Topic: BatzB - Graspan
Graspan
South Africa, 25 November 1899
Times Account, 29 November 1899
The Times, 29 November 1899
THE BATTLE OF GRASPAN.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
ORANGE RIVER, Nov. 27.
The British arms have achieved a brilliant victory.
An armoured train sent out to reconnoitre encountered the Boars at Graspan. A patrol under Lieutenant Lewis was fired on, and Lieutenant Lewis and a private were killed.
The division bivouacked for the night at Swinkspan.
At daybreak they stormed the kopjes at Enslin occupied by the enemy. Two batteries of artillery posted on each side shelled the enemy and made splendid practice. The Doers stuck tenaciously to their positions. The Naval Brigade, however, with the Yorkshire Light Infantry, Northamptons, Northumberlands, and Loyal North Lancashires, stormed the enemy's positions. A withering fire was sent into them, but kopje after kopje was captured.
The Boers made good their retreat. The 9th Lancers attempted to intercept the movement and succeeded in reaching the enemy, but a severe fire was opened upon them from a kopje, and they were forced to retreat.
Remington's Scouts also faced a terribly severe fire when charging the enemy.
The infantry worked magnificently, taking the enemy's positions at the point of the bayonet.
The Naval Brigade suffered severely in storming the last position.
Commander Ethelston was killed, and Captain Prothero was wounded. Nine others were killed.
The Boers were shelled during the final retreat, end must have lost heavily.
Commandant Cronje was with the Boers.
Thirty of the enemy's wounded. have been brought here.
Our casualties were not so severe as at Belmont. The wounded were taken away by the hospital train.
Among the Boer prisoners are Alderman Jeppo and Commandant Rissik, who led a commando.
The enemy's strength is estimated to have been 3,000. They retired in a northerly direction.
(THROUGH LAFFAN'S AGENCY.)
CAPE TOWN, Nov. 27.
The official details of the defence of Kuruman show that the mission station, which was formerly the centre of Dr. Moffat'e long work among the natives of that part of Africa, was the point of resistance to the Boer attack. When the Boer commandant notified the magistrate of his intention to occupy the place, the latter replied that he had orders to defend it, and forthwith collected 20 natives and 30 half-castes, with whose aid he barricaded the mission chapel and there resisted the attack of 500 Boers for sin days and nights, after which the Boers abandoned the attack.
Further Reading:
Graspan, South Africa, November 25, 1899
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Graspan, South Africa, November 25, 1899, Times Account, 29 Nov 1899
