NEW ZEALANDERS UNDER FIRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 January 1901, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS UNDER FIRE.

Magnificent Defence in a hail of Fire.

(Special to Wellington Post.)

Eerste Fabricken. Near Pretoria, December 2nd, 1900. It is with feelings of regret, ming'ed wiih pride, that I sit down and pen this to you. Every New Zealander in South Africa to-day is broken-hearte 3 at the disaster, which has befallen our comrades at the front. At the same time what a feeling of pride runs through each one when they can say—" Oar boys died bravely." " They never retreated." It was death or glory—and they got both. On the '23rd of October the Colonial Brigade marched from Daspoort through Pretoria to the front, under General' Paget and Colonel Craddock. It was the talk of Pretoria, after they marched through, that they were the roughest, toughest division that had loft the capital. They meant business —the majority rode n their shirt sleeves, tunics strapped across tbe saddle, grim and determined—no quarter —no prisoners—and they were under the right General and had their own Colonel and Major, both thorough soldiers. They also had their orders. The First Contingent had done their share and gone home. It remained for the rest to keep up their name and also make another one and carry home the motto " In at the death." "When the few pangs of parting were over the First Now Zealand Contingent left camp at Daspoort amid the cheers of their less fortunate comrades, and ten minutes afterwards allwa3 bustle and excitement. " Leave for the front at one o'clock," was the order. At one o'clock they left camp, happy at the idea of a real good go, no picnic party this time. The advance guard galloped along Church street, followed by the transport waggons, this time drawn by good mules, trotting through at a good pace; then cime the guns at the rear and thon the Queensland Bushmen, all in ehirt-3leevea .-fitting companions for tho New Zealander 8,

Tne tfoer Position. The oft-time travelled trek to Eerste Fabrieken was again traversed, making it the fifth time the New Zealand Mounted Rifles had treked in that direction. At Eerste Fabrieken a halt was made for two days in rain and mud, and then on again, coming into touch with the Boers on the 26th and keeping up a running fight until the 29th, when they reached the Boer main position, about forty miles cast of Pretoria, at Rhenostsrkop. The Boers held a range of hills stretching some six miles, an almost impregnable natural fortification. At five o'clock in the morning General Paget advanced on the position. He himself held the right flank with the West Hiding and Minister Fusiliers. The centre was occupied by Colonel Hickman, and the left flank by the New Zealand Second Contingent and the Third Contingent (the Bough Eiders), and the Queensland Bushmen.

