TOPIC:

Frederick Walter Gascoigne

Sergeant, 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers

- Queens South Africa Medal (Elandslaagte/Defence of Ladysmith/Orange Free State/Belfast/Cape Colony) to 4128 Pte. F.W. GASCOIGNE. 5/Lcrs.
- Kings South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901/1902) to 4128 SERJT: F.W. GASCOIGNE. 5TH Lancers

Fred Gascoigne was born in Deolali in the Presidency of Bombay, India on 1 January 1875, the son of William Gascoigne, a Regimental Sergeant Major with the British Army and his wife Catherine Adelaide. His early years were spent in the Far East until his parents and siblings moved back to England several years after he was born.

The 1891 England census confirmed that the Gascoigne family had returned to the United Kingdom, but of Fred, who would have been 16 year old, there was no sign. Mr Gascoigne had taken his family to live at 2 Claremont Villas in Ash Road, Aldershot. Aside from his wife and himself were Fred’s siblings – Arthur (17 and also Indian-born), Catherine Martha (14 and born in Hampshire after the family’s return from India) and Mabel Dora (8 and born in Ireland). Where the various children were born is indicative of the postings Mr Gascoigne enjoyed. By 1891 however, he had thrown in the military towel and was employed as a Brewer’s Traveller.

But what of young Frederick, the subject of this work? One can only assume that he was away at school when the census enumerator called round or had remained in India. Whatever the case may be, on 18 November 1892, at the age of 17 and described as a Clerk by occupation, he enlisted with the 5th Lancers for service and was assigned no. 4128 and the rank of Private.

After a stint with the Lancers in India, Gascoigne and the Regiment were placed under orders for South Africa and, on the 29th of January 1898 handed over the horses etc. to a detachment of the 9th Lancers from Natal. The same day the advanced party left for Bombay with the heavy baggage.

On the following day the Regiment left Muttra by train, after a stay in that cantonment of over four years. A halt was made the same night at Jhansi, and on the following nights at Hoshungabad Khandwa, and Deolali rest camps. Deolali, where Gascoigne was born, was not left until the 8th of February, when the journey was continued to Bombay, and the Regiment embarked the same evening on board the Royal Indian Marine Ship "Clive.”

After an uneventful voyage the "Clive" arrived off Durban, Natal, on the 24th of February, but owing to a case of small-pox amongst the native crew, she was placed in quarantine, and anchored at the mouth of the harbour. On the 5th of March the Regiment disembarked, and proceeded by rail to Pinetown, remaining there under canvas until the 10th.

On the following Sunday night, the 24th September 1899, the Officers of the Regiment were joined by Major General Sir Penn-Symons, commanding the troops in Natal, who promptly ordered that a squadron of the Regiment should leave by rail next day for Ladysmith, and that the other two and Head-Quarters were to follow by march route on the day following. The Ladysmith garrison he remarked, was to move up to Dundee on tomorrow.

What had given rise to this? The long simmering tensions between the two Dutch-speaking Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State and Great Britain were about to spill over into open war.

"C" squadron was ordered to go by rail, and entrained on the following afternoon. The horses went in one train and the men in another, the latter travelling in open trucks. The 2nd King's Royal Rifles left the same afternoon. The squadron having arrived at Ladysmith at 3 a.m., at once detrained and rode up to the camp, and went into the quarters of 18th Hussars, who had left the previous day for Dundee. There was no news in Ladysmith beyond the rumours of large gatherings of Boers on the Drakensberg. Until the arrival of Head Quarters the squadron was employed in patrol work.


Mao showing proximity of Elandslaagte and other points to Ladysmith

Meanwhile Head Quarters and " A " and " D " Squadrons marched from Maritzburg on the morning of the 26th September for Ladysmith via Dargle Road, Nottingham Road, Mooi River, Estcourt, and Colenso, and arrived at Ladysmith on the 2nd of October. The Reserve troop remained behind in Maritzburg.

On October 11th war was declared and the next say, the 12th the Transvaal forces moved towards Penn- Symons at Dundee, while those of the Orange Free State came down the Van Reenen and Tintwa passes towards Ladysmith. The next morning Sir George White moved the major part of the Ladysmith garrison nine miles out to the west, and the Dublin Fusiliers were brought by rail from Dundee. The Free Staters, however, were not met, and the force returned to Ladysmith, and the Dublins were sent back to Dundee. " D " Squadron of the 5th Lancers continued on towards Mount Tintwa, and returned on the heels of the column.

