The Lieutenant In Charge, Mr. A.J. Turner, The Famous
Essex Cricketer, Worked The Gun With His Own Hands Until He Also
Fell Wounded In Three Places.
The situation was now very serious,
and became more so when news was flashed of the disaster at
Uitval's Nek, and they were ordered to retire.
They could not
retire and abandon the guns, yet the fire was so hot that it was
impossible to remove them. Gallant attempts were made by volunteers
from the Gordons - Captain Younger and other brave men throwing away
their lives in the vain effort to reach and to limber up the guns.
At last, under the cover of night, the teams were harnessed and the
two field-pieces successfully removed, while the Boers who rushed
in to seize them were scattered by a volley. The losses in the
action were thirty-six and the gain nothing. Decidedly July 11th
was not a lucky day for the British arms.
It was well known to Botha that every train from the south was
bringing horses for Lord Roberts's army, and that it had become
increasingly difficult for De Wet and his men to hinder their
arrival. The last horse must win, and the Empire had the world on
which to draw. Any movement which the Boers would make must be made
at once, for already both the cavalry and the mounted infantry were
rapidly coming back to their full strength once more. This
consideration must have urged Botha to deliver an attack on July
16th, which had some success at first, but was afterwards beaten
off with heavy loss to the enemy.
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