 |
|
|
|
| 2nd Battalion officers |
|
|
|
The 2nd Battalion was in Cape Colony when the war commenced. Major
Pollock says that when he arrived at Queenstown, about 8th November 1899,
the garrison there was a naval detachment with two 12-pounders and the
"headquarters and four companies of the Royal Berkshire Regiment (which had
been withdrawn from Stormberg) with the mounted infantry company of that
excellent corps". In addition to these were some of the Cape Mounted
Rifles and other local forces. At this time the other companies of the
Berkshires were at Naauwpoort, west of Stormberg.
There was little fighting in Sir William Gatacre's district until he made
his ill-fated attempt on the Boer position at Stormberg upon the night of
9th December 1899. The terms of Lord Roberts' criticism on Sir William
Gatacre's despatch are within the recollection of all interested in the war
(see covering despatch of February 1900). In his criticism on the
action Major Pollock says, p 59, "The Berkshire Regiment, by whom the
redoubts, now occupied by the Boers, at Stormberg had been built, and to
whom every inch of the ground was familiar, were left at Queenstown instead
of being employed to recapture the works which they had so unwillingly
evacuated about a month previously". The folly of the proceeding would
be ludicrous if the result had not been tragic. At Naauwpoort General
French did not leave the battalion in the background. On 1st January
1900 a part of the Boer position at Colesberg was seized. In his
despatch of 2nd February, General French says: "The attack and seizure of
the hill, the position of which he knew well, was intrusted to Major F W N
M'Kracken, Berkshire Regiment ... The attack was
carried out in every detail as ordered. The four companies of the
Berkshire Regiment rushed the hill most gallantly, driving off a strong picquet of the enemy". Henceforth these four companies were to have
plenty of fighting. Daily a half of them were under fire, but always
held their own. At the close of his despatch General French says: "To
Major M'Kracken and the four companies of the Berkshire Regiment serving
with this force is the successful attack on Colesberg on 1st January
principally due. I cannot speak too highly of this officer's coolness,
courage, and intrepidity, or of the gallantry and discipline displayed by
his officers and men in making the night assault which he led so well.
What in my opinion is worthy of even greater praise is the conduct this
gallant regiment displayed in the tenacity with which they have held the
position ever since, and the skill with which they have intrenched
themselves against a constant fire from artillery and musketry".
These companies accompanied General Clements when he moved north,
crossing the Orange River at Norval's Pont about 12th March. Marching
via Fauresmith and Petrusburg, that general arrived at Bloemfontein about
2nd April.
The battalion took part in the operations for the relief of Wepener about
20th-23rd April, but had no serious fighting. During Lord Roberts'
advance towards Pretoria they were chiefly employed guarding the line.
In the beginning of July the battalion joined a newly formed brigade
under Brigadier General Cunningham, consisting of 1st KOSB, 1st Border
Regiment, 2nd Berks, and 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. This
brigade and other troops were put under Ian Hamilton, whom they accompanied
to Bronkhorst Spruit. The force was then sent back to Pretoria, and
thence towards Rustenburg, having a good deal of fighting north-west of
Pretoria. On 2nd August, "on approaching Uitval Nek, Hamilton found it
strongly held by the enemy, whom he engaged in front with a portion of
Cunningham's brigade, while two companies of the Berkshire Regiment
gallantly escaladed the steep cliff overlooking the pass from the east".
Thereupon the enemy fled. The battalion's losses were 3 men killed,
and 2 officers and 30 men wounded. Having returned to Pretoria, the
column again went east, reaching Balmoral about 4th September.
Private William House gained the VC on 2nd August 1900 for going out
under very heavy fire to bring in a wounded sergeant, he himself being
wounded and refusing assistance as the fire was so intense.
Ten officers and 19 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord
Roberts' final despatch.
In December 1900 the battalion formed the garrison of various posts in
the Wonderfontein-Pan district, and had fighting on many occasions.
When Dalmanutha was attacked early in January 1901 part of the Berkshire
Regiment were in the garrison. They lost 1 killed and 4 wounded in repelling
the attack.
The battalion long remained in the Eastern Transvaal, and in 1901 was the
infantry of a column under Brigadier General Spens.
In September 1901 the battalion was back in Cape Colony operating under
General French against Scheepers, and down to the close of the war they held
a stretch of the railway between Beaufort West and De Aar.
During the war 2 officers and 2 non-commissioned officers gained mention by
Lord Kitchener, and in his final despatch 4 officers and 10 non-commissioned
officers and men were mentioned.
