NEW ZEALAND AND THE BOER WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 45

NEW ZEALAND AND THE BOER WAR.

THK RECORDS OF OUR CONTINGENTS. Sf)Mli NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS. Representative men in the course of their utterances on great occasions in the history of the- colony have frequently deplored the disability a young country nece«*ar ;l v lies under in an absence of national tr. < L :ons. New Zealand, as one of the youngest of the i British colonie*, had. Uttie ODOfijtuuifcy iv '

which to figure largely, by reason & f thti achievements of her sons, in the affairs qt th* great Empire to wnich she belongs, until th* outbreak of the South African war. Citizens of older lands oculd al^avs find inspiration by turning back the pa.ges of their history and pondering over the deeds of their fore' fathers in times of crises when their nation was convulsed in every fibre of its be' gv It is our privilege to so regard the fforW of the great Englishmen of the past wh<r cemented the foundations of our Empire with their blood, or who, by genius of'statesmanship, reared a superstructure which was to be the marvel of the world. -In times o£ peace national life flow*, so evenly and uneventfully that the historian must perforc« rely largely on the political arena for th«i material to preserve a coherent record of th« progress of the nation. But when the martial instinct is aroused by the boom of the war drum resounding throughout the land great events crowd into so brief a space that many of them pass with their full import unrealised. And thus it is in New Zealand to-day. In breaking the virgin soil of a new land it was but natural that an. offshoot of the Anglo-Saxon race should create traditions of their own, primarily associated with their pew environments. Since the colony buckled on the sword and with whole-souled ardour joined in a. struggle which was going on between Briton, and Boer, page after page of glorious history has been written and traditions founded that will never be forgotten while these islands are peopled by descendants of the Anglo-Saxon race. In our educational institutions" the youths of the colony have learned to speak with pride of the valour of New Zealanders on the battlefield, and the names of places associated with theit gallantry are indelibly fixed on- theii memo.rjes.

More than two years and a-half have slipped away since the war broke out in the Transvaal, and it is more than two years since the First New Zealand Contingent waa equipped and despatched to the front. It is probable enough that in two years recollection of many of tho doings of the New Zealanders has faded out of the publio memory- The prominent engagements" asBociated with Rendsburg, "Sew Zcalaml Hill, Driefontein, Koornspntit, Ottoshoop, Wepener, Petrusberg, Reitfontein, Rhenoster Kop, and Bothasberg can ba readily called to mind; but the fightim? has been co continuous, it has been carried on over so vast an area, and has occurred in many instances at places that are noc to be found in the majority of maps, that it is no wonder if there is some confusion of dates and places when one attempts to recall tho feats of our men. We, therefore, attempt to give a brief narrative of the most striking incidents of the campaign in which New Zealand contingents have taken part, and which should he, now the war is over, of more than passing interest.

