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Building defences
at Ladysmith |
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In October 1899 the NNV’s numbered 123
all ranks and were commanded by Commander G. Tatum. The unit manned two
Hotchkiss machine guns and one rifled muzzle-loading 9 pounder in Ladysmith,
in Estcourt they had 15 men and one gun and in Colenso 30 men and two guns.
On 2nd
October the Natal Carbineers were ordered to patrol the Free State Border
and observe the passes, and within the next few days the cyclists of the
Durban Light Infantry were patrolling from Colenso to Springfield, covering
80 miles on bad roads in twelve hours. Along with the Natal Naval
Volunteers the Durban Regiment was employed in building forts near Colenso.
The Umvoti Mounted Rifles were watching the drifts lower down the Tugela, -
an invaluable service, which they performed for many months; other bodies
were on outpost duty.
A detachment
of the Natal Naval Volunteers, with a 3-pounder Hotchkiss, were part of the
garrison on Caesar's Camp, and took part in the struggle. On Wagon Hill the
Hotchkiss gun, manned by Volunteers under Captain Walker, was very heavily
attacked. Case shot was used with some effect, but the gun detachment,
having lost 2 killed, were driven back. Captain Walker succeeded in
dismantling the breech before leaving.
At the close
of his despatch regarding the siege, Sir George White said: "The Natal
Volunteers have performed invaluable service; their knowledge of the country
has been of the very greatest use to me, and in every action in which they
have been engaged they have shown themselves most forward and daring. The
Natal Naval Volunteers have proved themselves worthy comrades of the land
forces of the colony."
As in the
case of the Imperial Light Horse, one portion of the Natal Volunteers took
part in the relief of Ladysmith, while another portion was shut up in the
town. As soon as the enemy had closed in on Ladysmith, they turned their
attention to the force at Colenso: Dublin Fusiliers, Durban Light Infantry
some Natal Naval Volunteers, and the Natal Field Battery. On 3rd
November Colonel Cooper, who commanded this force, found it necessary to
retire to Estcourt.
Captain
Jones’ report to Rear-Admiral Harris, of 2nd March 1900:
Lieutenant N. W. Chiazzari, Natal
Naval Vols., has been most useful, especially in getting into working order
and working the punts across the river, both at Potgieter's and Colenso, by
which all the troops crossed.
Sir R.
Buller's despatch of 30th March 1900 as to relief operations:
Lieutenant N. Chiazzari, Natal Naval Vols., was in charge of a detachment
who were associated with the Naval Brigade, and took their full share of the
good work done by the brigade.