The Key of the Position. Colonel Cradock held the key of the position, being opposed by the bulk of the enemy who were very persistent in their efforts to work round on our left flank. Our object was to turn their flank and the New Zealanders advanced, under heavy fire, to within 400 yards of the position, where they were forced to halt and take cover, which consisted of a few ant-hills only, the flat being perfectly barren, Our guns were booming away at a range of about 1,000 yords, but failed in their attempt to dislodge the enemy. At 5.:10 the Boers were reinforced, and advanced under cover of their guns, causing a general retirement the Boers pouring in a hot fire all day. They could be plainly distinguished, without the aid of glasses, carrying their wounded away and dodging about among the rocks. Their guns were doing splendid practice, having got the range. One shell landed right behind our guns without bursting. Had it burst it would have made a mess of our gunners. The New Zealanders under fire. The New Zealanders, under Major Jowsey, were being splendidly handled by Captains Crawshaw, Bourn, Chaytor, Lieutenants Tucker Ross, Fitzherbert, Cameron, Banks, Sommerville and Montgomcrie. These officers were exposed to a continuous hail of bullets all the day, as they had to constantly pass along their lines. I heard one officer remark :—" I would go to the devil to command a body of men like that." By this time the fire was general all along the line, a constant roar of Musketry the rat-tat-tat-tat-tat of the pompom and the boom of the 12 and 15 pounders. It was terrible, and seemed as if all the demons in hell were let loose. Would any man expect to come out of it alive ? It was even chances of life and death. Early in the campaign it was a 100 to one chance, but on the 29th it was like running through a heavy shower and escaping dry. To expose one-self meant instant death. The men lay low and fired for life and victory. The Casualties. The first man hit was Farrier-Sergeant Smith, of the Second Contingent, who was shot through the stomach as he was advancing towards the front rank of the firing line. He was at once carried to the rear, but, unfortunately, died yesterday, and was buried at Bronkhurst Spruit. He was a fine stalwart fellow, well liked and respected, and real grit. Poor Oppenheim was next hit. He was sitting near Captain Crawshaw and Lieutenant Montgomery when a bullet found him and laid him low in agony, shot through the stomach. Mcßride, of the Second Contingent, bravely rushed up and carried Oppenheim out of the hottest of the fire, only to get hit himself. Hill, of the Second attended to Captain Crawshaw, who was wounded in the stomach, under heavy fire. Then, seeing Beath and Foreman drop he ran to them, attended to Beath, and while doing his best for Foreman, was shot badly through both hips. Sergeant Henderson at once filled the breach and carried Hill out of the zone of fire. A Stern and Bitter Fight. At the same time Corporal Stevens, regardless of the rain of bullets, was going backwards and forwards carrying ammunition, each time replenishing the bandoliers of our boys, who were sternly fighting a bitter fight against a treacherous enemy. Now and again could be heard a low word of exultation as one of the Boers fell. Then again the word would be quietly passed along, " another New Zealander has been hit." All the time a steady fire has been kept up by our men, raking the rocks, behind which a stronger force than ours felt secure. Sergeant Russell's Death. The day was dragging wearily along when down the line came the sad news of another comrade fallen ; this time it was Sergeant Russell, of the Third, who was shot through the left shoulder, and out under the right arm. He died almost immediately. He only spoke a few words, the last of which were " I'm done for this time." Poor Russell was one of the best men who left New Zealand — kind-hearted and the bravest of the brave. What hard luck he had from the start ! Enteric fever at Kroonstad, recovered partially, worked his way to Pretoria, and, not being properly well, drove Dr Godfrey's cart, being captured by the Boers at Diamond Hill. After an eventful time as a prisoner of waiv he was liberated and rejoined. He accompanied the New Zealanders to Rustenberg last month, and, on returning, had an attack of colic, and the doctor wanted to invalid him home, but Russell would not go, preferring to go to the front, "with the sad result described. His relatives and friends may indeed be proud of him. He died not only a soldier, but a hero. Hyde killed and Somerville wounded. Again came the dread news. This time it was Hyde, a North Islander, of the Third, shot through the head. Shortly afterwards Lieutenant Sommerville was seen making his way out of the firing line with a broken arm. He was hit whilst looking through his glasses at a section of the kopje opposite where he had been potting at Boers all the morning. He was just lowering his glasses, having located one of the enemy, and had his cartridge in his hand when hit. Corporal Price, of the Second, at once ran to Lieutenant Sommerville's assistance, and under heavy fire bandaged up his arm with a handkerchief. With his arm hanging limp, Lieutenant Sommerville, walked back a few yards and met Twistleton of the Second, an Australian, who dressed his arm properly. Even then the bullets were raining round, and an orderly thoughtlessly galloped up to Lieutenant Sommerville with a message, exposed his horse to view of the enemy, and concentrated the fire on the place where Lieutenant lying. Fora few minutes the ground was ploughed up all round with bullets, but fortunately without doing more harm. A Charge Across the Flat. Very heavy fire was now heard'on the right, and the West Ridings and Minister Fusiliers charged across the flat, only to be swept down by the terrible fusilade of bullets. Again they gallantly charged, only to retire again with their Colonel shot and sixty men less in the ranks. It looked as if the day was going to go badly with us, but British pluck told the tale, and with bull-dog tenacity the whole line held their ground. The Bushmen, on the extreme left flank, were in a hot corner, and volley after volley could be heard in that direction.

