SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2006-09 > 1157141563


From: "carruthers - home" <>
Subject: B.S.A.P - SNIP's
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2006 22:12:43 +0200
References: <BAY109-F368D72BAA56AA2B13A7555B03C0@phx.gbl>


1893
Iron mine hill lay five miles south east of Lalapanzi. Due to the lack of
water at this camp, for the second night, they moved a few miles west, on
the present woodlands farm. Major WILSON's column arrived on the 16th, the
Columns joined forces.
"Our scouting plans were, advance, right and left fronts. The Victoria
Scouts had charge of the left front and the Salisbury Scouts under Captain
Charlie WHITE and Colonel PADGET, had charge of the right, we travelled
parallel in two distinct lines, each cutting its own way. B.S.A.P. kept on
the Salisbury column side to the right. DOLLAR and I were alternately
changing on the left side of our Victoria column. With us unattached was
Captain I. WILLIAMS, Percy SWINBURN, Ted BURNETT and the Honourable Maurice
GIFFORD. Harry WARE although a cripple was in charge of native helpers and
did splendid work. We reached the Gwelo River without any mishap, and
everybody was pleased to see some open country. By this time our teams and
Laager arrangements were perfect. My friend, Captain Argent KIRKTON, was in
charge of the Victoria transport, with him was Dick BRADFIELD, Harry
CUMMING, the brothers HISCOCK with Jan BOTHA, members of my trek party. Our
Commissariat friend Greenfield afterwards numbered at Wilson's last stand,
he was often missing whenever the column haltered, KIRKTON remarked to me,
"I believe the beggar goes off to do something on the sly." On occasion
KIRKTON and I followed him to where he had a Billy on the fire. We waited
for him to make tea, then sneaked the lot, we also discovered he had other
niceties stuck away, Including tobacco which he carried in his shirt."

________________________________________________________

Lo-Bengula had decided to deploy a second large Impi against the combined
columns and another against the Tuli column coming up from the south. The
warriors were given instructions not to attack during daylight, but rather
as they crossed drifts, when the Columns were forced to struggle with the
heavy artillery.

"November the 1st I left camp before daylight my orders were direct front in
company with Lieutenant E.E. DUNN, Bob BAIN, Captain Charlie WHITE with
Sergeant CARNEY, and two other B.S.A.P. scouts. We reached a timber ridge
and had just pulled our horses on hearing the subdued noise of assegai on
shield, an Impi of Matabele were only a hundred yards ahead at rest. Waiting
for daylight in the trees, not a shot was fired and they were as still as
mice. We were only a mile out from the moving wagons in scrub country. They
were a black moving mass as they rose on hearing our approach we dismounted
and quietly retreated. Sergeant CARNEY was sent back to inform Major
FORBES.

___________________________________________________________


Harry DAVIES, Sergeant of the B.S.A.P. with two troopers were camped two
miles south of the Shangani battlefield and had heard rumours of trouble. He
sent out his men to investigate, they were never seen again. Harry was
awakened before daylight by a young Matabele woman, she had come in several
miles to warn them that her father and others were planning to come and
murder them. She hurried home before dawn. Harry went out and fed his horse,
saddled up waiting ready to move at daylight. As he rode over to the store
on the main road seeing his friend molested and killed. He raced along the
road to WHITE's store only to find another pal lying dead. About the 27th of
March he then made south across country to the CUNNINGHAM family near fort
Rixon. Mr Cunningham was found shot with a muzzleloader, etc



This thread: