On this day (7th November), Major NE Young, RFA, a British Staff officer in Pretoria sent off a report to Lord Kitchener, the British Commander-in-Chief in South Africa. Kitchener forwarded it to the War Office, London who later released it to the newspapers.
Kitchener had asked Major Young to report on the:
"the
conduct of the Boers to the officers and men wounded in the action with Colonel
Benson’s column at Bakenlaagte".
This is copied from the Morning Post, 13th December 1901, from FindmyPast. The report is worth careful reading and some research to consider the claims made by the British soldiers.
"Bakenlaagte Wounded
Ill-Treatment by Boers
The War Office has issued the following letters and reports
relating to the ill-treatment of the British wounded at Bakenlaagte by the
Boers.
From Lord Kitchener to the Under Secretary of
State for War
Pretoria, Nov. 9.
Sir – I have the honour to enclose a report by
Major Young, DSO, Royal Field Artillery, respecting the conduct of the Boers to
the officers and men wounded in the action with Colonel Benson’s column at
Bakenlaagte. – I have, &c.,
Kitchener
From Major NE Young, DSO, Royal Field Artillery,
to the Military Secretary, Army Headquarters.
Pretoria, 7th November, 1901.
Sir, - I have the honour to report that, in
accordance with your instructions, I have seen the wounded officers and men of
Colonel Benson’s column now at Elandsfontein.
Out of a total of 147 wounded non-commissioned
officers and men seen by me 54 had not been in the hands of the Boers. Of the
remaining 93 men, 18 informed they had nothing to complain of, and in some
cases they had met with kind treatment of an active nature. All represented
that the commandant and those in subordinate command had protected the wounded
in their immediate neighbourhood.
Seventy-five non-commissioned officers and men
made complaint of ill-treatment of a more or less serious nature; nearly all of
these had been robbed of whatever money they possessed, also of their watches
and private papers. A very large proportion stated that their boots had been
removed, and in those cases where the leg had been broken this caused intense
agony. One man, Trooper Jamieson, of the Scottish Horse, whose arm was
shattered, suffered terrible pain from the way in which his bandolier was
removed; his arm has since been amputated. Many had been deprived of other
articles of clothing, hats, jackets, and socks, in some cases being left with
an old shirt and a pair of drawers only.
One man, Gunner Masham, 84th battery
Royal Field Artillery, was deprived of £3, a watch and chain, and his warm
jacket and shirt; the process of removing the latter was very painful, as he
was shot in the chest. Sergeant Ketley, of the 7th Hussars, attached
to the Scottish Horse, states that after having been wounded in the head and
hip was shot with his own carbine in the arm by a Boer who was kneeling over
him because he was unable to raise his arms when ordered to do so.
There are two evidences, Private Prickett, King’s
Royal Rifle Corps, and Corporal Gower, 4th battalion King’s Royal
Rifle Corps, 25th Mounted Infantry, to the fact that a man named
Private Foster of their corps was killed at five yards’ range, though he had
put up his hands in token of surrender and was unarmed.
There is a consensus of evidence that the wounded
lying around the guns were fired on by Boers, who had already disarmed them,
for a long period after all firing in their neighbourhood from our side had
ceased. This was done whenever a wounded man moved, and in this way Captain
Lloyd, a Staff Officer, who had been wounded in the leg, met his death.
Corporal Atkins, whose fingers had been shot away, states that he was ordered
to show how to work the gun, but got off on representing that he could not
stand.
Such of the officers as fell into the hands of the
Boers met with similar treatment to the men. Lieutenant Bircham, King’s Royal
Rifle Corps, informed me that while he was travelling in the same ambulance as
Lieutenant Martin, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, since deceased, the
latter told him that while he was lying on the ground with a shattered thigh
his leg was twisted completely round so that the spur could be more easily
taken off.
Even the late Colonel Benson was not respected.
Though he was protected for some time by a man in authority, eventually his
spurs, gaiters, and private papers were removed.
I forward herewith two specimen rounds of
ammunition taken from the bandolier of a wounded Boer by Private Robinson, 2nd
Scottish Horse. They are Mauser cartridges.
I attach statements taken down by me from the
officers and men in relation to the most serious cases. I was impressed with
the idea that the statements made to me were true and not wilfully exaggerated,
so simply were they made. There seems no doubt that, though the Boer
commandants have the will, they no longer have the power to repress outrage and
murder on the part of their subordinates. – I have, &c.,
NE Young, Major, Royal Field Artillery.
