THE HIGHLANDERS AT TEL-EL KEBIR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1051, 6 January 1883, Page 3

THE HIGHLANDERS AT TEL-EL KEBIR.

A letter from a non-commissioned officer of the 42nd Highlanders, published in the Edinburgh Dai’y Review, contains a graphic account, of the Highland Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir. The writer, after describing the gradual advance of the Brigade under the enemy’s fire, says‘ The men charged by no word of command, for none could be heard. The 42nd charged over the other 50 yards like tigers, sprang into the trench’s while the bullets were whirring, whizzing, and pinging like as many bees when they are casting. Had it not been that we ran forward 50 yards when first wa were sighted, not twenty of us would have been left alive. 2fot a man flinched at the charge. Tbo pipes struck up, while all tho time, as far as we could see to the front, right, and !e r t, was a sheet of flame from the enemy’ rifles and canuon. Altogether in the charge, the 42nd lost about six killed and 20 wounded, while there was nob a man but was cut will shrap' nel shell or canister. The trench was a deep ditch apout 6ft wide and Bft deep, and all the earth thrown to the inward side, making a wall of about 14ffc of earth to get up. Soon we were in the bottom, which we managed by

drivii-g our b-.y'U t■* ini o the roil, un i cli■ ■ b;ng up against. « terrific storm of huil-ts, the din bring terrific. Over a doz n of our men fell in the attempt, but at last we sot a footing on the top. Then we leapt clown into the fort, and I fired the fleet for we took the trenches at t' : >e point of the beyon t. Ii was at an officer who was leading on his men at us that I shot, and I killed him. Then the six of us charged along the trench, which was swarming with them, Lord Kennedy splitting them at a terrific pace. Our sudden onslaught cleared about 20 yards, which allowed our men more freedom to get over. Then up th«y came in swarms, wheeling part to the right and part to the left, bayoneting or shooting every man. We had by this time got reinforcements, and charged on at a six gun battery which was now mowing down the 74th Highlanders. We took it, and bayoneted over 100 men, who defended themselves well. There were only 25 of us (here, and three minutes did it all.”