captain, and the Yorks, steady as rocks under the word of command, obeyed with alacrity. Into the Boers they drove, and the assailants hesitate^, wavered, and at the sight of the bayonets fled. But they were not yet beaten off. Encouraged by the smallness of the force opposing them at this point—a dozen men against thrice the number— they charged again. "New Zealanders, ve-in-force, reinforce," shouted the captain,^ in desperation. Up dashed three New Zealanders— Lieut. Hughes (Napier), Sergt. Gourley {Dunedin), and Private Connell (Auckland)— while others called out words of encouragement as they toiled up the hill. Sergeant Gourley and Trooper Connell fixed bayonets and ranged themselves alongside Captain Madocks, who picked up the bayoneted rifle of the dead Color-Sergeant of the Yorks. Lieut. Hughes had no bayonet, but, with carbine loaded, he ranged himself alongside his leader. Some of the Yorks pushed forward, and with a shout and cheer, the four New Zealanders leaped over the parapet and dashed at the enemy, who scrambled over the rocky slope like mountain goats. Then came a murderous volley from the Boers, and Sergt. Gourley was seen to spring up m the air, turning half round, and falling with a crash on the rocks. No less than six bullets went through his hat, two ploughing furrow-like wounds along the poor fellow's head. Trooper Connell fell a few seconds later, five yards from his prostrate comrade, shot through the heart. On dashed Captain Madocks and Lieut. Hughes, bullets whistling around them. That they escaped Ibemg nddied with bullets was miraculous, for the poor Yorks behind them suffered severely, though partly protected by a breastwork. The Boers fired another volley and iretreated to the edge of the hill, when the Yorks opened fire on them again. CaptainMadocks, fighting like one possessed, vushed at a Boer— apparently an officer — who stood with rifle to shoulder taking aim at him. The Captain had no time to bring his rifle to his shoulder, but as the Boer leader pulled the trigger of his Mauser, the JNew Zealander rested his <rifle against his hip. The reports rang out together. Captain Madocks's hat was pierced by the bullet from the Boon's rifle. The Boei received his death wound, and throwing his rifle in the air, fell to the ground. Still the Captain followed the Boers, and when his ammunition was exhausted, stood in the centre of the fire from the Boers on the kopje, and hurled stones upon the heads of the retreating enemy.

While Captain Madocks was following the Boers down the hill Lieutenant Hughes had returned, and found poor Connell lifeless. Sergeant Gourley was alive and was moaning. Two men of his division — Privates Dickenson and Mitchell, came to Lieut. Hughes's aid, and carried their wounded comrade to a place of safety. Soon he relapsed into unconsciousness, and never reawakened. It may be some consolation to his parents to know that his last words were of them. Captain Madocks, who had followed the Boers down the hill "ight through the zone af fire, had done splendid work. As the Boers rushed away they exposed themselves to the fire from the parties of New Zealanders under Lieuts. Chaytor and Canavan who did excellent shooting, and succeeded in driving the enemy right across the table-land to their main position, a defeated body with their ranks sadly thinned. The Yorks also did splendid practice. The right flank of the position being hel<J by the men under Lieut. Chaytor, the Boers were prevented from coming up on that side, and so the position right along New Zealand .Hill was held intact. Lieut. Canavan and his men rushed from their position in answer to the .shout from the captain, and though not actually in the charge did gallant worlc In view of the strength of the Boer force, an anxious hour was passed in waiting for reinfocements that had been signalled for. At length another detachment of Yorks, under Lieut. Neave (lately from Christchurch, and until a few weeks ago an officer of the New Zealand Contingent! toiled up the hill, and enabled the New Zealanders to return to their old position. The Boers still worried our men, but two twelvepounders of the Royal Horse Artillery were sent out from camp and compelled them to make for their main laager. Their retreat was turned into a. rout and victory was ours. Our casualties, besides the loss of Connell and Gourley, were five Yorkshiremen killed and four wounded. As Sergeant Gourley lay behind the barriers he was watched over by Lieut. Canavan (Blenheim) and SerL'Estrange, of Wellington, and the couple did all that was possible for him until Surgeon-Captain Burns and his assistant (Trooper M'Pherson) arrived. Before concluding reference to the engagement, let me state that Captain Madocks's coolness and pluck' was the talk of the camp. Lieut Hughes ably seconded the efforts of his superior officer, while Sergeant Gourley and Trooper Connell proved themselves to be as brave and fearless as those who led the charge. Poor Gourley passed away at 10 o'clock on the night of the 15th January. In the surgeon's opinion death was due to fracture of the base of the skull, not from bullet wounds, but from the blow received when he crashed upon the rocks after being wounded. The bodies of Connell and Gourley were interred together on a sunny slope about half a mile from camp, Major Kobin reading the burial service. On the same day General French instructed Major Robin to assemble the New Zealanders at the foot of the camp, and when they had assembled he rode up and addressed them as follows: — "Officers and men of New Zealand Mounted Rifles — In thanking you for what you did yesteiday, I must say that it gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the very spirited and gallant manner in which you resisted a very clever and daring attack on the part of the enemy. It is not the first or the second time that you have been under heavy rifle fire, when you have conducted yourself well. I was myself present at' one engagement (Josfontein) and then expressed my satisfaction at the steady manner in which you conducted yourself and the good work you then did. I have had the pleasure to mention you in my despatches to the Commander-in-Chief, and have pleasure in informing you that I intend doing so again. In defending the important position as bravely as you did you have done good work, and I have not the slightest doubt but that you will continue to do as good work in the future as you have done in the past. In doing what you have done you have ddne great honour to the colony you so worthily represent." General French also addressed the Yorks in similar terms, and concluded by expressing the opinion that the greatest credit was due to the men of that regiment and the New Zealanders for their gallant and successful defence of what was an important position. A graceful compliment was paid to Captain Madocks a day later, when the .General sent for and questioned him about the engagement. He spoke in terms of praise of the captain's gallant conduct, and in orders .that night it was intimated that the large kopje to tho east of New Zealand Hill was to be called Madocks's Hill in recognition of the New Zealander's bravery. I understand on the best authority that Captain Madocks has been recommended for high distinction, which he undoubtedly deserves. The Boer casualties were forty killed and thirty-five wounded, so that the deaths of our men we^o amply revenged.