RHENOSTER KOP AND N.Z. HEROISM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIII, Issue XVIII, 29 July 1912, Page 2

RHENOSTER KOP AND N.Z. HEROISM.

One of the New Zealanders who fought like heroes at Rhenoster Kop on November 129, 1900, died at Dunedin 011 Friday last, July 18, after a long illness, aged 34. This was ex-Trooper Albert M. Beath, who lost an arm at Rhenoster Kop, under circumstances which have been described as follows by an English eye-witness:— "The- gallantry of Colonel Cradock's little band of New Zealanders in the battle near Rhenoster Kop last week (November 29, 1900), was, in the General's words, 'beyond all praise.' "They went into action at half-past five'in the morning, and came out long affcer nightfall with 20 per cent, shot — six killed and 24 wounded. "Had they fallen back from the inferno in front our guns would have been in danger. But they never faltered —the more withering the fir«, the more desperately did they hold to a determinaijion not to yield an inch. "Erasimw and Viljetm ga^e liattle from a position which was in itself both a fortress and a trap. . . . "The Bojsrs. ran tw© ppins out on the ridge andq&^ed a co.upje of slfells with black powd%ria± ssijp-e of General Plumer's men, thijee mißes a\j«#. yThey limbered up quicklvjandfeal^pSd back, but* before they were out' Is#&"is*t the New ' Zealanders were caHterufg into' action, I bent, if possible, upon taking fife enemy's two iiekl-pieces. "A mile or so frew the crest the squadron dismounted, the horses were led to cover, and on went the company well extended. "They got to within 600 yards of the foe, when murderous volleys were poured into them. The men fell flat, being* without cover, and replied as fast aH they could pull back their bolts and. shove the cartridges home. . . . "At times sheets of lead swept over the New Zealanders, whose officers were bustling about, seeing to it that all was going as well as could be expected. One by one the officers were bowled over,, until in the end their dashing leader,' Colonel Cradock. was left alone "And so the fight raged. With rifles running hot, and ammunition runnings out, there were periods when the fire abated, but it would suddenly burst into a furious rattle telling" that the straggling ammunition carriers had been singled out. . . . "The New Zealanders were firing volleys at 10 o'clock at niuht. and the Mausers were still barking back. In the morning, however, the Dutchmen had gone. "The fight teemed with incident — gruesome, humorous, or pathetic. . "A New Zealand farrier, a man of giant build, was mortally wounded above the groin. He went on firing, saying that was the only way he could forget the pain. "Another thick-set yonng fellow was shot through the shoulder. He rolled over, swore, and then crept slowly out of the firing line. Having gone som© 20 yards, a second ball took him in the calf of the right leg. Then he rose, and sw<?re defiantly that no Boer Sullet could stop him. "As he stood a third bullet grazed his elbow, and next moment, for^ettinphis wounds, he was sprinting down the slooe for dear life." To this interesting quotation the Dunedin Evening Star aptly adds that the man who forgot his wounds and sormtacl down the slope was ex-Trooper Beath.