BRITISH PLUCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5173, 15 June 1878, Page 6

BRITISH PLUCK.

The following account of the valour displayed by a small body of Connaught Rangers, who are now employed in assisting to quell the Kaffir outbreak, is told by an eye-witness :— "The 88th Regiment, the Connaught Bangers, were always hard hitters, and I never knew the enemy that was pleased at meeting either the 87th or the 88th Regiments when they came down to the charge with fixed bayonets, shouting ' Faugh-a-ballagh'—clear the road or clear the way. The following will prove how Irishmen can fight, as the Kaffirs are no chickens, and also that the British soldiers will always succeed with the bayonet, if properly used. The small body of men of the 88th Regiment (only forty in number) engaged in the recent battle with the Gaika Kaffirs, near the Komgha, behaved splendidly, and maintained the prestige of the 88th as one of the best fighting regiments of the British army. They were confronted by a large number of Gaikas, variously estimated at from 600 to 1000, who came out shouting, yelling and brandishing their guns. Forming bis small band into a square, Major Moore told them to wait until the enemy were within a distance of 100 yards, when a volley from the Sniders did fearful execution, and caused the Kaffirs to halt, but only for a moment. Shouting, hooting, and yelling as only .naked savages can do, they came on like a stone wall until within five yards'distance, when Major Moore gave the order, * Men of the 88th, fire a volley and charge bayonets!' Quick as lightning the order was executed. The men of the 88th were in amongst the Gaikas, and handled the bayonets in fine style. The Kaffirs fought desperately, bnt Irish pluck was too much for them, and the result was that they turned and fled, leaving 100 dead on the field. Major Moore is a dashing officer. While attempting to save a mounted policeman named Guise, who was badly wounded at the time, he was attacked by two Kaffirs, and wounded through the arm with an assegai. He succeeded, however, in shooting both the Kaffirs with his revolver."