Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: 'D'Sqn. killed in action at Diamond Hill on 12.6.1900, buried at Rhenosterfontein Farm.
Source:# 54 grave Diamond Hill Cemetery, photo.
Wallace1: Bechuanaland 1884-85.
B5204: born 1868 St. Albans UK, military service, Queen's South Africa medal and 4 clasps.
URL4: Killed in action at Diamond Hill 11.6.1900, memorial at St. James Church Sydney NSW.
URL5: letter dated 21.6.1900 from Pte. Vincent DANS/DAVIS 1NSWMR says DRAGE would not take cover but stood up under a perfect hail of bullets.
URL6: photo.
URL7: Warrant Officer PWC DRAGE Superintending Clerk Engineering Staff, served with Methuen's Horse in Bechuanaland Expedition 1884-85.
URL8: An Incident of the War. The war correspondent of the SMH gives some interesting details with regard to the fighting after the capture of Pretoria. Referring to an engagement in which the New South Wales Mounted Infantry took part, he says - It was then that they lost two brave young officers, HARRIOTT and DRAGE. Both these men - HARRIOTT was little more than a boy - had shown bravery out of the common, and while the men were lying down among the rocks, crawling forward on their stomachs yard by yard, HARRIOTT and DRAGE stood up urging tbe men on, and calling them by name. The men implored them to lie down, but they took no heed. They actually got out their pipes and filled them while the bullets whizzed past and spattered in little grey splashes of lead on the rocks. It was not long before the inevitable end came. HARRIOTT was struck with an expanding bullet in the thigh, and came to the ground with a shattered leg. Poor boy, his sufferings were awful, but nothing could be done for him, as there were no means for getting him down that rocky precipice under such fire. Dr. CORTIS, of New South Wales, was up at the firing line, and he did all that could be done for the wounded man. Sergeant FLEMING (well-known in Albury district in the peaceful profession of a solicitor) was by him as he fell, and FLEMING proceeded to build a little wall of stones round him to prevent his receiving further injury. As he placed one stone in position it was knocked out of his hands by a bullet striking it. They managed to make a shelter for him, and the grim line of khaki-clad figures pushed steadily on up the hill. Away a little distance DRAGE got his death wound. He was shot right through the face, and the bullet came out at the back of his head. Even then he died hard. It took four men to hold him down, as he struggled half unconscious to go forward over the rocks. Two troopers were also killed in this attack, going on to their death like brave men. Captain HOLMES was shot through the arm by a shrapnel bullet, but went on with his men. This officer has earned the highest commendation in every affair in which he has been engaged. After a while the Boer fire slackened as the main advance pushed steadily on, and our men got to the top of the kopje and had the satisfaction of shooting at their retreating foes, but as the horses had been left at the foot of the kopje it was some time before we could pursue. They went on in open order, and actually got within range of Botha's main laager and poured some volleys into it; but as we had 200 men, while the Boers had about 2000, it was not practicable to advance further. As night fell the Boers withdrew altogether, and by dawn next morning their forces were away to the hills once more, and the New South Wales troops, with most of the others, were brought back to Pretoria to await the arrival of Baden-Powell and Buller. It is pleasant to think that in this critical engagement the men of the old colony have maintained the good name they have already earned all through the campaign.
URL9: Private W MCALLISTER (No. 376), who went to South Africa with the Second Contingent Army Medical Corps, writes to his mother at Crown Street, Surry Hills, under date, Kroonstad, 27.8.1900, as follows - 'You will observe we are now at Kroonstad, this being our second visit. The first time we called was about three months ago, when on the way to Pretoria. We were then in high glee at the progress we were making, but when we arrived there it was not as we anticipated, viz., the termination of the war. The same day we received orders to prepare to march. We then proceeded to Diamond Hills, where two large battles were fought. Here we lost a number of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, including Lieutenants DRAGE and HARRIOTT. The former was buried in the morning; the latter was wounded in the thigh (a terrible wound, poor fellow) and succumbed to his wounds at 4 pm same day. I took part in the burial of the remains.
URL10: Untended Graves In South Africa. Writing from Pretoria on Easter Monday [1903], Mr. Pen BAWDEN states that on the previous day he visited Diamond Hill, and saw the graves of Lieutenant HARRIOTT and DRAGE, of the second contingent, from NS Wales. "Had it not been that he was directed to the spot," he writes, "one would have been unable to find the graves. It seems strange that while all the Tommy officers and Tommies who fell during the war have headstones or crosses on their craves, these two Australians have nothing. What, I wonder, has the New South Wales Government done with that immense sum collected for the Patriotic Fund. Surely some of that money could be expended in marking the resting place of these men. The Englishmen have a grave committee here, whose duty it is to look after the graves of their men who fell, but they have small trouble about the Australians. They fought for them and now the Englishman does not give a hang what becomes of them. I think it a great shame that those men's graves should go untended. I spoke to several Australians to day re the matter, and they want to make an effort out of their own moneys, to do something, but I think that the New South Wales Government should take some steps."
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