Shortly after their arrival in South Africa the First New Zealand Contingent was sent out to cover the detraining of three trains of cavalry sent to occupy Arundel. In company with the New South Wales men, the New Zealanders made a reconnaissance a-t Naauwpoort, and drew the enemy's fire, and without mishap to themselves repulsed the Boers, killing five of them. —About a week later," on December 11, the New Zea- ' landers, with the New South Welshmen, while flanked by the Dragoons, occupied Arundel, having been for five hours under fire. Further, the New Zealanders alone checked a Boer rash, and prevented' the enemy seizing a kopjo, and. killed thiee men. Inc onsequence of General Gatacro's reverse at Stormberg, the whole North of Capo Colony was in a state of rebellion, and the Boers occupied a range of hills parallel to the railway at Arundel. During a nighc march the New Zealanders and the Australians discovered the Boers, to the number of 1200, posted in a pass. They joined battle, and, with the assistance of the British artillery, compelled the enemy to seek cover. The Boers lost heavily, but the British casualties were slight. It was at this engagement at Jasfontein, near Arundel, that the first casualty occurred, and Trooper Bradford was wounded and taken prisoner, dying while in the hands of the Boers some 10 days later. At Wasfonteln the New Zealanders proved themselves most steady under a hot fire at short raage. Early in 1900, 25 New Zealanders found themselves isolated oil a kopje, exposed toa deadly fire from a number of Boers concealed behind a hill the other side of a narrow fiat. Major Robin, with a picker, hastened to the relief of his men, and brought off the 25 amid a perfect hail of" lead. The New Zealanders, when approaching Colesberg, offered to capture the enemy's big guns, but General French, while he admired their pluck, declared the operation would ba " too risky. On" January "15' the famous New Zealand Hill affair took place. A company of tlie Yorkshire Rejfiment and. a few *New Zealanders, under - Major Madocks, held a small hill commanding a position near Rendsburg. Under cover of a, heavy fire, about 200 Boers stormed the ' hill, "and crept up nearly to the crest. Captain Orr, of the Yorkshires, fell badly wounded, and his men began to waver. Major Madocks, seeing what had happened, gave the order to fix bayonets. The effect was magical, and the Yorkshires with bayonets fixed, rushed down the hill. Ine enemy fled in terrorr many of them being shot as they ran. Major Madocks then rushed over with his own men, and the New Zealanders completed the route. Hero Connell and Gourley fell, but the Boer loss was estimated at 40 killed. The Firot New Zealand Contingent wera with General French when that oftirer mada his famous relief march to Kimberley from the Modder River, past Magersfontein and Spytfontein. and on to tho Diamond City. The New Zealanders had lent valuable assistance to the important movements preceding the occupation of Kimberley. Their scouting work had been highly spoken of. their cleverness in locating the enemy's position by tactics peculiar to themselves, had been recognised, and on all sides il was generally admitted that their work deserved to be classed a 3 One of the most vuluable adjuncts to the operations of an active column. . On March 18 the First New Zealandetp. under Major Robin, repelled a Boer attack on a convoy at Driefontein, and at the end of the s:\me month they co-operated in expelling the Boers from the kopje' at Kares =i'!ir;^. and accelerated the flight of the rip*"v to Brandfort. They also greatly dis- : ='ied themselves at the Kcorn&pruH-ji;i:bu-.ii. one in particular, Trooper (now Captain) Coutts displaying such conspicuous gallantry that he waa awarded one of the' much-coveted Queen's scarves. The New Zealanders. with Roberta's Hcrse. gallantly' k p pt the Boers at bay. ruder a heavy fin! at 1000 yard? rang". urHl " w a}o'--2enpral Colvill<? ar-i'-p'' vit” t.:-"^ —"-pntti. Thei British c .sualties numbered 450, and five of the artillery, gqng £$j$ £aj>tm£& sjbito I 7

New Zealanders were taken prisoners and Beat first to Winberg and then to Pretoria-

On April 1 the New Zealanders of the J3econd Contingent, under Lieutenant Crawshaw, " occupied " Kenhardt, capturing nins rebels, many rifles, and 16,000 rounds of Ammunition.

Towards the c-n<l Gf April the Rough priders, or Third Contingent, had their first taste of war in the operations for the relief Df "Wepener. General Brabant discovered that Some Boers occupied a kopje commanding the eastward road to Wepener. Accordingly he posted 100 New Zealand Rough gliders on a kopje fronting the one held by the Boers, and with the remainder of the New Zealanders, together with Brabant's Porse, 'and a couple of guns, made a wide fletour and outflanked the enemy. The Boers subjected the New Zealanders to a terrific fire, but when General Brabant Started to shell them at 700 yards they recreated precipitately. The result of this engagement was to open the Wepener road for miles.

Early in the following month General Hutton, with his colonial division, among which were the First and Second New Zealanders, arrived unexpectedly east of Brandfort, and drove the Boers to the plains below the hill overlooking the town. On this occasion the New Zealanders were the first to enter the town, as the Boers ware being 'driven out. Towards the middle of July Jtha New Zealanders met with a disaster. General Pole-Carew had met the enemy at •Rietvlei, and a stiff engagement followed. ,The Boers, using Creusot guns and pompoms, managed to outflank a party of New Zealanders, and captured 16. Lieutenant jFindlay was severely wounded, and at the fclose of the engagement two other officers — Captain Bourne and Lieutenant Cameron — .were found to have been captured.

