With the Naval Brigade in Natal, 1899-1900: Journal of Active Service

all other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has been maintained. Photo by Middlebrook, Durban. Twenty thousand men encamped under General Buller. WITH THE NAVAL BRIGADE IN NATAL 1899-1900 Journal of Active Service KEPT DURING THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH AND SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN NATAL AND THE TRANSVAAL, UNDER GENERAL SIR REDVERS BULLER, V.C., G.C.B. BY LIEUTENANT BURNE, R.N. LONDON EDWARD ARNOLD 1902 For the Army, our comrades and our friends, the Navy has nothing but the deepest respect and admiration. INTRODUCTION This Journal, completed before leaving the front in October, 1900, does not assume to be more than a somewhat rough and unadorned record of my personal experiences during ten months of the South African (Boer) Campaign of 1899-1900 while in detached command of two 12-pounder guns of H.M.S. Terrible and H.M.S. Tartar . Having been asked by some of my friends to publish it, I am emboldened to do so, in the hope that the Journal may be of interest to those who read it, as giving some idea of work done by a Naval Brigade when landed for service at a most critical time. A few notes on Field Gunnery are appended with a view to give to others a few ideas which I picked up while serving with the guns on shore, after a previous experience as Gunnery Lieutenant in H.M.S Thetis and Cambrian . For the photographs given I must record my thanks to Lieutenant Clutterbuck, R.N., Mr. Hollins, R.N., and other kind friends. C.R.N.B. April , 1902. CONTENTS PAGE Outbreak of the war—The Transport Service and despatch of Army Corps from Southampton—Departure of a Naval Brigade from England and landing at Capetown and Durban—I join H.M.S. Philomel 1-10 I depart for the front with a Q.-F. Battery from H.M.S. Terrible —Concentration of General Buller's army at Frere and Chieveley—Preliminary bombardment of the Boer lines at Colenso—The attack and defeat at Colenso—Christmas Day in camp 11-21 Life in Camp and Bombardment of the Boer lines at Colenso—General Buller moves his army, and by a flank march seizes "Bridle Drift" over the Tugela—The heavy Naval and Royal Artillery guns are placed in position—Sir Charles Warren crosses the Tugela with the 5th Division, and commences his flank attack 22-32 Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz—General Buller withdraws the troops