THE LAST STAND AT MAJUBA

Dunstan Times, Issue 1227, 4 September 1885, Page 3

THE LAST STAND AT MAJUBA

The whole Boer tire w is turned on the last point of defence in the left rear. There the men were crowded behind a clump of sione nut the officers made them extend to the ri.ht ant left, lest they should b) outfl inked. Our direct rear at one part was held by only 3J men ; luckily the ground there was vo sleep the B >«ns were unable to sea e it, thus all thiir efforts were hurled against the left. “ Men of the 42nd Highlanders do ,’c forget your bayonets, ’ cried M ijor Fraser. Colonel Stewart called on the men of die 5S:h. an I Captain M‘Gregor on those «.£ the Nival Brigade, and all di 1 their duty steadily and well. In some places the Boers were seen pipe in mouth, taking pot shots quie ly. as they do when practising at pumpkins rolling down a bill. Nearer and n-ar-n- the fatal cosdon of death was cloning round the devoted hand on the hill of M.ijnha, and through the smoke the officers were seen doing their utmost to urge the def nee. In the centre of a group jhat held a knoll was seen Sir G-eorge Colley animating the men and behaving in the most resolute manner, though one hy one they quickly dropped around him. With fixed bayonets, and shnul er to shoulder, at last, formed iu semicircle, our men continued firing, whil i ammunition began to fail. Many more fell, hut there was no shelter to which they could he r moved, and, if there bad been, not a man could he spared to succour them. The B ers at last reached the few men who held tie true front, the latter brought their bayonets to the charge, hut beyonil striking distance, ami all save three were shot down where they stood. With the general there were barely 101) men of the main body left. The advanced line had been long since shot down or driven in upon the last or main position—this has been described os being about 2 0 yards long by 5 • broad—where the while survivors now lined the rim of the basin with fixed bayonets to repel the assailants. The Boers, with tierce ami exultant shouts, swarmed up the side of the bill, and made furious attempts to carry it at a rush, but each time they were driven by the bayonets, many of which were dyed with blood. After each rush the firing, which ceased during the melee, broke out with renewed fury, and aga u the air became alive with whistling bullets. All at once Sir George C dley was seen to throw his arms above his head, to reel wildly forward. and fall dead, shot ihneigh the brain, and then all was lost. —“ Recent British Battles,”