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The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA: 1888 - 1954) Wednesday 17 April 1901
LORD METHEUN'S OPERATIONS.
No. II.
We have received the following extract from Trooper Charles Mercer, who is now in South Africa with Lord Methuen : —Camped at Paaradeplaats and moved on next morning at 5 o'clock for Hartebeestfontein 12 miles south-east. A little in front of Hartebeestfontein a force of Boers fully 1,500 strong was encountered in a practically impregnable position. We had to descend from a tableland about 500 feet, on to the lower level, and the edge of the high plateau was cut up into a series of rocky spurs, ridges, pinnacles and rocky ravines, through which the column had to thread its way, exposed to a front and enfilading fire from concealed marksman all the way. The struggle was a desperate one and lasted from early morning until midday. The Boers outnumbered our fighting men two to one, and comprised detachments from the commandoes of Liebeberg, Celliers, de Villiers, Vermaas, Potgieter, and Tollie de Beer, and the position is known as Hartebeestfontein Poort. A hot rifle fire at short distance, as close as twenty yards, was kept up by both sides, and the Boers contested every foot of the way. Two of our guns were moved forward and did good service at short rifle range. The Boers had a 7 pounder Creusot gun with which they shelled the column as it advanced. Early in the morning, the 5th Yeomanry attacked the Boer position on the right of the road, drove out the enemy, and held the position. When the Boer position on the left was reached by the 10th Imperial Yeomanry and the Victorians the enemy poured in a hail of bullets from ridge, spur, kopje and gorge, and the task of clearing them out seemed almost a hopeless one. Our fellows showed extraordinary bravery, and stuck to their work, regardless of losses, determined to win the day or die in the attempt. The action commenced at dawn, and at 10 o'clock, very little progress having been made, Lord Methuen ordered up two companies of the Loyal North Lancashire’s who formed part of the convoy guard, under Major Murray. They had to advance over an open space during which time several were hit, but they moved forward grandly as if on parade and got to their positions from which they poured in a deadly fire, which soon began to weaken the enemy's resistance and a little after midday the Boer fire slackened perceptibly and eventually they cleared in all directions. During this action the Lancs. lost severely Lieut Hewett was killed while directing his men, Lieut. Creek was shot dead about one hundred yards from the enemy's position and a colour-sergeant, corporal, and three men were killed, and seven or eight were wounded. The poort or gorge was then occupied while the convoy and the large flocks and herds came through.
The Boer loss could not be ascertained, but eighteen dead bodies were seen, and there is no doubt they must have lost very heavily. The Boers reckoned that it would be impossible for our force to drive them out and they had counted upon a easy victory. A Boer stated that he could scarcely believe that such a small force of British, or in fact any force, could have driven them out, the position having been strongly entrenched. The column was greatly encumbered with the large number of stock, and wagons, but they were all safely got out of the vertable hell's gate without losing any of them. After forcing the position large quantities of grain and stock were captured. One thousand bags of grain were, destroyed and a large quantity of forage. Our casualties were 34 wounded and 15 killed. Among the killed were Lieut. Creek, and Lieut. Hewett, Loyal North Lancashires. Among the wounded were Cpl. Kelly, A.I.R., wounded in the leg severe; Capt. J. Warwick, Div. staff, severely in thigh ; Capt. Wilson, 5th Yeomanry, dangerously in stomach (since dead); Lieut. Mann, A.I.R., severely; Lt. Parkin, A.I.R., severely; Lieutenant Molloy, 10th Yeomanry slight.
The next day (Monday) the column rested, and on Tuesday about noon entered Klersdorp, with 15,000 small stock and nearly 5,000 cattle. The total casualties in the expedition were 16 killed and died of wounds, and 43 wounded.
The wounded men were placed in the local hospital until Thursday morning when they left by train for Rand.
Out of 25 men of the 49th squad of 10th Yeomanry, 14 were hit at Hartebeestfontein.
On Tuesday evening the sad task of burying the dead was performed. The Klerksdorp cemetery, followed by as many of the troops as could be spared, the service being read by Chaplain Lieut-Col. Simms, Chaplain Capt. Boardman, (N S.W.), and Lieut. Goll, I.Y. Four Boers who were brought in were buried at the same time in a burial plot adjoining, Mr Naude and Chaplain Simms officiating.
Lord Methuen and staff remained till the close of the ceremony over the British dead, and were also present at the interment of the Boers.
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The Kadina and Wallaroo Times (SA: 1888 - 1954) Saturday 13 April 1901
LORD METHEUN'S OPERATIONS.
No. I.
We have received the following extract from Trooper Charles Mercer, who is now in South Africa with Lord Methuen. Lord Methuen has just completed one of the most successful expeditious of the war which he has performed in very quick time, after a march of a fortnight, and fighting almost every day.
