The Manchester Regiment 1899 - 1958
The First Battalion 1899-1902
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The Manchester Regiment 1899 - 1958 |
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1899 August Sails 23rd on the Goth, arrives Cape Town via Tenerife 15h September, on to Durban on 20th October 9th started to march to Ladysmith, mounted infantry following, following urgent requests, the battalion entrained at Dargle Road on open cattle trucks, arriving on the 11th mounted infantry arrived 17th 20th the Boers captured Elandslaagte, coy’s C D F & G were in the attack to recover, D in an armoured train, stopped at modderspruit by boar artillery they de-trained and attacked, the half battalion took 263 casualties while taking the Boer position 30th supported the Lombards Kop attack with five casualties 31st moved to Caesars camp
November Shelled by enemy artillery and attacked on the 7th with around 20 casualties 1900 6th serious attack at Caesars hill, Boers attacking from
the rear after infiltrating the lines, the regiment suffered 34 KIA and
40 wounded, the position was held after re-inforced by highlanders, Boer
newspapers reported 1000 killed and wounded by the manchesters “During the attack on Caesars camp a remote corner was held by sixteen men of the Manchester regiment who fought from three in the morning until dusk, when the Devonshire reinforced them. Fourteen of the little band lay dead and of the two survivors one was wounded- they still held their position”
February17th Kimberley relieved 28th British columns in sight of Ladysmith March 3rd Battalion lined the street to welcome Bullers column 9th battalion received £7.00 cheque from N’Dunge Tribe in thanks for defending Ladysmith 15th VSC unit joined the battalion, drawn from the volunteer battalions around Manchester June Battalion formed part of the Drakensberg defence force, quartered around Elandslaagye and Junono’s Kop July 21st proceeded to Zandspruit (Transvaal) via Charlestown 22nd in support of the attack on Graskop, 2 casualties 24th (to 24th August) battalion was at Meerzicht near Paadrekop August 8th occupied Amersfoort, 12th Ermelo 15th Komato River 21st Van Wyks Vlei and attacked a Boer position there, 8 casualties 23rd arrived Geluk, enroute to Bergendal Farm (27th) where there was a ‘good deal of opposition’ causing 25 casualties. General Buller “The battalion had rendered valuable service in holding the right flank so firmly, for he had since learnt that the Boers had contemplated delivering a strong attack on that flank but had been unable to do so as the position was so tenaciously held” 28th Dalmanutha en route to Machadodorp and formed the garrison there September 2nd one wing to Helvetia, joined by the other on the 17th October 3rd 4 casualties in action there. The battalion then was guarding the road between Schoemans Kloof and Helvetia, with posts at Witklip, Badfontein and Schoemans Kloof, where they remained for several months providing piquets and escorts as well as harrasing raids 1901 April The battalion moved to Lydenburg for several months of a similar round of duties, escorting convoys, clearing Boer farms and raids on enemy positions. The telegraph line was often cut and piquets attacked. December 18th Moved to Wemmershoek valley via Witklip, supported the mounted infantry in an action near Elandsspruit. Bivouacked near there and were attacked by the Boers who had taken the high ground above the camp site. 9 KIA and 17 wounded “the officer commanding the column wishes to thank the officersNCOs and men of the Manchester Regiment which held the top of the hill last night, for the gallant way they defended their posts against heavy odds and inflicted great loss on the enemy. The officer commanding will not fail to bring this to the attention of the Commander in Chief” 25th Via Dullstroom and Vlakfontein to Helvetia 27th Belfast 1902 January 7th The battalions conducted several operations against the boers with varying success 21st battalion fully involved in the battle at Paardeplatz 24th moved to Houtenbek experiencing heavy opposition on the way (a daily occurrence at this time) returning to Lydenberg on the 29th February 13th Helvetia, 14th Machadodorp, 15th Dalmanutha, 16th Belfast, 18th Pan. From here the battalion carried several actions against the Boer commando, taking many prisoners and important captures of stock. March 21st Onvervacht 24th Battalion was part of a drive to clear the land in a SW direction to the Natal railway. The battalion covered 75 miles in 60 hours but the drive’s results were of little significance 30th left Vlaklaagte and marched north via New Denmark, Vrichgewaagte, Bethelm Ermelo, Roodesport to Eikeboom ( on the 10th April) April 11th the battalion again formed part of the line for a drive south from Delagoa railway to the Natal railway which involved a 50 mile stretch of wire fencing. Drive was completed on the 14th with better results 15th new VSC company arrives, becoming M company 16th Battalion marches to Vaalbank to form part of a drive south, these actions continued to the 13th May 20th Battalion to take over blockhouses and stations at Waterval Boven, Waterval Onder and Nooitgedacht. June 1st The battalion was informed by telegraph from Lord Kitchener that a peace treaty had been signed
chris harrison source regimental history H C Wylly |
Battalion, Manchester Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer
War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded
the Victoria Cross