In November a party of New Zealanders fend New South Wales Bushmen, with a toolics patrol, met 100 Boers at Petrusburg. They fought the enemy for several hours, until their ammunition was exhausted, when jWven wero captured, stripped of their rifles iind valuables, and released. The Rhenoster Kop affair, in which the Second and Third New Zealanders played a most important part, took place at the end of Novemb&r, 1900. The Colonial Brigade, under General Paget and Colonel JCradoek, cama into touch with the Boers *>n the 26th, and a running fight was kept ;up till tho 29th, when they reached the Boer unain position at Rhenoster Kop, about 40 aniles east of Pretoria. The Boers occupied Vi range of hills forming a crescent seven imiles long, a natural and almost impregnable fortification. At 5 o'clock in the morning General Paget advanced on the (position. He himself held the right flank (with the West Riding Regiment and Munteter Fusiliers. The centre was occupied by IColonel Hickman, and the left flank by ithe Second and Third New Zealanders and the Queensland Bushmen. Colonel Cradock, of New Zealand, held the key to the posiJlion, he being opposed to the bulk of the iei:emy, who were persistent in their efforts to work round to the left flank of the New Zealanders. With the object of turning the tenemy's flank, the New Zealanders, under b, heavy firc^advanced to within 400 yards of *he Boer position, where they wei*e forced (to'halt and take what cover they could beSiihd a few ant liills scattered over a barren Bat. The British, guns, although firing at a (range of 1000 yards, failed to dislodge the 'enemy. The Boers were reinforced during the afternoon, and advanced under cover of their guns, oausing a general retirement. The New Zealanders, under Major Jowsey, were splendidly handled by their officers, who were exposed to a continuous hail of bullets all the day. Captain Crawshaw, Burgeon-captain Godfrey, and Lieutenants Montgomerie, Sommerville, and Tucker were wounded during the operations, four men were killed, and 16 wounded. The next morning the Boers ha 4 disappeared, and when their position was examined it was found that they could not have retired previously, for there was no position on which they could fall back. So impressed was Lord Roberts with, this action of the New Zealanders that he sent a special cable message to the Governor of New Zealand, in which he said that he had received from Lord Kitchener an account of the action, in which the men of New Zealand, under General Paget, had borne themselves with even more conspicuous gallantry than was their custom. General Paget had especially mentioned for gallantry Captains Crawshaw and Chaytor. "New "Zealand," the FieldMarshal concluded, " may well be proud of Buch men."

The Fourth Contingent, under Lieutenant colonel Davies, was attaclWL, early in January, 1901, to General Babington's column. rijeir first notable engagement was at Ottobhoop, where, in storming a kopje. Captain Harvey met his death and several were grounded. After doing a good deal of Valuable work they were placed in occupation of Ciferfontein, strengthening its defensive works, and accumulating stores and ammunition. In this operation the Fifth New Zealanders were also associated, the two rcpriments forming part of the Rhodesian Field Force. When the majority of the First. Second, and Third Contingents, who had not returned to the colony by the Orient, at the end of December, ]900. did so hv t'i<> Tongariro, leaving late in March, 1901. the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, with the Sixth, continued to fully uphold the reputation of their predecessors in South Africa. The Sixth was sent to Pretoria immediately on its arrival in South Africa, and was attached to Plumer's column. Of Plumer, it was said that he made the fastest marches of any general at the seat of war, being seldom satisfied with le&s than 18 miles a day. The column was celebrated, also, as ihaving, several places where it had been engaged, "a cemetery of its own."' Soon after the attachment of the Sixth to it, it was ordered north to prevent a junction of lorces under Botha and De Wet. The New Zealanders were present in some hard fitrhting near Potgeiter's Rust, and won official commendation for their work. For some days after the column was hot on the track of the Boor.- and at every stas?e picked up waggons and ur.sf>ner=. the Sixth wi'Hiing further congratulations from General Plmner himself At this time it was stated that the men cousideied the march "more in the ligh*of a picnic than a'lyt'iincr 01-c. On tho 13th June the Fourth and Fif'h Contingent l«~ft Canetov. n to return lion', being relieved by the Se\^nth under Liou-tenant-colonol Foripr. The Sixth, under Lieutenaut-ciilonel Bank*, continued \\:th Plumer, and were occupied in a "=uece«Mon d£ forced marches, skirmishes, and pur-nits, without beirjr c'jucerned m any vc-iy laige Bajragemeni . On the 2nih of July, while the column wa = near Poplar Grove, the spph» of Lord Roberts's famous b. ttle, the South Afncnn CcucUbulary found themsf-K^ in a ticht

