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RHA |
R Battery officers |
R Battery NCOs |
Horse guns crossing
a river |
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Landing guns
at Durban |
T Battery |
G Battery NCOs |
O & R Battery
Signallers |
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T Battery on
parade |
Officers of
O Battery |
U Battery |
Q & U Battery
cyclists |
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Q & U Battery |
T, E & J
Battery Officers |
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Battery: A G
J M O
P Q R
T U
A Battery.—Arrived in Natal from India in time to assist at Vaal Krantz,
5th to 7th February 1900, and in the final operations for the relief of
Ladysmith. Accompanied General Buller in his northern advance, and
their "excellent services" on the way to Laing's Nek, at Alleman's Nek,
Bergendal, and other actions in the northern advance, were acknowledged by
General Buller in his despatches. In the Paardeplatz-Lyden-burg
district A Battery was constantly fighting and had many losses. Three
officers and 6 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in General
Buller's final despatch of 9th November 1900. The battery was present
in Pretoria at the ceremony of the annexation on 25th October 1900, and
shortly afterwards left South Africa for England.
G Battery.—Joined Lord Methuen before Magersfontein was fought, 11th
December 1899 (see 2nd Black Watch). Lord Methuen said in his
despatch, para 33, "G Battery RHA fired hard till dark, expending
nearly 200 rounds per gun". The number actually fired was 1250 for the
six guns, being the largest expenditure on record (see the evidence of Major
General G H Marshall before the War Commission, p 361). Major Bannatyne-Allason was mentioned by Lord Methuen. Unofficial accounts
very highly praised the handling of the battery. They had 2 officers
and 3 men wounded. The battery took part in the rush to Kimberley.
G and P were the two batteries which accompanied Broadwood in the hurried
ride from Kimberley on 17th February 1900, and had the honour of heading
Cronje at Koodoesrand Drift, one of the most successful and striking
incidents in the campaign. They took part in all the subsequent
fighting on the way to Bloemfontein, and afterwards on the way to Pretoria
and at Diamond Hill. Two guns of G were with General Alderson's column
in the Eastern Transvaal in January and February 1901. The battery was
brought to Cape Colony in February 1901 to pursue De Wet (Lord Kitchener's
despatch of 8th March 1901). Afterwards four guns were with Colonel
Bethune in the Orange River Colony (despatch of 8th July).
J Battery. — Arrived in Cape Colony in February 1900.
Operated with General Clements and accompanied him to Bloemfontein.
Took part in the advance to Pretoria—generally with Gordon's brigade in the
centre—and in the eastern movement to Belfast. Present at the ceremony
of proclaiming the annexation, 25th October 1900. Was with Clements in
the Megaliesberg in the latter part of December 1900, and under General
French when he cleared that district after the disaster at Nooitgedacht.
The battery formed part of General Alderson's column in French's sweep
through the Eastern Transvaal, January, February, and March 1901. Were
afterwards with Colonel Bullock (Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th July), and
when General Spens took over the column the battery remained and operated in
July and August in the Orange River Colony, in September about Vryheid,
then back to the Orange River Colony, and afterwards in the Transvaal (see
Lieutenant Moeller's 'Two Years at the Front').
M Battery.—Arrived at the Cape about 20th March 1900. Formed part
of Colonel Mahon's force for the relief of Mafeking. Specially
mentioned twice in Colonel Mahon's report of 23rd May 1900.
Accompanied him to Pretoria, and afterwards went with him and Ian Hamilton
to Rustenburg in August, and then east to Barberton in September 1900, and
to Heidelberg in October 1900. Had heavy fighting, and did splendid
work on the march to Barberton and again on the way to Heidelberg (see
6th
Dragoon Guards). Was despatched to the south of the Orange River
Colony at end of November 1900 for pursuit of De Wet. Two guns were
along with Lovat's Scouts in Cape Colony (Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th
July 1901). Two guns were with Henniker, afterwards with Doran in Cape
Colony (despatch of 8th July 1901).
O Battery.—Was with General French in the Colesberg district, and there
had constant fighting. Was praised by him in despatches. Took
part in the expedition to Koodosberg Drift in beginning of February 1900;
thereafter in the rush to Kimberley, and in the subsequent advances to
Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Praised by Mr Goldman for work on 28th May
1900 south-west of Johannesburg (see 'With General French and the Cavalry',
p 251). On the left at Diamond Hill, where they had a prominent
part in heavy fighting. A section was with a squadron of the Scots
Greys and the Lincolns in the disaster at Nitral's or Uitval Nek, 11th July
1900 (see 2nd Lincolns). The guns were lost. Accompanied French
in eastern advance, and was attached to the 4th Cavalry Brigade in the march
to Barberton and afterwards to Heidelberg. Four guns were with Allenby
in 1901 in the great sweep to the Swazi border and other operations, and two
guns were with a column under Major Pine-Coffin which did much useful
service in the Orange River Colony (despatch of 8th July 1901). Two
officers were mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches.