Officer’s Report
Captain CW Collins, Cheshire Regiment:
“I was signalling officer to Colonel Benson on the
30th October. I was wounded, and lying near the guns about a hundred
yards in rear of them. A Field Cornet came up, and went away without molesting
me. AT about 5:30pm, or a little later the ambulance came and picked me up; my
ambulance went some distance further, and Colonel Benson and some men were put
in it. There seemed a lot of delay, which annoyed the colonel, and he asked to
be allowed to get away. The delay, however, continued till a Boer came and took
away Colonel Benson’s documents from his pocket, notwithstanding his protest
they were all private papers, and that they had been seen by a commandant
earlier in the day, who said they were not required. This man said it was all
right; if they were private they would be returned.
CW Collins Captain
2nd Batt. Cheshire Regiment”
Lieutenant Bircham, 4th Battalion
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:
“That he was in the same ambulance wagon as
Lieutenant Martin, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (since deceased) and
that the latter told him that when he (Lieutenant Martin) was lying on the
ground wounded the Boers took off his spurs and gaiters. In taking off his
spurs they wrenched his leg, the bone of which was shattered, completely round,
so as to be able to get at the spurs more easily, though Lieutenant Martin told
them where he was hit.
HM Bircham
Lieutenant King’s Royal Rifle Corps”
Lieutenant G Acland Troyte, King’s Royal Rifle
Corps, 25th Mounted Infantry, states:
“I was wounded on October 25 in a rearguard action
with Colonel Benson’s force, near Kaffirstad. The Boers came up and stripped me
of everything except my drawers, shirt, and socks; they gave me an old pair of
trousers, and later a coat. They left me some time to see if our ambulance
would; as it did not they took me into a farmhouse, used as a temporary
hospital, and there treated me as well as they could. Commandant Grobelaar’s
family were there. There were also a sergeant and two privates in the same
room. They had also been stripped, but were well treated in the house. They
took a silver watch and gold ring. I was removed in the ambulance two days
after.
G Acland Troyte
Lieutenant”
Lieutenant Reginald Seymour, 1st Batt.
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25th Mounted Infantry, states:
“On 30th October my company was sent
back to the support of Colonel Benson’s rearguard. We occupied a hill on the
right of the guns. I was wounded early in the day. In the evening, the company
being ordered to retire, I was left behind with three others, two
non-commissioned officers and one private; this was about 6pm. The Boers came
up immediately. They took my greatcoat, gaiters, spurs, and helmet; they took
the money and watches from the other wounded, but left them their clothes
except the coat of one man. They then left us without assistance. Two Boers
afterwards returned and took away a greatcoat belonging to one of our men which
had been left over me. We were removed a few hours later in the ambulances. One
of the party who stripped us was addressed by the remainder as commandant, but
I did not know his name.”
Men’s Statements
Private E Rigby, 4th Batt. King’s Royal
Rifle Corps, states the Boers took all his clothes except his shirt. This man
is not quite able to speak yet.
No. 33262 Trooper Hood 2nd Scottish
Horse, states:
“I was wounded on 30th October with
Colonel Benson’s rearguard.. While I was lying on the ground the Boers came up
and stripped me of my hat and coat, boots, 15s., and a metal watch. I saw them
fire at another wounded man as he was coming to me for a drink. The guns were
not removed until the ambulances cam up; as I was siting in the ambulance, it
then being dusk, I saw them take off the guns. The ambulances were detained
till twelve o’clock at night before returning to camp.”
No. 33345 Trooper Alexander Main, 2nd
Scottish Horse, states:
I was wounded on the 30th October with
Colonel Benson’s reargaurd. While lying on the ground the Boers came close up
and stood about fifteen to twenty yards from where we were lying wounded round
the guns. All were wounded at this time, and no one was firing. I saw the Boers
there fire at the wounded. Captain Lloyd, a Staff Officer, was lying beside me
wounded in the leg at this time; he received one or two more shots in the body,
and shortly afterwards he died. I myself received three more wounds. I got into
camp by myself.”
Trooper No. 33265 Jamieson, Scottish Horse says:
“The Boers took his boots and they hurt his
shattered arm in a terrible manner while getting off his bandolier. His arm has
been removed.”
No. 6127 Private Parrish, 1st battalion
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:
“On 30th October, while I was lying
wounded, the Boers came and took my boots off. An officer of the King’s Royal
Rifle Corps, who was a prisoner, remonstrated, and they threatened to shoot
him. Our ridge was not firing any more, but whenever a wounded man showed
himself they fired at him. In this way several were killed; one man who was
waving a bit of blue stuff with the idea of getting an ambulance received about
20 shots.”
