About 18th December 1899 recruiting for this corps was opened at Cape
Town; and before Lord Roberts commenced his advance from Bloemfontein to
Pretoria the first regiment was organised, its work being to
assist in protecting the railways and to repair bridges, culverts, and lines
when broken. Without outside assistance the corps of Royal Engineers
could not have faced the enormous amount of work naturally falling to their
department. From the Railway Pioneer Regiment they received very
valuable help. On the other hand, the Railway Pioneers were leavened
by officers and non - commissioned officers of the Royal Engineers, who are
always so efficient that they can infect all those who serve with them with
esprit de corps in a marvellously short space of time. Of such value
was the work of the Railway Pioneer Regiment that before the close of the
war a fourth battalion had been organised. The battalions were
employed chiefly on the Cape-Pretoria railway, but they were also on the
Krugersdorp line, and sometimes operated as a fighting force a considerable
distance from railways. The regiment also did admirable service on the
armoured trains which did so much to make railway traffic possible during
the guerilla stages.
In his evidence before the War Commission, vol i p 445, Lord Roberts said:
"An enormous amount of reconstruction was carried out by the Railway Pioneer
Regiment and the Railway Companies Royal Engineers. The Pioneer
Regiment consisted almost entirely of civilian refugees, mostly mechanics
from Johannesburg, and it rendered excellent service. To its aid and
that of the Royal Engineer officers and men we were indebted for the fact
that the railways very seldom lost touch with the fighting portion of the
army, and that we were able to seize Johannesburg and Pretoria, distant
about 1000 miles from our base upon the coast, and 260 miles from
Bloemfontein, our advanced depot, with such rapidity that the enemy were
unable to concentrate their resources and offer a strongly organised
resistance".
When the 4th Derbyshire Regiment was attacked at Roodewal, Kroonstad
district, on 7th June 1900, a detachment about 70 strong of the Railway
Pioneer Regiment was present and in the fighting, which ended in the capture
of the post. They lost Captain Gale and 4 men killed and about 16
wounded.
In the published despatches there is one from Major General Charles E Knox
to Lieutenant General Kelly-Kenny forwarding a report by Lieutenant Colonel
Capper, RE, commanding Railway Pioneers at Virginia, Kroonstad district,
Orange River Colony, as to an attack delivered by the commandos of Muller
and Boerman at daybreak on 14th June 1900. The enemy was "said to be
about 800 strong, with one or two pom-poms, a maxim, and, I think, one
field-gun, but this is uncertain. We had to hold rather an extended
position, our left being in trenches on very broken ground and in thick
scrub which there was no time to clear. The enemy got into this scrub
and gave some trouble by sniping. The garrison consisted of four
companies 3rd Battalion Royal Lancasters under Colonel North, about 250 fit
for duty, and four companies Railway Pioneer Regiment under Major Seymour,
about 300 fit for duty, together with 25 men Royal Irish (Rifles) Mounted
Infantry under Lieutenant Davenport, 16 fit for duty. The attack was
most pressed on our left, and was held most steadily by No 3 company Railway
Pioneer Regiment, under Lieutenant Mitchell of that regiment: fighting was
continued on all sides until about 11 am, when it quieted down, and the
enemy had practically retired by the time a body of 170 Yeomanry, under
Lieutenant Crane, arrived from the south at about noon ... The troops
behaved very well and steadily. The Railway Pioneer Regiment in the
advanced trenches, on the left especially, were most cool and collected,
engaging the enemy at very close quarters. They were for part of the
morning surrounded by the enemy in the scrub, but never lost their heads,
and the enemy were ultimately driven out of the scrub by the advance through
it of a line of reserve Railway Pioneer Regiment aided by half a company of
militia". The losses of the regiment were Major Seymour and Lieutenant
Clements and 5 non-commissioned officers and men killed; Lieutenant Mitchell
and 2 non - commissioned officers and men wounded. Colonel Capper
added that he could not "speak too highly of Lieutenant Mitchell, a young
officer who was wounded in both thighs about 6 am in going from one trench
to another to encourage the men, and remaining throughout the day in the
most exposed trench, keeping his men, 22 in number, scattered in several
small trenches, calm, ordering them not to waste ammunition, etc. I
attribute to his example, and the very steady conduct of the men of his
company in the advanced trenches, who suffered severely—one holding three
men had one killed, and one holding five men had two killed,—the fact that
our losses were so comparatively small. I especially deplore the loss
of Major Seymour, whose loss will not only be felt by us as a regiment but
by the whole of South Africa. He was killed while advancing with the
extended line through the bush to clear out the snipers". Six dead
Boers were found, four of them within 40 yards of Mitchell's trenches.
