Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Bufton: photo.
Source:# 830 1TMI & 2TIB, Queen's South Africa Medal, King's South Africa Medal and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal 1913.
URL1: Campbell Town Tas.
URL2: Pte. A COOMBE from Campbell Town, amongst the officers and men of the First Tas. Contingent quartered in the barracks 23.10.1899.
URL3: Jasfontein, February 12 [1900]. The Tasmanians are now camped at Jasfontein, seven miles north of Rendsburg. On Sunday, February 5, the Australian troops left Naauwpoort by special train for Rendsburg and after camping there over night 40 of the Tasmanians, under Major CAMERON and Lieutenant HERITAGE, left for Jasfontein, seven miles from Rendsburg. Jasfontein is a large farm station, and it was reported that the Boers were surrounding this place, and the Tasmanians were ordered to keep the position from the Boers, The remainder of the men were left at Rendsburg under the charge of Lieutenants 'Wally' BROWN and GE REID, but now all the Tasmanians are camped here. After two days 40 horses arrived, and now the Tasmanians are mounted infantry, and have to go out patrolling day and night. On the 8th inst. it was reported that the Boers were seen within a few miles of this Camp, and eight men and a guide went in search of them. After visiting all the farm houses around about the camp in vain, and when about 10 miles from the camp, the guide and Private GILHAM (Ulverstone) visited a farmhouse just at the side of a kopje. The guide gave orders for the remainder of the party to stop behind about 300 or 400 yards, and if they were fired on to gallop back to the camp. On approaching the farm-house the Boers were prepared for the party and opened fire on the men. Trooper A STENT was wounded, and Private GILHAM had a marvellous escape. The men tried to render assistance to the wounded trooper, but they were surrounded by 40 or 50 Boers, under heavy fire, making it impossible to give the wounded man any assistance. Several other troopers went out to recover the wounded man, but one of the guides was fired on four times and shot, and they had to retire also. The Boers continued firing on the patrol party until they were out of sight, and it was a ride for life or death. Privates COOMBE (Campbelltown) and BRIANT (Hobart) fired on the Boers, but soon had to retire. Private GILLIES (Campbelltown) received a bullet through his helmet, and his horse stumbled and fell, throwing his rider, but he recovered himself, and after going back and picking up his rifle he remounted and rejoined the patrol party minus his helmet, none the worse for his adventure. It was at once reported to headquarters that the Boers were close at hand, and next morning more men were sent from Rendsburg and a general search was made for the Boers. The company was divided into three Sections under Major CAMERON and Captains HAMILTON and SALMON. The party had not gone far from the farm before it was found that the Boers occupied a kopje about 2.5 miles from the camp, and when the advance party was sent out the Boers opened fire on them and left for another larger kopje, which they succeeded in reaching in safety. When Captain SALMON's company was advancing towards a kopje the men were fired on, between 600 and 700 shots being fired, but luckily no lives were lost. The men now retired at once. Lance-Corporal REYNOLDS (Hobart) was thrown from his horse, and the Boers continued firing on him, when Corporal WHITELAW (Launceston ) went to his assistance and released his comrade from the hands of the Boer corps. Corporal WHITELAW deserves special mention for his bravery in saving the life of his comrade. Private PEERS (Zeehan, formerly of Black River, Circular Head) had his horse shot from under him, and he also received a bullet through the side of his neck. The unfortunate man had to walk back to camp and get the wound dressed, and left for Rendsburg. Peers killed three Boers in return. Mr LAMBIE, the 'Age' war correspondent, was killed in this engagement, and Mr HALES, of Western Australia, another war correspondent, was taken prisoner, Several of the Tasmanians were cut off, and Privates SWAN (Sandy Bay), BROTHERS (North Motton), HYNES (Ulverstone) and HUTTON (Ulverstone) were taken prisoners. Privates BUTTON and GILHAM are reported as missing. Captain HAMILTON and four Tasmanians (Privates HOLMEWOOD, HOPE, EDWARDS and GILLIES) who were in Captain HAMILTON's section, were cut off and had to ride as fast as their horses could carry them for a small kopje for shelter, where they remained under heavy fire for over two hours, when the firing ceased. Captain HAMILTON crept to the bottom of the kopje where his horse was, and succeeded in reaching it in safety. He then mounted with the intention of bringing assistance to his men, when a Boer - who was hiding undercover in the open started in pursuit of the captain, when Private A GILLIES, realising the responsibility he was placed in, took a steady aim with his rifle and shot the Boer dead, thus saving Captain HAMILTON's life. Shortly afterwards the remainder followed their commander's movement, and succeeded in mounting their horses in safety, and riding for life or death, arrived back at the camp none the worse for their adventure. Major CAMERON had his water bottle, which was hanging by his side, broken by a bullet. On the 11th inst. Lieutenant HERITAGE visited the Boer camp, hoisting the white flag, to inquire about the missing men. The Boer officer had Lieutenant HERITAGE blindfolded on entering the camp, and the only information given was that the four men mentioned were taken to Pretoria as prisoners, but for GILHAM and BUTTON they could not account. The Boers also handed over to Lieutenant HERITAGE all the belongings of Mr LAMBIE, whom the Boers buried on the 9th inst. The Boers forgot to blindfold the lieutenant when coming from the camp, and he was in a position to see a little. The Boer officer remarked 'that he knew the men were Tasmanians, and that he himself (Lieut. HERITAGE) was a Tasmanian officer. Tweeddale, February 13.— Eleven dead Boers can be accounted for during the engagement at Jasfontein, and two prisoners were captured. The Boers, when searched, had over 500 cartridges, mostly dum-dum bullets, in their possession. At 11.30 in the evening of the 12th inst. the men were called out and ordered to pack up and clear out at once. After packing up the troops left at 2 a.m. for Tweeddale. All the Tasmanians, with the exception of about a dozen, are mounted.