His column left Taungs on the 2nd February, 1901, and fighting commenced almost immediately. On the 3rd a sharp skirmish took place at Utival's Kop in thick bush, and the troops had to clear the position, which they did in a most gallant manner. The Boers were in front and on the flanks in force. After some sharp fighting the Boers retired, our loss being one South Australian killed and five Bushmen and two South Australians wounded, among the latter being Lieut.
Dempsey. The wounded were sent into Vryburg, and the column moved on. The next day four Boers were captured by some of the advance scouts, and during the night the camp was attacked, but the Boers were beaten off without loss on our side. It is impossible to say what loss the Boers suffered. The next day the enemy's position was searched with pom-pom fire driving them out, leaving behind five wagons with women and children who were subsequently allowed to go. Later in the day another lot of women and children with wagons were captured and sent to Vryburg, for safe keeping. On the 9th the column reached Doornbult, about 25-miles east of Vryburg, from whence provisions were sniped all the afternoon, and two native scouts were wounded.
From thence the column marched south- east and reached Schweizer Reneke on the next day, (10th). The Boers were in possession and had gone to some trouble to establish and make themselves comfortable. The telegraph lines to Lichtenburg and Wolmaransstad had been repaired. A Landdrost and J.P. appointed, and they were pursuing the even tenor of their way quite serenely, until our arrival upset matters somewhat. A small force of ours was sent to work round to the North-east to co-operate with the main column, but unfortunately did not get into the exact position required to hem the Boers in and cut of their retreat. The Boers took up a position on the opposite side of the Hart's river which was flooded, and awaited the attack. Our artillery opened fire and shelled them with considerable effect, their loss being considerable. Among the killed was a nephew of Commandant Tolle de Beer and there was a number wounded also. A mounted force and a gun of ours swam the river, and cleared the position the Boers flying eastwards.
Next day, the 11th, the column marched twenty mile north-east to Makouwapan which was reached without incident.
At midnight the column moved on, south-east to Wolmaransstad thirty miles distant. Our scouts came in contact with a party of Boers on the road before dawn, wounding one Boer and a horse. Commandant de Villiers was on the left of our line of march, but did not oppose us. Before entering the village the Boer forces worked round our left and tried to get in ahead, but our artillery shelled them vigorously and they cleared, after suffering some loss which, however, could not be ascertained. The Boers in the village cleared out smartly, and the notorious Commandant Pearson narrowly escaped being captured. He was in a cart, and one of the horses stuck, and our scouts were getting dangerously close, when the jibbing animal moved on, and the horses being fresh, he got away. A pocket-book belonging to him was picked up in which was written a proclamation purporting to be issued by Lord Roberts offering £50,000 each for the capture of Steyn and Kruger, £30,000 for De Wet, and other rewards for other Boer leaders. The concoction of lies was evidently intended for publication. Four Boers were caught, three of them Griqualand West rebels.
We found that the prisoners held by the Boers at the place had been sent away the night before, accompanied by the valiant and fire-eating officials, and were out of our reach. Among them was Major Paget, of Paget's Horse, and six burghar prisoners condemned to death for assisting the British by the Boer Court recently held there.
The convoy with infantry escort arrived at Wolmaransstad during the afternoon of the 13th.
On the 14th the Boers attacked our outpost with artillery, to which our guns replied. Shelling was kept up till dark with what effect was unknown, but next day as the column moved out eight dead Boers were picked up. Our casualties were two of the Yeomanry wounded, and several horses.

We learned afterwards that the Boer plan was to hem us in Wolmaransstad until General de la Rey's commando arrived, the intention being to capture the whole lot of us, but their courage failed them completely and they cleared away to our front. A lot of stock was captured here and a number of undesirables were brought away.
The column moved out on the 15th, skirmishing going on in our front and on the right and four dead Boers were found in a mealie field, but it is more than probable that many others were killed, as we had not time to look for dead bodies. We reached Uitval about 15 miles N.N.E. that day.
Next day the advance in the same direction was continued, the Boers hanging on to our front and flanks most tenaciously and reached Rietfontein, 15 miles further, and about 25 miles due west of Klerksdorp. Here a party of mounted men and a couple of guns made a wide turning movement to the left to intercept some wagons seen in that direction but they succeeded in getting away. De Villiers' commando hung on to our right and there were other parties in front and even round to the rear. Six of our men were wounded during the day's skirmishing. At 11 p.m., on the 16th, the main column left for Paardeplaats, 20 miles north-east, thus making a detour to get round Hartebeesfontein where it was known the Boers were assembled in force and had with them a lot of their own prisoners. Here we learned that Brakpan about two miles to our left a laager had been established, and the column moved there under cover of a ridge till quite close to the laager. The whole lot consisting of 40 odd prisoners, 40 wagons and carts, 1,500 cattle, 6,000 sheep and goats.

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