By early 1902, the Boers were conducting a guerrilla campaign against much larger British forces that were attempting to mop them up. At Langverwacht Hill, near the Orange River, a Boer force attacked a point on the line that was held by New Zealand’s Seventh Contingent. The New Zealand line consisted of small posts of five or six men in shallow trenches (sangars). A small group of Boers drove a herd of cattle against the wire entanglements connecting the British blockhouses, and used this distraction to overwhelm one of the New Zealand posts. They then advanced up the hill, overrunning a number of other New Zealand-held posts. After ferocious close-quarter fighting, the Boers opened a gap through which most of their force escaped. The New Zealand casualties were high: of about 90 men in the front line, 23 were killed and more than 40 wounded. -'Battle of Langverwacht Hill', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/end-of-the-battle-of-langverwacht-hill, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 7-Oct-2020
THE TRANSVAAL WAR.
CABLE NEWS.
UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. — BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. — COPYRIGHT.
NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION.
ENGAGEMENT AT BOTHASBERG.
HEAVY CASUALTIES AMONGST THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT.
LONDON, February 27. A Reuter message states that Commandants Albert, Ross, two Bothas, and some Transvaalers, totalling seven hundred, attempted to cross Colonels Byng’s and Rimington’s positions on the Vrede and Bothasberg line. The brunt of the fighting fell on Garratt’s New Zealanders, who, by their superb valour, defeated the attempt, but lost two officers and eighteen men killed and five officers and thirty-three men wounded. The Boers abandoned one hundred horses and six thousand cattle. The Boers first goaded a herd of cattle into a gallop, but the New Zealanders shot seventy of them, which had the effect of checking the rest. From behind cover of the dead cattle and horses the Boers maintained a heavy fire, till they were repulsed. A few escaped. Haus Botha and Main Botha were amongst the most determined fighters.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT. (Received March !st, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, February 28. The correspondent of the “Standard,” in describing the fight at Bothasberg, says: — “The columns formed portion of a combined swooping movement, one driving to the east and the other southwards, culminating at Harrismith. Byng and Rimington swung round southward during the night. It was then wet, with the moon showing dimly.
“The Boers attempting to traverse northwards, using cattle as a wedge, and finally drove the herd against Byng’s right flank, where he joined Rimington’s left.
“The New Zealanders, who were at this point, bore the brunt of the attack, and, though compelled to expose themselves, repelled the enemy with the utmost dash.
“The enemy also displayed great gallantry. The combined sweeping movement continues, and General Be Wet is still within the toils.”
The newspapers comment on the fact that while Canada was celebrating Paardeburg, New Zealand, at the price of sorrow, added by the Seventh’s achievement to a splendid record. The “Standard” says, “Englishmen will rejoice that colonials have again been of conspicuous service to the Empire.” -NZ Times, 1/3/1902.
DUNBACK.
March 1. — Quite a gloom was cast over the district to-day when it became known that Trooper Thomas McLew, second son of Mr John McLew, an old and respected settler in Shag Valley, was among the killed and Corporal J. O. Gilmore was severely wounded in the engagement of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent near Vrede on the 23rd ult. Great sympathy is felt towards the parents in their bereavement. Trooper McLew, who was a member of the North Otago Mouuted Rifles, was a promising young man. He had been in the hospital with an attack of fever, and must have been only a few weeks back at the front when he met his death. This is the third time that the grim realities of war have been brought home to this district. The first time was when Lieutenant J. H. Parker, of Kitchener's Light Horse, was killed in action, and the second when Trooper George Sim, of the South African Light Horse, was shot at Laing's Nek. It is to be fervently hoped that it will be the last time, and that those at the front and those going — Troopers W. Dreaver and W. Kennedy, of the Ninth Contingent — may arrive home again in safety. -Otago Witness, 5/3/1902.
A handsome memorial tablet was on view in Mr Andrew Lees's window on Saturday. It was designed by Messrs J. Swan, and Sons to the order of the Dunback residents, who desire to commemorate three ex-pupils of the Dunback school who fell in the South African war. The tablet is of brass, on an oaken shield, and bears the following inscription: — "This tablet is placed here in honour of Thomas McLew, George Sim and Robert M. Robertson, ex-pupils of the Dunback school, who lost their lives while defending the British flag during the South African campaign, 1899-02. Dulce et decorum pro patria mori." -Otago Daily Times, 25/8/1902.
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