. South Africa and the Transvaal War. enemy, their route having taken them past a Boer trench fromwhich the concealed foe promptly assailed them, and they foundthemselves literally battered by volleys in front, flank, and rear. The Guards Brigade meanwhile were taking a heavy share ofthe work. They occupied the centre and right, moving due northover a level plain which was shelled by the Boers from the extreme right rested on the river, where the Yorkshire LightInfantry, under a tremendous fire, held the drift. These clungtenaciously to their position throughout the day, even after
. South Africa and the Transvaal War. enemy, their route having taken them past a Boer trench fromwhich the concealed foe promptly assailed them, and they foundthemselves literally battered by volleys in front, flank, and rear. The Guards Brigade meanwhile were taking a heavy share ofthe work. They occupied the centre and right, moving due northover a level plain which was shelled by the Boers from the extreme right rested on the river, where the Yorkshire LightInfantry, under a tremendous fire, held the drift. These clungtenaciously to their position throughout the day, even after all theirammunition was exhausted. They fired in all some 7000 rounds,inflicting terrible damage and losing only ten wounded. About two oclock, after the enemy had been reinforced, thefiring, which had temporarily slackened, began again with sterto-rous uproar. The air was thick with projectiles dealing deathand mutilation on every side. Then it was that the real disasterof the day occurred. The portions of the shattered Highland 176. MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW G. WAUCHOPE, Photo by Horsburgh, Edinburgh. The Battle of Majesfontein Brigade, which, in spite of the shock to its numbers, had stuckmanfully to its terrific duty, suddenly became disorganised. As amatter of fact, though it was not at the moment recognised, nearlyall its officers had fallen. A few minutes later and they retired,by whose order none knows. The order was given. No shout-ing of counter-orders could rally them ; and indeed how could it,since the revered familiar voices of their commanders were silent,some of them perhaps never to be heard again! Major Ewart,Brigade-Major of the Highlanders, rode up with an order—almostan entreaty, some say—from the commanding officer to the effectthat all he asked of the Brigade was to hold the position till the officer in this desperate situation could actually find noother to help him to repeat the command to the scattered remnant,and he was thankful for the as
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