More New Zea'anders Hit. However, our attentions were confined to our own men, who were dropping all round. Lieutenant Montgomcrie was now hit whilst retiring his men over a small ridge, the bullet going right through his hip. He dropped, then got up and ran for about 50 yards and lay down. Knubley, seeing him, brought up a horse and assisted Montgomcrie" to mount. Montgomcrie at oiicc rode to the ambulance. In his section be had two killed and seven wounded. We bad now lost three officers out of four in the Second Contingent, Lieutenant Banks being the only officer left. The men kept up their fire, not the least daunted by the loss of their officers. Each man was his own officer. Corporal Devercaux was talking to Captain Crawshaw, when all of a sudden he fell over. A slight thud told the tale, Devercaux was shot clean through the heart. He never uttered a sound, death being instantaneous. Brown was the next man hit. A piece of shell found him out, inflicting a wound on the thigh. Shortly after the news came along the line that Lieutenant Tucker was shot through the thigh, at 3.30 in the morning, whilst issuing orders to his men. Dr Godfray at once went to his assistance, only to receive a bullet through bis knee._ It was Corpora] Hagenson's (of the Third Contingent) turn next. A bullet hit his bandolier straight in the middle of the chest, glanced off a cartridge and through his right breast, and out at his back under his shoulder. The cartridge in hi 3 bandolier saved his life, otherwise he would have been shot clean through the body like poor Oppenheim. Goldstone was shot through the forearm, the bullet penetrating a cartridge in his bandolier, and falling down inside his shirt. He still has the bu'.let. Sergeant Street was then bowled over with a bullet through his right side. By this time the New Zealand lines were pretty thickly strewn with dead and wounded, but there were more to count yet. Corporal Clews, Trooper Swanston, of the Secon 1, Troopers J. E. Anderson, Stewart, Wood, Dyke, Hawthorne, all dropped in quick succession. A 1! this time our guns were plugging lead into the Boer position, doing very little damage, as they were firing from behind a kopje over it into the enemy. ,

The last man killed on the New Zealand side was Trooper Jennings, who was shot through the head whilst in the act of firing. When found he had 204 empty cartridge cases alongside him, showing how gallantly he had fought. He was killed instantly. The ant-hill in front of him was riddled with bullets. When found he had his rifle in his hand, with one cartridge in the breech. Trooper Vernall, who is orderly to Dr Godfray, in going to see the doctor after he was shot, got a bullet through his tunic, passing right through across his chest without touching him. He cooly remarked in his slow manner of speaking : —"My word, but that wur close, wurn'tit!" Brown, who was wounded with a piece of shell, got two bullets through his helmet, two through his water-bottle, and two through his bandolier. Visit to the Boer Position.

General Paget went up next day and saw the Boer position, in company with Colonel Cradock. He found the rocks whitewashed with bullets, and splashed with blood, showing what good shooting our boys did. A grave was found containing 30 dead Boers, and a Kaffir said they carried away numbers of dead and wounded. General Paget congratulated Colonel Cradock on the gallantry of the New Zealaniers, and mentioned them in despatches.

A Red Cross Flag Fired On. One incident I must not forget to mention. Late in the day four men appeared with an ambulance stretcher, and one carrying a large Red Cross flag. They came to carry off the New Zealand wounded. Directly the Boers saw the flag they poured volley after volley at the stretcher. Our men had ceased firing. The ambulance men promptly threw themselves on the ground, and as the firing diminished, rose again, only to get another volley. They at once threw away the flag, and went on with their work without it, finding themsolves safer. This shows what dastardly work the Boer still keeps in touch with. Why should such men be taken prisoners '? lam pleased to say Colonel Cradock's orders carried out by both the Now Zealanders and by the Queensland Bushmen—the Bushmen shooting down four Boers who threw up their hands. The West Ridings sent a docter and five stretcher-bearers to bring in a wounded man, and the six men although flying a large lied Cross flag, were shot down—the seven of them lying in one heap all day. The docter had his hip-bone shattered, and is in a critical state in the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, Pretoria.

The Boers had Cleared. Late in the night our men entrenched, fearing an early morning attack. At 2 a. m. in the morning, they again moved forward to the Boer position, and found that tho Boers had vacated it during the night. Early in the morning Lieutenants Fitzherbert and Banks, with 12 men each, went out and buried our dead, the rest of tho New Zealanders being unable to attend, as they were hot on the track of the Boers. The sad work finished, the squad started to catch up the main body of New Zealanders. It was a silent procession, each man having engraved on his memory a sight he will never forget, wondering, no doubt, when this fearful carnage will end. Meanwhile, the wounded were being conveyed to Bronkhorst Spruit in ox waggons, the jolting of which caused them agony, At Bronkhorst Spruit they were put aboard tho Princess Christian's train, and sent to Pretoria.