The regiment continued to do most excellent work, chiefly on the lines of
communication between Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and their posts had
constantly to be on the alert. In his telegram of 26th November 1900
Lord Roberts said: "Barton reports that Brakpan was attacked at 3 am on the
24th, and was defended against a fierce attack by 7 of the Railway Pioneer
Regiment and 10 mounted infantry. Our men behaved splendidly, and
drove off the enemy, who left 3 dead. A Transvaal flag was captured".
On 27th March 1901 the 1st Battalion had 1 man killed and Captain
Mitchell, mentioned above, severely wounded near Boksburg.
In a telegraphic despatch of 21st November 1901 Lord Kitchener stated
that Commandant Buys had been captured, after attacking a patrol of about
100 of the Railway Pioneer Regiment on the Vaal near Villiersdorp; and in
the telegram of 23rd November he stated: "Further report of Major Fisher's
engagement near Villiersdorp, 20th November, shows that during the night of
19th patrols sent from his post at Rietfontein, slightly in advance of South
African Constabulary, on Kalkspruit, to seize ridge overlooking Landsdrift,
found enemy in possession. At dawn Major Fisher moved forward towards
ridge, and was attacked both from north and south, but gradually took up a
position giving good cover to his small force. At 9 am his horses near
south end of position stampeded, and in confusion enemy effected a lodgment.
Major Fisher and Captain Langmore were both dangerously wounded, and the
small parties taken in detail by the enemy, about 300 strong, were all
forced to surrender by 10 am Colonel Rimington's column came up about 11 am,
but enemy, except small rearguard, had gone off, releasing prisoners.
Rimington's men captured Commandant Buys, who was wounded". The
casualties of the Railway Pioneer Regiment were about 6 killed and 6
wounded. Captain A B Inglis was returned as severely wounded in
addition to the officers named above. The regiment continued its good
work, chiefly on the railways, down to the close of the war. Captain H
C Thorold (Leicester Regiment, attached) was killed at Rietfontein on 18th
February 1902.
The Mentions gained were as follows:—
LIEUTENANT GENERAL KELLY-KENNY's DESPATCH.—Lieutenant Mitchell deserves
special recognition. Previous to the attack on post, during the
action, and since, Lieutenant Colonel Capper has been untiring in his
duties.
LORD ROBERTS' DESPATCHES; 2nd April 1901.—Majors Q H Goodwin, awarded CMG,
N Wilson,
Captain W E C Mitchell,
Quartermaster Sergeant W Cartledge, Company Sergeant Major S Beaton,
Sergeant (now Captain) C E Marchant, Corporals T M'Meekan, G M Smythe,
Privates S Stafford, W Tire.
9th September 1901.—Corporals W J Thomas, R Mackie, S Richards, J R Shipley,
J W Roach, Lance Corporal C Goulding, Privates J Holmes, W Doons, G Kramert.
LORD KITCHENER'S DESPATCHES: 8th March 1901.—Lieutenant Evans.
8th July 1901.—Sergeant J A Anderson with 3 men, on railway patrol,
surprised 50 Boers at Doornkop, killed 2, wounded several, and took 5
horses. Sergeant Grainger, with 5 men, kept off a strong party of
Boers all night. Sergeant Major M C Jameson, surprised by enemy,
behaved with great steadiness, and extricated his patrol; mentioned in AO
Corporal J R Shipley, in command of 7 men, was heavily attacked by enemy,
repulsed them, and, though severely wounded, remained in charge.
8th August 1901.—Captain A W Stockett, 1st Battalion, for continuous good
work in command of armoured train, and before that of corps of cyclists, and
especially at Baatman's Siding, when he was largely instrumental in capture
of De Wet's convoy.
8th March 1902.—1st Batallion.—Private Creak, promoted corporal;
distinguished conduct defence of post at Brakpan, 5th February 1902, when 5
men repulsed 49 Boers. 3rd Battalion —Lieutenant W D Oswald, for
rescue of native scout, January 31, enemy being close to him and pursuing
for some miles. Corporal E C Baker, promoted Sergeant, Privates
Murphy, J M'Arthy, J M'Knight, on 30th January, formed a lying-out post
between two blockhouses in Vereeniging attacked by 50 Boers, 2 wounded,
refused to surrender, and eventually drove enemy off. 4th Battalion
—Private W Lowes, at Schoeman's Drift, December 30, returned under close
fire to rescue a wounded comrade. Army promotion: To be Honorary
Captain, Quartermaster and Honourable Lieutenant G Taylor, RE, Adjutant
Railway Pioneer Regiment.
23rd June 1902.—Captains W Roe, A E Page, Lieutenant J C Rouse, Regimental
Sergeant Major Reid, RE; Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant D R Stuart,
Sergeant E P Simmons, H A Lawrence, Sergeant G Salter, RE; Private H A
Lawrence.