No. 31362 Private Robertson, 2nd
Battalion Scottish Horse, states:
“He has no complaints except the loss of 30s., he
took two rounds with split bullets handed to me from a wounded Boer’s bandolier
who was lying beside him.”
No. 2563 Private Prickett, 4th
Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, states:
“On the 30th October I was lying wounded
with Colonel Benson’s rearguard. I saw the Boers come up, and an old Boer with
black beard and whiskers, and wearing leggings, whom I should be able to
recognise again, shot my friend, Private F. Foster, 4th Batt. King’s
Royal Rifle Corps, by putting the muzzle of his rifle to his side. Private
Foster had been firing under cover of an ant heap till the Boers took the
position; he then threw away his rifle to put his hands up, but was shot all
the same. When any of the wounded moved on the field after we had stopped
firing they kept sniping at them.”
No. 33360 Private N.H. Grierson, Scottish Horse
states:
“On 30th October I was wounded and
lying by the side of Colonel Benson. When the Boers came up they wanted to
begin to loot; Colonel Benson stopped them, telling he had received a letter
from Commandant Grobelaar, saying the wounded would be respected. Colonel
Benson asked if he could see Grobelaar; they said they would fetch him, and
bought up someone who was in authority, but I did not think it was Grobelaar.
Colonel Benson told him the wounded were not to be touched, and he said he
would do his best; he himself protected Colonel Benson for about an hour, but
he was still there when a Boer took off Colonel Benson’s spurs and gaiters;
then the ambulance came and we were removed. I did not see the gun removed. I
was with Colonel Benson’s rearguard on 30th October, 1901 just as I
had mounted to change position I was hit in the right arm. I then dropped my
rifle, being unbale to hold it, and turned towards the ambulance. I had to pass
some Boers as I was galloping, and two or three of them shot me at about seven
yards range, hitting my horse. These men must have seen I was wounded already.”
No. 4398 Sergeant Ketley, 7th Hussars,
states:
“On 30th October I was attached to the
2nd Scottish Horse with Colonel Benson’s rearguard. I was wouned in
the head and hip just before the Boers rushed the guns. I was covered with
blood. A Boer came up, took away my carbine and revolver and asked me put to
put up my hands. I could not do this, being too weak with the loss of blood. He
loaded my own carbine and aimed from his breast while kneeling and pointing at
my breast, he fired and hit me in the right arm just below the shoulder.
Nothing was taken, and I was not touched anymore.”
No. 2439 Private Bell, 4th Battalion
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25th Mounted Infantry states:
“I was wounded through the hip with Colonel
Benson’s rearguard on the 30th October; when the Boers came up they
took my boots off very roughly, hurting my wounded leg very much. I saw them
taking watches and money off other men.”
No. 4153 Private C. Connor, Royal Dublin
Fusiliers, states:
“I was attached to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light
Infantry, I was lying beside the guns among a lot of our wounded who were not
firing. Every time one of our wounded attempted to move the Boers fired at
them; several men (about ten or eleven) were killed in this way. The Boers took
boots and jacket. I was wounded in the hip.”
9564 Corporal P. Gower, 4th Battalion
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 25th Mounted Infantry states:
“I was on 30tjh October with Colonel Benson’s
rearguard; I was wounded and unconscious, when I came to the Boers were
stripping the men round me; a man, Private Foster, who was not five yards from
me, put up his hands in token of surrender but was shot at about five yards’
range by a tall man with a black beard; he was killed. They also fired on the
wounded after the latter had ceased firing.”
No. 6153 Corporal Atkins, 84th Battery
Royal Field Artillery, states:
“I was with Colonel Benson’s rearguard on 30th
October, when the Boers came up to me and said, “Can you work this gun?” I
said, “Yes.” He said, “Get up and show me.” I said, “How can I, I have on ehand
taken away and I am wounded in both legs.” – this last was not true. He then
said, “Give us your boots.”: he took them and my mackintosh. He took what money
was in my belt. One of our men, Bombardier Collins, got up to try and put up a
white flag as we were being fired at from the camp and by the Boers; as soon as
he got up they began shooting at him. I saw a Kaffir fire three shots from
about thirty yards off. ”
No. 15771 Bombardier Collins, 84th
Battery Royal Field Artillery, states:
END.
