The Journal of the C. I. V. in South Africa

London men at war against the Boers

The turn of the 19th century to 20th was a time of popularity for the military volunteer movement in the British Empire. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out the City Imperial Volunteers quickly filled its ranks with the men of the City of London anxious to serve their country in South Africa. The venture was supported by the Lord Mayor and the popularity of London’s effort had widespread appeal. All manner of men hurried to join the C. I. V’s ranks and many of them were professionals from the city’s law firms and financial institutions, artists, writers or gentlemen of private means. The author of The Riddle of the Sands, Erskine Childers was one of their number. This book is comprised of the journal entries of the officer commanding the regiment and it follows the C. I. V’s wartime experiences from recruitment to its return home. The C. I. V was well regarded on campaign and earned the praise of peers and senior officers alike. This book delivers its information in the sober manner one might expect of its author in the circumstances, but is nevertheless essential source material about each part of the unit—the infantry, mounted infantry, cyclists, medical staff etc. Included as an appendix is a substantial honour role that will be of special interest to genealogists.
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General Bruce Hamilton explained to commanding officers that he intended to attack the big hill, the Sussex advancing on the left of the farm, the C.I.V.’s in the centre, and the Derbys on the right (the Camerons had been kept four miles in the rear). We gained the wood without being fired on, and the men cooked and ate their dinners.<br>
At 12.40, the order came to advance, and at 12.50, twenty men of A. Company advanced, commanded by Jeffery, and preceded by four scouts, who, accompanied by Trotter (who had gone unknown to me), moved across the open and began the ascent. It is no exaggeration to say that the journey of these men was watched with breathless interest by the whole division. To our surprise, they gained the summit at 1.10 without being fired on, and I quickly pushed on successive lines of reinforcements, which presently came in for a good deal of fire while crossing the intervening valley. Almost our only casualty, however, here, was a mule in the machine-gun, which was disabled by a shot in the leg.<br>
At 1.15 desultory firing began on the summit, which soon showed us that the enemy had preferred some position unknown to us farther to the rear, to opposing us on the hill-top. When I reached the summit, I found that the fire proceeded from a hill of exceptional strength, called the Black Kopje (because all the grass on the face of it was burnt), some 1500 yards north of the edge of the cliff; I also found that A. Company was prolonged to its right by H., the whole of these companies being more or less in the firing line, which was about 100 yards from the top, under a moderate cover of stones. Subsequently, Reid, with the general’s acquiescence, advanced the firing line over the ridge into the open, when the men were at once exposed, and the firing became much heavier.<br>
The remainder of the battalion stayed in the gully by which we had ascended the hill, and were under heavy dropping fire from guns and musketry. Our Maxim soon arrived on the top, being man-hauled with great difficulty by Sergeant Stevens and a fatigue party, and it was gallantly served till it was compelled to cease fire, owing to its drawing so much of the enemy’s shell fire on the advance companies.<br>
On Reid’s advance, I ordered B. Company, under Green, to move up to the ridge. At 3.30 the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards arrived, and extended on our right, but could not advance owing to the heavy fire. About this time poor Alt was wounded in the forearm, and retired a few yards to have his wound dressed. He at once tried to return to his post, but alas! a bullet hit him in the temple, and he was instantaneously killed. Several other casualties also occurred, and the wounded were gallantly looked after by Sleman and his stretcher-bearers, who were continuously exposed to terrific fire.<br>
About 4, the 82nd field battery came into action on our extreme left, and much relieved the heavy fire under which we had so long suffered. The general, with whom I had been a great part of the afternoon, now asked me to strengthen the firing line in case he should order an assault; and so I ordered B. Company up, and found, later on, that one section of C. had also joined the firing line. Soon after, a perfect storm of musketry was kept up for two or three minutes, followed by an almost sudden cessation, although the firing was not entirely discontinued till after dark.