"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Thursday, 1 August 2002
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, War Diary, 1 August 1900 Topic: BW - NSW - NSWIB
NSWIB
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen
War Diary, 1 August 1900
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen War Diary, 1 August 1900.
This is an extract from the War Diary written by Major David Miller, Adjutant of the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen who arrived in the Mozambique port of Biera and then moved to Rhodesia as part of the journey for deployment in South Africa to see action in the Boer War.
1st August 1900 - Wednesday
Column marched out of Mafeking at 9 a.m. arrived at Otter's Hoop at 7.30 p.m. distance 18 mile. Transport ASC mule wagons, buck wagons, scotch carts, ambulance wagons and water carts.
Each wagon drawn by 10 mules Each cart drawn by 6 mules. Each span driven by two men - one conductor to each 12 vehicles.
Departed Mafeking and arrived at Ottoshoop that evening.
The Battle of Grootvallier, South Africa, 1 August 1901, Outline Topic: BatzB - Grootvallier
The Battle of Grootvallier
South Africa, 1 August 1901
Outline
Location of Grootvlei (Red "A") on Google Earth.
Grootvallier (also known as Grootvlei), an action during the Second South African War, fought on 1 August 1901 near the Vaal River in the north-west Orange Free State. A detachment from a British column commanded by Lieut.-Colonel H.B. De Lisle, comprising 200 South Australians led by a British officer, Major J.S.M. Shea, succeeded in locating a night laager (camp) being used by a Boer commando on a farm. Unknown to the British, this camp actually contained the noted enemy general, J.C. Smuts, who was resting while attempting to evade an extensive drive which the British commander-in-chief, General Lord Kitchener, had launched on 29 July.
After a silent approach and stealthy reconnaissance, the Australians prepared to assault the enemy position after dark. When they attempted to gallop in on the laager from three sides, however, they met an unexpected obstacle in the form of wire fences and were forced to dismount and rush forward on foot `with bayonets fixed'. This delay enabled nearly all of the camp's 300 occupants (including Smuts) to escape. Nonetheless six Boers were killed in the hand-to-hand fighting which raged at the farmhouse, and twelve prisoners (including two officers) were captured along with a large number of horses. The Australians' losses were just two men wounded, though Shea's Indian orderly was killed while riding behind him. The incident was significant enough that several participants were mentioned in Kitchener's despatches and one man was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Extracted from the book produced by Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998, pp. 90-92.
Additional References cited by Chris Coulthard-Clark:
L.S. Amery, (ed.) The Times History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902, Vol. 4 (1906), London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co.
L.M. Field (1979) The Forgotten War, Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press.
R.L. Wallace (1976) The Australians at the Boer War, Canberra: Australian War Memorial & Australian Government Publishing Service.
The Battle of Grootvallier, South Africa, 1 August 1901, Australian Casualties Topic: BatzB - Grootvallier
The Battle of Grootvallier
South Africa, 1 August 1901
Australian Casualties
Grootvallier (also known as Grootvlei), an action during the Second South African War, fought on 1 August 1901 near the Vaal River in the north-west Orange Free State.
Australian Casualties
495 Trooper Thomas KERMODE, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, slightly wounded.
646 Trooper James Campbell WHITTINGTON, 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, severely wounded.
The Battle of Grootvallier, South Africa, 1 August 1901, Mentioned in Despatches Topic: BatzB - Grootvallier
The Battle of Grootvallier
South Africa, 1 August 1901
Mentioned in Despatches
Grootvallier (also known as Grootvlei), an action during the Second South African War, fought on 1 August 1901 near the Vaal River in the north-west Orange Free State.
Distinguished Service Order
Major John Stuart Mackenzie SHEA, of the 15th Bengal Lancers, for leading 200 South Australians in a night attack on Commandant Smuts's laager on the 1st August and scattering 300 Boers after hard fighting.
Mentioned in Despatches
Trooper Phillis BRANDT, of the 6th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, for conspicuous gallantry at Grootvlei.
Trooper Thomas KERMODE of the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, for conspicuous gallantry at Grootvlei.
Lieutenant Sydney Colin MACFARLANE, of the 6th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, for exhibiting conspicuous gallantry and fearless leading of their men.
Captain John Alexander WATT of the 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen, for exhibiting conspicuous gallantry and fearless leading of their men.
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, Letter 25 July 1900 Topic: BW - NSW - NSWIB
NSWIB
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen
Letter 25 July 1900
New South Wales Imperial Bushmen, Letter 25 July 1900
This is an extract from the War Diary written by Major David Miller, Adjutant of the New South Wales Imperial Bushmen who arrived in the Mozambique port of Biera and then moved to Rhodesia as part of the journey for deployment in South Africa to see action in the Boer War.
Head Quarter Staff Office 00.3934
Bulawayo 25th July 1900
From: Major Miller
To:
the Assistant Quartermaster General Sydney
Sir
I have the honour to enclose copy of my journal to date and report my departure for Mafeking on Special Service forthwith.
I have the honour to be Sir Your obedient Servant David Miller Major
OCAS Corps This should be read to the officers of the Corps and their subordinates.
8.10.00
It is interesting to note that this column is moving towards Mafeking, obviously to utilise this northern town, recently liberated, as a launching point to outflank the Boer forces in the north.
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