KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 5

KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES.

PRAISE FOR NEW Z£ALANDERS. \ THE GALLANT SEVENTH. ACTS OF HEROISM. \ (Received April 26, 5.5 p.m.) \ London, April 26. Lord Kitchener, in a despatch dated March 8, describing the recent operations and dwelling upon the fight at Langerwncht, says Colonel Garratt's New Zealanders displayed great gallantry and resolution at a critical moment, and their v conduct reflects the highest credit on all ranks. Nothing could have been finer than the behaviour of the men. Amongst the list of New Zealand officers brought under favourable notice for conspicuous good services performed at the end of last and early in the present year are Major Bauchope, Lieutenants Hickie, P. Emerson, and P. Moverton, and Farrier-Sergeant Quinn, of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent.

Lord Kitchener also mentions the resolute and capable way Major Toll led the Queensland Bushmen on four occasions ; Sergeant-Major Wassen, of the New South Wales Second Contingent, for his dash in holding a kopje with four men to cover the retirement of the wounded ; FarrierSergeant Quinn, of the Seventh New Zealanders, for recovering stampeded horses from the enemy's lines under close fire and hotly pursued ; and Sergeant Kent, in command of 20 New Zealanders, for repulsing 50 Boers.

The fight at Langerwacht to which reference In made was on the occasion of De Wet's attempt to break through the British line-, when the Seventh New Zealanders made so gallant a stand and saved the situation. Out of the 76 men who held the New Zealanders' lino of outposts 25 were killed and 56 wounded, while of the eight officers commanding them two were klled, five were woam'.cd, and the eighth received four bullets through, his tunic. Lord Kitchener addressed Colonel Garratt's column after the move, praising the New Zealanders for their gallant resistance against overwhelming odds.