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Parade of the
1st Brigade |
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The 1st Battalion sailed from Gibraltar and was in Natal when Sir George
White arrived on 7th October 1899.
The battalion was moved up to Ladysmith, and was present with General
French at the battle of Elandslaagte on 20th October (see
1st Devons). In
that battle the battalion did very well. Their losses were 11 men
killed, and 5 officers and 26 men wounded.
At the battle outside Ladysmith on 30th October (see
1st Liverpools) the
1st Manchester Regiment was in Ian Hamilton's brigade (see
1st Devons), and
had no heavy fighting and few casualties.
Soon after this battle the town was cut off and besieged. The
Manchester Regiment was stationed on Caesar's Camp, and on 11th November
they had fighting practically the whole day. Four men were killed and
2 officers and 15 men wounded.
In repelling the great assault on 6th January (see
1st Devons) the
Manchesters played a very important part. The battalion, under Colonel
Curran, along with the 42nd Battery, some of the Naval Brigade, with a
12-pounder and some Natal Volunteers, formed the garrison of Caesar's Camp.
Sir George White expressed the opinion that the enemy got into position
close to our defences through deceiving the picquets as to their identity;
but precise details could not be got, as nearly all the defenders of the
south-east portion of Caesar's Camp were killed. The enemy got
possession of that portion, but the defenders clung most gallantly to little
sangars and bits of cover here and there. Sundry reinforcements were
sent to Colonel Curran, and ultimately, about 5.30, after fifteen hours'
continuous effort on both sides, the Boers were driven entirely off the
hill. The losses of the Manchesters were very severe: 33 men were
killed, 4 officers and about 37 men wounded. Four officers and 14 men
of the battalion were mentioned in Sir George White's despatch of 23rd March
1900, and Private R Scott and
Private J Pitts were subsequently awarded the
Victoria Cross for "holding out in their sangar for fifteen hours without
food or water, all the time keeping a sharp look-out, although the enemy
occupied some sangars on their immediate left rear", and of course all round
their front. Three officers and 1 non-commissioned officer had already
been mentioned in the despatch of 2nd December 1899 for excellent work prior
to the investment.
The battalion formed part of the force which General Buller led to
Lydenburg (see 1st Liverpool Regiment).
At Bergendal, the battalion being
detached to the right, were directed to intrench themselves on the eastern
crests of the ridge, and under cover of the regiment the artillery were
brought into action against Bergendal. General Buller mentioned that
the fire of the battalion was of great service, preventing reinforcements
from reaching the farmhouse and kopje.
Four officers and 2 non-commissioned officers were mentioned in General
Buller's despatch of 9th November 1900. Nineteen officers and 35
non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' final
despatch, but these included both 1st and 2nd Battalions.
In the second phase of the war the battalion was many times engaged, but
never had very heavy losses. To the close of the campaign they
continued in the Eastern Transvaal, sometimes on garrison duty, at times
doing column work under General F W Kitchener, Colonel Park, and other
commanders.
For gallant conduct and good work, mainly about Lydenburg and Badfontein,
5 officers, 2 non-commissioned officers, and 1 private of the 1st Battalion
were mentioned by Lord Kitchener in his despatches. In the
supplementary or final despatch 9 officers and 10 non-commissioned officers
were mentioned, but these embraced both battalions.
The 2nd Battalion sailed on the Bavarian on 16th March 1900, and arrived
at the Cape on 6th April. Along with the 1st Worcestershire, 1st South
Staffordshire, and 2nd Royal West Kent, they formed the 17th Brigade under
Major General Boyes, and part of the Vl11th Division under Lieutenant
General Sir Leslie Rundle. The work of the division has been briefly
sketched under the 2nd Grenadier Guards. The battalion was not in any
big battle, but did consistently good work.
There follows an extract of the war services of the
2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment. This bears out what is said under the other battalions of the VIIIth
Division as to the work done and the hardships suffered by Rundle's people:—
20th to 24th April 1900. Engaged in operations for the relief of
Wepener; thereafter marched north. May. Operating between
Thabanchu and Senekal. 4tth June. Occupied Ficksburg; held it
till 20th. Frequently shelled.
20th June to 29th July, Holding Hammonia and part
of line, Ficksburg westwards, to keep in Prinsloo's Boers.
29th July to 4th August. Marched to Harrismith,
115 miles in seven days. Thence by Reitz and Vrede
to Standerton. Arrived there on 30th.
"During these four months the division was on very short rations, their
boots and clothing were worn out, many of the men wearing sacks. A
hundred men of the battalion were sent back from Reitz to Harrismith as they
had no boots. At Standerton the men received fresh boots and clothes,
and after that time supplies were more regular".
Marched from Standerton, via Vrede and Bethlehem, to Senekal. Had
fighting there, and near that town some waggons, a gun, and 17 prisoners
taken. On 30th September reached Reitz again. On 14th October
occupied Harrismith. Left on 3rd November as escort to convoy; had
fighting daily,—Lieutenant Woodhouse being killed on the 8th.
And so on with these interminable treks and constant skirmishes,
sometimes developing into quite fierce actions, as at Reitpan on 6th January
1901. At times the battalion got a spell of garrison work, as at
Bethlehem between 30th January and 27th April, during which time no mails
got in.
During May and June 1901 half the battalion went out with a column under
Lieutenant Colonel Reay of the regiment. This column, working in the
Brand water basin, had fighting every day.
During August to November the battalion was always on column work, pursuing
Boers or taking out convoys. The enemy got numerous and daring in
November, and the skirmishes were frequent and fierce. Captain Noble
was killed, and another officer died on the 12th of that month.
From the end of November 1901 till the declaration of peace the battalion
was constructing and occupying blockhouses on the line Harrismith-Van
Reenens and Harrismith-Oliver's Hoek. That they held them well is
proved by the largeness of the captures in the drives to that corner in
February and March 1902.
Over three companies of the battalion were mountedx and did excellent work.
Four officers, I non-commissioned officer, and 1 private of the 2nd
Battalion were mentioned during the war in despatches by Lord Kitchener.
Reference is made to the note under the 1st Battalion regarding mentions in
the final despatches of Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener.