URL4: Hobart, Monday [26.11.1900] — The following is the nominal roll of the officers and, men of the Tasmanian troops returning by the Harlech Castle - First Contingent - Major C St. Clair CAMERON, Evandale; Captain Wallace BROWN, Penguin; Lieutenants FH HERITAGE, Launceston; J WALCH, Hobart; Surgeon-Lieut, JAMIESON, Hobart; Sergeant-Major COSTELLO, Launceston; Color-Sergeant AV GIBLIN, Sandy Bay; Sargeants A BARNES, Zeehan, M KEYS, Zeehan E.H LEE, Cressy, CJ FREMLIN, Glenorchy, Farrier-Sergeant A PARKER, Sorrel; Corporals CR CHALMERS, Hobart, FB PARSELLE, Launceston, AJ REYNOLDS, Hobart, WR COLE, Ulverstone; Lance-Corporals W WEEDING, Glenorchy, F BRIANT, Hobart, CW HINES, Ulverstone, C STEPHENSON, Scottsdale, J WRIGHT, Evandale; Shoeing-Smith A BALLANTYNE, Penguin; Troopers HB ABBOT, Hobart, T ANDERSON, Zeehan, RH BARNES, Penguin, M BEST, Sheffield, C BROTHERS, North Motton, D BRANAGAN, Campbelltown, O BLYTHE, Campbelltown, R CHALMERS, Brighton, G BLYTHE, Campbelltown, W DUCIE, Evandale, V COLLINS, Evandale, A COOMBE, Campbelltown, HJ COX, Launceston, J EDWARDS, Brighton, EL GREENBACK, Hobart, A GILLIES, Campbelltown, GF HALL, Launceston, J ELLIOTT, Launceston, J HARRIS, Launceston, J HOPE, Sheffield, J HUTTON, Ulverstone, C LADE, Sulphur Creek, AH JEPHSON, Hobart, LV HEADLAM, Tunbridge, A HOUGH, Ulverstone, A HOLMEWOOD, Bellerive, H MADDOX, Launceston, GM LOWTHER, Scottsdale, E MCGUINNESS, Zeehan, FA MCGUIRE, Penguin, H MCGUINNESS, Forcett, J MORSE, Sheffield, FF MORRISBY, Bellerive, H ROBERTS, Scottsdale, FM SMITH, Launceston, RA SMITH, Launceston, S WILLIAMS, Hobart. - Second Contingent - Lanoe-Corporal CW BERESFORD, Deloraine; Troopers W BURTON, Cressy, HD CHEPNELL, Hobart, A CHILLCOTT, Longford, T FITZALLEN, Ross, JA DOUGLAS, Sandy Bay, AH HORTON, Sandy Bay, H LARNER, Scottsdale, H LAWSON, Longford, G JUDGE, Sheffield, EC HAYS, Forth, A LUPTON, Sheffield, J MCCORMICK, Sandy Bay, W LYONS, Sheffield, S MCANNALLY, Scottsdale, E PACKETT, Barrington, RP SMITH, Hobart, J MURDOCH, Zeehan, J SMALLHORN, Zeehan, P STAGG, Deloraine, G WELLARD, Forth, W WILLIAMS, Longford, R WILSON, Richmond, AW POTTER, Oyster Cove. - Fourth Contingent - Corporal G STEPNELL, Beaconsfield; Trooper AJ BULL, Strahan, D BROWNELL, Moonah. In addition is the name of Chaplain WILSON.
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