They
Were Undeceived By A Cruel Fire Which Beat Upon Two Companies Of
The Scottish Borderers From A Range Of Two Hundred Yards.
They were
driven back, but reformed in a donga.
About half-past two a Boer
gun burst shrapnel over the Lincolnshires and Scottish Borderers
with some effect, for a single shell killed five of the latter
regiment. Chermside's brigade was now all involved in the fight,
and Wavell's came up in support, but the ground was too open and
the position too strong to push the attack home. Fortunately, about
four o'clock, the horse batteries with French began to make their
presence felt from behind, and the Boers instantly quitted their
position and made off through the broad gap which still remained
between French and Le Gallais. The Brandfort plain appears to be
ideal ground for cavalry, but in spite of that the enemy with his
guns got safely away. The loss of the infantry amounted to one
hundred and sixty killed and wounded, the larger share of the
casualties and of the honour falling to the Scottish Borderers and
the East Lancashires. The infantry was not well handled, the
cavalry was slow, and the guns were inefficient - altogether an
inglorious day. Yet strategically it was of importance, for the
ridge captured was the last before one came to the great plain
which stretched, with a few intermissions, to the north. From March
29th until May 2nd Karee remained the advanced post.
In the meanwhile there had been a series of operations in the east
which had ended in a serious disaster.
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