HERO OF OMURMAN

Taihape Daily Times, 22 May 1919, Page 8

HERO OF OMURMAN

DEATH OF LEADER OF FAMOUS CAVALRY CHARGE. From Mhow. India, ccmes news of i the death there, on February 7, from heart failure following fever, of Colonel Rowland Hill Martin. C. 8., C.M.G. the leader of the Lancers in the famous charge at Oradurman Col. Martin, wEb was in his 71st year, entered the Army in 1869. and served in the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-85. He took part i" the Nile Campaign in command of the 21st Lancers, who were then on active service for the first time under that designation, having previously been Hussars, and at their head charged against enormous odds 'during the Battle of Oradurman. when 23,000 British and Egyption troops, under the Sirdar. Sir H H. Kitchener, (afterwards Earl Kitchener), utterly routed 50.000 Dervishes. A correspondent thus describes that thrilling incident of the fight:—Col. Martin's orders were .to prevent the broken enemy returning, to Omdurman. five miles away from the field of battle. The 21st Lancers unexpectedly came upon fhe enemy's reserves, 2,000 strong, but whose real strength could not be ascertained owing to the nature of the ground. The cavalry were then in column of troops. They deployed into line for the attack and charged. When they were within 30 yards or The ' enemy they found the latter wht had been ensconced in a nullah, and had been concealed by a depression of the ground, wild with excitement, coming on to attack. The Lancers had uoi a single moment for hesitation. They charged gallantly home the brunt of the business falling on No 2 Squadron who absolutely had to hack their way through enemy 20 deep exposed" as they were to a withering enemy fire. They struggled through, but every man who fell was immediately hacked to pieces by the swords of the fanatic foe. The men of the British cavalry rallied bleeding and blown on the far side of the lanes which they had cut for themselves in .the enemy's ranks and with admirable fortitude they re-formed a s coolly as if they had been on parade. One corporal, who covered with blood and reeling in his saddle, when ordered to fall out shouted waving his bent lance, "Never! Form up. No. 2!V meaning his squad-

ron. Then it was .that young Grenfcll (Lieut. Robert Grenfcll) was missed for the first time. Lieut, de Montmorency, with Corporal 'Swarback, dashed out to effect, if possible, the rescue of his body . They were immediately joined by Captain Kenna. With their

revolver fire the two officers kept the ennvy 40 yards away, and would have

.oetired Lifrui. GrcnfclTs body if the horse upon which it was placed had not shied with its burden. Then, seeing that a second charge would, be futile. Co!. Martin dismounted his

men, and with magazine and carbine fire drove the enemy steadily back into the zone of Anglo-Egyptian infantry fire, the Lancers having accomplished their object by cutting the enemy's line of retirement, though at th cost cf heavy casualities. Beside Lieut. Grenfell, the Lancers lost 19 N.C.O,'s and men killed, and two

officers and 21 KC.O.'s and men wounded. Lieut, de Montmorency and Captain Kenna received the V.C. efor their galalntry and Col. Martin was mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.B. He was also mentioned in despatches and given the C.M.Gi, for his services in the Boer War. when he held a Staff appointment