ALLEGED BOLTING OF THE 60th AT MAJUBA.
A writer in London “ Truth ” says : Military men of an enquiring torn of mind will be asking how it was that, at the battle of Majuba Hill the 3rd-60lh came off almost without a scratch—one private wounded and eleven taken prisoners. According to the special correspondents who seem to know rather more .than the military observers about the tight, the 60th, two companies 130 strong all told, were left to guard the plateau from which the main body of the force under poor Sir George Colley climbed to the top of the hill. One of the eye-witnesses of the Press relates how the 60th made a rush for it and managed to escape. This may be so or not; but at any rate, it is a point of some military interest to know how it was the3rd 60thlost their plateau with one man wounded. Itis ridicu'ous to let disasters—defeats is rather the word —happen and pretend everything came off in the best manner that the best troops in the world could make it It ought to be known for the sake of the reputation of Sir George' , Colley, as well as for those brave men who stood their ground so nobly against such tremendous odds, whether this plateau was relied upon in the plan of attack. If it was —and I conclude that it was, as Colley put about half his force in charge of it—it should have been fought for as bravely as Ihc other positions defended by the 68lh, the 92nd, and the Naval Brigade. IE the Srd-GOth really bolted in fright at the sight of the Boers and their murderous repeating rifles, let it come out, and let the anathema of the whole world fall upon them. I can’t believe such a thing, but it is for them to clear themselves, and if they can’t there ought to be no longer a 3rd 60th in the British Army. I am sorry to say it, but if my memory serves me correctly, Ibis is not the first time the conduct of the GOth has been open to suspicion. Extraordinary tales were told of their valour during the A&hantee war.
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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2553, 27 May 1881, Page 3
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368ALLEGED BOLTING OF THE 60th AT MAJUBA. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2553, 27 May 1881, Page 3
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