"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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Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Driefontein, South Africa, 10 March 1900, Contents Topic: BatzB - Driefontein
Driefontein
South Africa, 10 March 1900
Contents
Driefontein, an action of the Second South African War, fought on 10 March 1900 during the advance on Bloemfontein by a large British force under field Marshal Lord Roberts.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 22 April 1919 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September 1918 breakout by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 22 April 1919
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 19 - 22 April 1919
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Diaries
Bert Schramm
Tuesday, April 22, 1919
Bert Schramm's Location - Zagazig, Egypt.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Nothing worth recording. Toby and Tom have been out on Patrol all day and I have to go out tomorrow. Helps to break the monotony.
Driefontein, South Africa, March 10, 1900, Outline Topic: BatzB - Driefontein
The Battle of Driefontein
South Africa, 10 March 1900
Outline
Map detailing the movement of Lord Roberts to Bloemfontein.
[Click on map for larger version.]
Driefontein, an action of the Second South African War, fought on 10 March 1900 during the advance on Bloemfontein by a large British force under field Marshal Lord Roberts. Following the fiasco at Poplar Grove on 7 March, Boer General Christiaan De Wet succeeded in persuading 5,000 - 6,000 burghers to mount a further delaying effort about 30 kilometres east, along a line of ridges south of the Modder River. Although aware that the enemy was holding the hills near Abraham's Kraal beside the river, and those a little further to the south-east at Damvallei, the British did not initially realise that other parties were occupying the Driefontein - Boschrand ridges as well. This fact only became apparent during the morning of the 10th, as elements of the British force progressively scouted and probed the enemy lines.
A contemporary post card illustrating the charge of the Buffs at Driefontein.
From 3.30 p.m. the British began steadily pressing in against the 1,500 burghers holding the Driefontein kopjes (hills), judged to be the key to the position, until from about 5 p.m. it was observed that there was a growing trickle of Boers leaving the battlefield in twos and threes. This led to the mounting of a final charge at 6 p.m. which carried the position and sent the Boers streaming away to the north-east. Although British mounted troops (including some Australians) attempted a pursuit from the southern flank, these were unable to intercept a withdrawal in such a direction - because of the poor condition of their mounts - and returned empty-handed as dusk fell. Although the Boers were still in possession of the northern hills, the retention of these was now pointless and they were evacuated, too, during the night. The day's fighting cost the British 424 casualties, 82 of whom were killed or died of wounds; the Boers lost about 300 men, including about 100 killed.
In the morning's fighting, Captain John Antill's squadron of New South Wales Mounted Rifles was engaged in reconnoitring the limits of the enemy's right (north) flank near the river. While performing this work, the Australians had one man killed by a shot fired from a farmhouse flying a white flag of neutrality. Also during the morning, the squadrons of the New South Wales Lancers and 1st Australian Horse (another New South Wales unit) were active on the same flank-both units being attached to the cavalry brigade commanded by Colonel T.C. Porter. Shortly before midday, however, these were switched to Colonel R.G. Broadwood's brigade opposite the enemy's left flank. Here, they took part in the later cavalry movement to follow up the Boer retirement, until forced to retire by enemy artillery and pom-pom fire.
Also among the British casualties for the day was a Victorian, Lieut.-Colonel C.E. Umphelby, serving as a special service officer with the artillery, who was mortally wounded by a sniper late in the afternoon and died three days later.
334 Trooper John William Haydon, in the uniform of the 1st Australian Horse, was wounded in action at Dreifontein.
[From: AWM P01578.002]
Extracted from the book produced by Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998, pp. 70-71.
Additional References cited by Chris Coulthard-Clark:
R.L. Wallace (1976) The Australians at the Boer War, Canberra: Australian War Memorial & Australian Government Publishing Service.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 April 1919 Topic: Diary - Schramm
Diaries of AIF Servicemen
Bert Schramm
During part of the course of his military service with the AIF, 2823 Private Herbert Leslie Schramm, a farmer from White's River, near Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsular, kept a diary of his life. Bert was not a man of letters so this diary was produced with great effort on his behalf. Bert made a promise to his sweetheart, Lucy Solley, that he would do so after he received the blank pocket notebook wherein these entries are found. As a Brigade Scout since September 1918, he took a lead part in the September 1918 breakout by the Allied forces in Palestine. Bert's diary entries are placed alongside those of the 9th Light Horse Regiment to which he belonged and to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade to which the 9th LHR was attached. On this basis we can follow Bert in the context of his formation.
Bert Schramm's Diary, 21 April 1919
Bert Schramm's Handwritten Diary, 19 - 22 April 1919
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
Diaries
Bert Schramm
Monday, April 21, 1919
Bert Schramm's Location - Zagazig, Egypt.
Bert Schramm's Diary - Easter Mon. We have had a quiet day today but we start patrols again tomorrow. We have heard today and it is supposed to be on good authority that we are not likely to get away for another three months so most likely as if it is correct. I think it will just about drive me mad, another three months here. Masonic Ball in Lincoln tonight. Don't I wish I could be there.
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