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West - Francis and Thomas replied on: 4/9/2008 12:21:31 PM Bombadier Frank West (bottom half of previously posted report. Column 2 -bottom half A TIGHT CORNER.... Whilst at Fort Elswich orders were received for a section to proceed to Buffel's Poort to meet the returning convoy, and this march proved to be a memorable one for Bombadier West, which we will relate in his own words: " Our scouts, instead of going over a kopje near Buffel's Poort, went round it, and as soon as we got in the pass we were met by a terrible volley from the Boers on the hill. We wheeled to the right and formed protection for the guns and ourselves by building a gun sangar with rocks from the top of the kopje. By the time this was done 300 of the 2nd West Yrks surrendered and left us to the mercy of about 2,500 Boers. They closed around us and called on us to surrender, but we had the order not to do so till every round was gone. The country was so thick with trees that we could not see for more than 50 yards in front of us. The Boers got as close as 20 yds to the guns, because we found some of their dead next morning lyng there. They had burnt over three miles of our convoy, which was for the troops stationed at Rustenburg for Christmas-time. The Boers tried all sorts of tricks to entice us away from the guns after dark, by calling out to us to say they were wounded, but we were not having any. Out of the 17 of us around the guns the casualties were two killed and seven wounded. One exploding bullet struck the top of the rock and blew away the face of one man, another part took the top of anothers head off, and a third part struck me in the thigh. That was 2 killed and one wounded by one bullet. I thought myself very lucky. My officer had seven bullets in one leg, for a great distance around the guns we had mowed the trees down by the shells exploding at the muzle of our guns. The battle raged from 5-30 til 1am the next morning, when we were relieved by major Fry, 2nd West Yorks. There is no decoration for engagements of this sort, because there happened to be no general with us." For their courageous action Capt Farrell, Lieut Baker, and four men were mentioned in Lord Kitcheners despatches. That the fight was a desparate one may be judged by the fact that five horses were killed and five gun wheels were so riddled by bullets that they had to be replaced, as well as a telescopic sight being demolished. One camp kettle had 22 bullet holes in it. NEWS FROM HOME On receipt of news of the King's accession to the throne a salute of 21 gns was fired at noon, but it was not until the next day that official tidings came of the death of Queen Victoria, this being acknowledged by 81 minute guns. HONOURS FOR THE BATTERY In addition to promotions, no less than five members of the 75th battery were recipiants of distinguished conduct medals. It may be mentioned that in the principal engagements the battery fired 3,500 shells, each costing about 25 shillings.Bombadier West received the Queen's medal with bars for Belmont, Modder River, Dreifontain, Paardeburg, and Johannesburg. SOUTH AFRICA TO INDIA The battery embarked on the City of Vienna on Nov 24th 1901, as escort to Boer prisoners, and after handing over the latter in Bombay harbour, proceeded by rail to Kirkee, where they took over the equipment , horses, etc., of the 70th battery (under orders from England). After four more years service in India, China, and Ceylon, Bombadier West obtained his discharge. He has close on fifteen years service to his credit, and is still serving on Section D, Army Reserve. (I will now snail mail the report to you , lewis, - thought I'd post it on here first, as others may be interested.) Sue

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