Our Regiments In South Africa 1899 1902 PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... THE ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN REGIMENT). The 1st Battalion Royal Scots sailed as corps troops, and when Sir William F. Gatacre's division was taken to Natal, the Royal Scots, along with the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, and part of the Berkshire Regiment, were put under his command in the Queenstown district. General Gatacre was never strong enough to do anything effective, and his attempt at Stormberg (see 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers) ended in one of the most severe defeats received by the British during the war. The Royal Scots were not actually engaged that day. Part of the battalion held the detraining-point at Molteno Station, and it has been suggested that they should have been allowed to go out to the assistance of their sorely-pressed comrades in their retreat. It is to the credit of the Royal Scots that they did ask leave to go out.1 At Cyphergat on 3rd January, and subsequently at various times in the Molteno-Dordrecht district, the Royal Scots saw some fighting, and thus got invaluable 1 Major Pollock, 'With Seven Generals in the Boer War, ' Skeffington, 1900, p. 63. Major Pollock gives an admirable account of Stormberg and of all the other work in that district during December 1899 and January following. training for heavier work. After the occupation of Bloemfontein the Illrd Division had another mishap at Reddersburg, when 500 of the Royal Irish Rifles were cut off and surrendered after a stand which cannot be characterised as heroic. The general had then to demit his office, and the division, such as it was, passed to General Chermside. When Wepener was besieged the garrison included the Mounted Infantry company of the Royal Scots, which had been doing good work under General Brabant; and among the...