corner, and a body of 10 New Zealanders dashed up to support them. To do so the troop had to gallop three miles under a heavy fire .to cut off 200 of the enemy. The bullets rained down on them from two quarters, but after an exciting course the men took up their position in a donga, and opened fire upon the enemy at 1800 yards' range. Three Boers were shot down, and one wounded, -within a few minutes' time. The New Zealanders. however, were hopeless outnumbered, and were relieved by 100 men and a pom-pom just in the nick of time. For the space of two hours they had been successful in holding at bay 200 of the enemy. In August the contingent was transferred from Colonel Banks to Major Andrew, and soon after this it began to experience the most arduous work and the most exciting incidents yet encountered. During September the men were continually in action, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Wepener. On the 26th of the month Major Andrew, with 200 men, of whom 100 were New Zeal landers, came in contact with 400 Boers, and the men of the Sixth showed great gallantry in crossing the Caledon River to occupy some heights which the enemy were attempting to reach. During the next six months the contingent was kept hard at work in the Southeastern Transvaal, and is now back in the colony. _j The «sllant Seventh Contingent covered , itself with glory on the night of February 23 of this year. The wily De Wet, in au effort to break the cordon surrounamg him at Bothasberg, made a dash to break through the lines, and chose a point held hy fche JS T ew Zee-landers. The special correspondent of the Londou Standard described tho attack as follows:— A det^rmkaod atlempl was made by about 600 Boers, on the night of the 23rd," to break back to the north between Colonel Byng's and Colonel Rinungton's columns. These troops formed a portion of a combined movement from the < Orange Colony railway line eastwards be- , tween the blockhouse lines, and ancther move from the north, culminating about Harrismith. The two columns i-ad swung round to the south, near Vrede, when a body of Boers, using about 6000 cattle as a wedge, sought to force a way heiween the flanks to the north. The night was wet. and the moon was showing but dimly The entiny drove hard against Colonel Byng's right flank. It fell to the Seventh Contingent of New Zcalauders to rep* 1 the attempt, which they did with the utmo=i } dash and elan, the "enemy also behaving with great gallantry. Owing to the cover afforded to the enemy by the mob of cattle, the New Zealauder3 were obliged to expose themselves more than their opponents, and, as a result, lost somewhat heavily, having two officers and 18 men killed and five officers and 33 men wounded. The wholeof the cattle were taken, 70 Boer horses were shot and 100 captured, and 15 of th-e enemy were killed and six taken prisouers. Colonel Riinington, who was slightly in action to the right, had one officer killed and two men wounded. Only a few Bosrs escaped north. The bulk of them, remained in front of the columns. The Canterbury Company was the heaviest loser, and among those killed were Captain Dickinson. Lieutenant Forsyth, and 10 men. Several other officers and 20 or 30 men were wounded. Ca.ptain (now Major) Bauchop, of Port Chalmers, 'was specially mentioned for his ! services on this occasion. ,

The Eighth Contingent on their way to the front met disaster in the shaps of a roilway accident at Machavie. The accident was caused by a train of empty waggons colliding with the troop train, and the men ia the foremost carriage were terribly knocked about. No less than 13 were killed outright, and numbers badly injured. Two of the engine-drivers were hurt, but the other two jumped off the train. Nine horses were killed. The dead troopers were brought to Klerksdorp, and were buried there in one line, the 13 graves being alongside each other.

The Ninth and Tenth Contingents have not had time to get to work, but in all probability will be retained by the Imperial Government for police duty till the 12 months for which they enlisted have expired.