THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 399, 25 April 1902, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

THEIR MAGNIFICENT BRAVERY,

WELL MERITED PRAISE

(Auckland Special.) Auckland, last night. Such is tho complimentary heading ac. corded by the Cape Town Times—the leading paper in South Africa—to tho heroic stand made by the New Zealanders under the command of Colonel Porter at Botkasberg on the night of the 23rd February last. The commando was 800 strong, and included De Wet, Steyn and other important Boers. Shortly after midnight the attack was made on outposts occupied by the left wing of the Seventh New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Each post was occupied by six New Zealanders at a distance of 60 to 80 yards apart, the Now Zealanders numbering altogether 92. Graphic accounts are furnished by troopers who took an active part in tho engagement —“ That awful night-,’’ writes one, “ Will bo long remembered.” The outposts were fired upon from tho front, right and rear. For over two hours and a half a blazing fire was kept up. At daylight the hill on which the fight took place was a shocking sight. Tho place was strewn with dead. In almost every direction were dead, wounded, and pools of blood. The hundreds of empty

cartridges that everywhere met the oyo told their own tale and proved eloquently what a gallant stand had been made. Briton and Boer—rider and steed —“in one red burial blent.” Of the 92 New Zealanders on that outpost duty 23 wore killed and 45 wounded. The Boer loss was very heavy—ls dead and 41 wero lying on tho ground in the morning. Their casualties, however, were much greater, as no bodies were found at tho first posts attacked, although many wero seen to fall there. The next day many of the enemy’s wounded were found, and altogether “ the drive ” resulted iu tho capture of 600 Boors, 12,000 head of cattle, hundreds of horses, and many waggons and carts. The sad ceremony of interring the dead New Zealandors took place on the afternoon of the 24th. The mon of tho regiment off duty gathered round the graves of their comrades who had fallen, and with eyes swelling with manly tears, listened to the solemn words of the burial service, read by our own Colonel. It was a sad gathering, but tho Colonel made a few touching remarks, and told us we should not grieve for our fallen comrades, for they had met their death as soldiers Bhould meet it—like men.

On the 28th of February Lord Kitchener had a special parade of the soventh regiment. Ho congratulated Colonol Porter upon tho gallant stand his men had made, and in addressing tho regiment he expressed his sympathy for the relatives of those who had so nobly and heroically died at their posts ; none could have discharged more gallantly the duty that devolved upon them than the bravo men whose death they all lamented. Tho New Zealanders, said Lord Kitchener, had borne the brunt of the drive, the honor and the success were duo to them, they were an honor to the peoplo and the country they represented. The heroic stand made by tho New Zealanders against au overwhelming foe should ever remain in the annals of tho war as an enduring example to the whole of the army in South Africa. At the earliest opportunity Colonel Porter visited the wounded men in the hospital, 40 in number. The total casualties for February were 26 killed and 41 wounded.

Excellent work has been done by tho Seventh duriDg tho campaign. In the early part of February an important capture of guns was made. The hardships of the campaign have beon considerable scant rations and scarce clothing. For the last fortnight in February neither officers nor men bad the opportunity of undressing. During the whole of that period the condition of things in- the field rendered it imperative that every man should be in a state of preparedness. It is gratifying, however, to learn that with the exception of a temporary cessation from active duty in the early part of the campaign—owing to his horse having fallen with him—Colonel Porter has not had a day’s illness sines he left Poverty Bay. At the latest advices from Harrismith the regiment was taking in supplies preparatory to immediately resuming the pursuit of the enemy. Among those who bade farewell to the Seventh Contingent, owing to the period for which they had. engaged being about to expire, wero Captain C. Simeon and Sergeant Arthur To Wawata Gannon. Each had seen a great deal of service and retired, having, in the opinion of those with and under whom they had served, fairly won their spurs. Captain Simson hailed from Wellington, and left the colony as a member of tho Fifth Contingent. At the expiration of his term of service with tho Fifth, he joined the Seventh Contingent. He was not long in the field before he acquired a reputation for courage, coolness, caution, and dash. With the Fifth and Seventh Contingents he obtained a keen insight into guerilla warfare. He so gained the confidence of his commanding officers and the men with whom he served that it soon became a foregone conclusion that if what was generally known in the ranks as a ticklish job in the way of reconnoitring or defending a suspicious looking kopje, had to be undertaken, Captain Simson was not to be out of it. His conspicuous gallantry in the field came under the notico of Lord Kitchener, who on more than one occasion Specially iqentioned him in despatches. The cable men of the New Zealand papers were responsible for invariably referring to him as Captain “ Simpson,” although there was no officer in the Seventh of that name. As a memento of the campaign Captain Simson, according to latest advices, was sojourning in a hospital at Heidelburg with his arm in a sling and minus the index finger on his right hand. It is hoped and believed that before this appears in print, he will be sufficiently convalescent to assume an important position already allotted to him in the South African Constabulary. Sergeant Gannon, it may be remembered was one of the Fourth Contingent, which left Gisborne about two years ago. The fourth were dumped down at Beira, a fever-stricken and most northern part of South Africa visited by any of the Contingents. The military idea at that period was to intercept the Boers in the event of their trekking northward. The Fourth Contingent had a severe time making their way southwards through Rhodesia, and afterwards had some severe fighting in the Western Transvaal. Those of the Fourth who joined the Seventh had similar experience in the Eastern Transvaal. Sergeant Gannon was offered the position of Sergt.-Major in the Seventh' had he decided to remain on. A commission could not oe nted ; a 3 the that time were over-officered. Dtiuiu.u by excellent testimonials from officers capable of judging, Sergeant Gannon resigned the sword for the pen, and now holds a responsible position in the lieputy* Assistant Adjutant-General’s office, South Africa.