P Battery.—Was on the lines of communication for a time, then took part
in the rush to Kimberley and General French's other work up to the
occupation of Pretoria. G and P accompanied Broadwood in the ride from
Kimberley to Koodoesrand Drift, and the first shell which fell among the
waggons in the drift and spread consternation through Cronje's commandos was
fired by P Battery. Was with Clements in the action at Nooitgedacht,
13th December 1900, helping greatly to retrieve disaster, and getting away
their guns with difficulty. Was afterwards with Cunningham and French
driving the enemy out of that district. Two guns were with Rawlinson
in Western Transvaal, and two guns with Colonel Hickie, also in the Western
Transvaal (despatch of 8th July 1901). One officer and 4
non-commissioned officers were mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8th
March 1901, presumably for good work at Nooitgedacht, but the cause is not
given.
Q Battery.—Was with General French in the rush to Kimberley and the
fighting on the way to Bloemfontein (see Household Cavalry). They
accompanied Broadwood to Thabanchu and lost two guns at Sannah's Post
through no fault of their own. The battery behaved admirably, and
their conduct was praised by Brigadier General Broadwood in his report on
the action. Major Phipps-Hornby,
Sergeant Parker,
Gunner Lodge, and
Driver Glasock were each awarded the VC for acts of magnificent heroism in
saving the guns. Lieutenant F A Maxwell of the Indian Staff Corps,
attached to Roberts’ Horse, was also awarded the VC for assisting on this
occasion. The battery accompanied Broadwood and Ian Hamilton in the
advance to Pretoria (see Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry). At
Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June 1900 (see 1st Sussex), the battery was
heavily engaged and again got rather too close to the enemy's position, and
was only saved by Broadwood ordering a charge of the Household Cavalry and
12th Lancers. The battery accompanied Broadwood in the first movements
for surrounding Prinsloo in the Orange River Colony, and in the pursuit of
De Wet to the Pteitzburg Hills, and after he had crossed the Vaal to the
Megaliesberg. Then went to the relief of Hore. Remained about
Rustenburg till end of 1900.
Two guns were with Gilbert Hamilton in 1901 and four guns with General E
C Knox in the great sweep to the Swazi border. One officer was
mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches. The battery sailed for home
in December 1901.
R Battery.—Was with General French in the Colesberg district.
Thereafter was taken to Modder River. Accompanied the expedition to
Koodosberg Drift in the beginning of February; was with General French in
the rush to Kimberley and the subsequent advances to Bloemfontein and
Pretoria, and assisted Sir Archibald Hunter in the operations for
surrounding Prinsloo. In the beginning of 1901 operated with De Lisle
in Cape Colony and afterwards in the Orange River Colony. One man was
mentioned by Lord Kitchener in despatches for gallantry at Leeuwkop on 24th
March 1902.
T Battery.—Went with General French to Kimberley, Bloemfontein, and
Pretoria. Was heavily engaged at Diamond Hill. Took part in the
eastern advance. Accompanied the 1st Cavalry Brigade to Barberton in
September 1900, and to Heidelberg in October. Was in Colonel Pulteney's
column during General French's sweep through Eastern Transvaal in the first
quarter of 1901 (see account in 'Household Brigade Magazine' of 1901, p 451.) Subsequently did much work in the Transvaal under
General Barton, Colonel Hackett Thompson, and other column commanders.
U Battery.—Went with General French to Kimberley and Bloemfontein.
Practically the whole personnel and five guns were taken by the enemy at Sannah's Post, 31st March 1900 (see
Household Cavalry). Took part in
the initial stages of the operations for surrounding Prinsloo, July 1900,
thereafter in the pursuit of De Wet. Towards the close of 1900 the
battery was doing fine work in the north of Orange River Colony under
General E C Knox and Colonel Le Gallais. In the action on 27th October
two guns and some waggons were captured from De Wet, one of these guns being
one which the battery had lost at Sannah's Post. On 5th November 1900
near Bothaville (see Oxford Light Infantry), one of those which Q Battery
had lost at Sannah's Post, one which the 14th RFA had lost at Colenso, four
Krupps, a pom-pom, a maxim, and many waggons of ammunition, were taken.
In his telegram of 8th November Lord Roberts said: "The fighting must at one
time have been at close quarters. U Battery RHA, under Major P B
Taylor, was in action at a range of 400 yards". One man of the battery
was killed, and 1 officer and 7 men wounded. Major Taylor was senior
officer unwounded at the close of the day, and his official report on this
most brilliant action is printed in 'The Oxfordshire Light Infantry in South
Africa': Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1901. The battery was still to
suffer another mishap. In his despatch of 8th October 1901 Lord
Kitchener says: "On 19th September a small force, consisting of 160 mounted
men and two guns of U Battery RHA, which had been detached without any
authority or sufficiently important object by the officer commanding at the
Bloemfontein Waterworks, was surrounded and captured at Vlakfontein,
eighteen miles southwest of Sannah's Post", the scene of the great disaster.
One officer and 4 non-commissioned officers and men of the battery were
mentioned by Lord Kitchener for very gallant work on 19th September.
