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Two photographs taken from the summit of Talana Hill, the first in 1978 and the second in 1899/1900. Note the Natal Carbineers slouch hat the figure on the left is wearing, with its distinctive badge and colonial-pattern white puggaree. Presumably this was looted from the British camp in Dundee after Yule's retreat to Ladysmith.
The earlier photograph was taken from a position to the east of my 1978 view.







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The Penn Symons cairn, showing just how exposed he and his troops became once they left the cover of the woodland. Photographed in 1981.







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The Penn Symons monument, photographed shortly after its completion.

This shows that by 1981 (see last post) it had been completely rebuilt with a replacement plaque, presumably as a result of vandalism. David's photographs earlier in this thread indicate that it has had to be rebuilt yet again since my 1981 visit.




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Boer remains being removed from Talana Hill for reinterment in 1929.


.Courtesy of Talana Museum



.Courtesy of Talana Museum



.Courtesy of Talana Museum


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From "Excelsior Stereoscopic Tours" a rather uncommon view of Penn Symons' grave a few months after his internment.

Penn Symons, a career soldier nicknamed “Fire Eater,” was promoted to the rank of Lt. General two days before the war started. Acting COG of the British forces in Natal, Symons had deployed a Brigade in Dundee, north of the Tugela, in an area that forms a triangle with the Transvaal (to the east) and the Free State (to the west). As General Hart would find out less than 2 months later at Colenso, such deployment is a usually a recipe for disaster.

The battle of Talana Hill (just NE of Dundee) started on the morning of October 20, with the Boers shelling Dundee from the hill. Symons was annoyed that the Boers had the impudence to do that “before breakfast” and from that remark alone we get a good insight into the personality of the man. Handicapped by ingrained Victorian battle tactics and too much British Pluck, it was only a matter of a few hours before Symons did eat fire in the form of a bullet through the stomach. He was transported to Dundee Hospital.

The British carried the battle and managed to take the hill, but this proved futile as Symons’ successor (Yule) correctly deemed the British position at Dundee untenable and decided (incorrectly) a day later to concentrate his troops at Ladysmith. Symons stayed behind and became a POW. He died on October 23, 1899 apparently imploring the British Doctor who had treated him to “tell everyone I died facing the enemy”. The only grounds I know for such statement is that the statue they erect in your hometown afterwards may have the horse’s two front legs in the air.

The reason for dedicating time to Symons’ demise is a letter Lord Roberts wrote on the 22nd of October 1899 to the soon to be widow. Interestingly, in the letter Roberts makes mention of his son Freddy “Who had so much been looking forward to serve on [Symons]’ staff” The irony is that Lord Roberts’ son Freddy died only a few weeks later exactly for the same reason as Symons.