THE DRAKENSLAAGTE BATTLE.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 39, 24 December 1901, Page 3

THE DRAKENSLAAGTE BATTLE.

COLONEL BENSON KILLED. 260 British Killed and Wounded.

Writing from Johannesburg General Hospital, under date of November 11th, Trooper Umbers of the Scottish Horse (erstwhile of Dunedin) supplies the following particulars of the memorable engagement at Drakenslaagte ■

“On the 30th October we moved ofF at 6 a.m., the Boers firing on the rearguard through the march, but our artillery kept them at their distance. About midday, just as the convoy was forming camp at Drakenslaagte near Bethel, we galloped out for a couple of miles and took up a position on a ridge., and engaged the Boers, who were now pouring in a hot fire. The first man to go down was our sergeant, who was just beside me, and I believe he died immediately after. Poor fellow* ! We soon returned to our horses and retired, leaving two or three dead on the ridge, and galloped a mile or two towards the camp. We then dismounted and took up a position beside the guns, and then the battle began in earnest, the Dutchmen, who outnumbered us over and over again, poured in a terrific fire. You could not imagine what a terrible fire it was. In a few minutes every man at the guns w*as down, and I was hit in two places simultaneously. The Dutchmen tried to rush our position several times, but they were driven off; but they, however, came round the flanks and poured in a terrific cross fire. By four o’clock the Boers had swept on to us, hardly any of our men being able to offer any resistance. At dusk our ambulances came out, and the enemy got two guns away under cover of them. Our loss was about 260 killed and wounded, of w*hich about 80 were of the Scottish Horse. Colonel Benson was killed, as well as our commanding officer (Major Murray) the Adjutant and seveial other officers. The Dutch forces had concentrated to smash up our «olumn, Grobleaar, Botha, Yilfoen, Preckard, and other leaders with their commandos being prseent. It is reported they lost 400 killed and wounded. Our guns were re-captured next day by General Kitchener’s col-