The Boer commandos were gradually closing in on Dundee and Ladysmith, and on the 19th a portion of General Kock's commando, moving rapidly through the Biggarsberg, seized the coalfields and railway station at Elandslaagte, and so severed White's communication with Penn-Symons ; they also captured a supply train on its way to the Dundee force.

The Tin camp in Ladysmith being in an exposed position, was vacated on the 19th, the troops moving into the town. The 5th Lancers moved into camp on the South side of the town, and between it and the Klip river. On this day a 5th Lancer patrol was in touch with the enemy near Besters. Meanwhile the Indian contingent were arriving, and some squadrons of the 5th Dragoon Guards and 19th Hussars had already reached Ladysmith.

In these early days of the War the Regiment was continuously reconnoitring to the North; Boers were generally seen in small bodies, and they generally retired. Meanwhile, at 11 a.m. on the 20th, General French moved out of Ladysmith with the 5th Lancers and the Natal Carbineers to Modder Spruit, some twelve miles along the Dundee road. Halting at Modder Spruit the General sent "C” Squadron of the 5th Lancers on towards Elandslaagte. Lieutenant Hill's patrol succeeded in capturing two patrols of Boers, from whom it was gathered that Elandslaagte was not held in any great force by the enemy.

Sir George White now decided to clear the Boers from Elandslaagte and to cover and repair the railway and telegraph, and re-open direct communication with Dundee. To this end General French was ordered to leave Ladysmith early on the morning of Saturday the 21st of October 1899 with the Imperial Light Horse and a battery of the Natal Volunteer Artillery. These were to go by road, while a half battalion of the Manchester Regiment, and the Engineers were to follow by train. The I.L.H. and the battery started at 4 a.m., and by 8.30 a.m. were within a mile of Elandslaagte station. The Natal gunners opened fire on the station buildings and the Boers promptly replied. The Boer artillery was a revelation, better guns and smokeless powder, and good shooting. Seeing that his force was too small to attempt occupying Elandslaagte, General French withdrew to a position which was out of range and covered the armoured train, which had arrived, and telephoned the situation to Ladysmith.

Sir George White promptly commenced to despatch as large a force as could be spared to reinforce General French. "D" Squadron of the 5th Lancers under Captain Parker joined a squadron of 5th Dragoon Guards and the Battery of Royal Field Artillery at Limit Hill, just outside Ladysmith, whence they rode hard to Modder Spruit, to which place French had meanwhile retired. The force joined French about 11 a.m., and the infantry, consisting of the 1st Devonshire Regiment and the 2nd Gordon Highlanders, commenced to arrive by train. Meanwhile, on their arrival, "D” Squadron of the 5th Lancers, and four squadrons of Imperial Light Horse were sent to clear a ridge running parallel to the Boer main position, and about two and a half miles to the south west of it, which was intended to be the starting point of the infantry attack. The Boers, under Pienaar, fell back towards their main position.

Meanwhile, in Ladysmith, shortly after noon, "C” Squadron 5th Lancers under Captain Oakes was ordered to escort the 21st Battery R.F.A. to Modder Spruit, going as quickly as they could, the battery with double teams. At Modder Spruit the squadron joined that of the 5th Dragoon Guards, who were manoeuvring against Schiel’s German corps and a party of Boers to the North of the railway. On the enemy falling back, these two squadrons cut the wire fences and crossed the railway to the East, eventually halting in the vicinity of Elandslaagte station.

By 3 p.m. all the re-inforcements had arrived, and General French determined to attack. The infantry were sent on to the ridge which "D" Squadron and the I.L.H. had earlier in the day cleared. The Devons marched along its northern end, while the Manchesters moved further to the right, and the Gordon Highlanders were in the centre. The Boer guns opened on the infantry as they appeared, and at 4 p.m. the 21st Battery R.F.A. came into action in the open, on the left of the Manchesters, against the enemy's artillery at 4000 yards range. The 42nd Battery then coming up, the Boer guns ceased firing. "D" Squadron 5th Lancers, supported by the Imperial Light Horse, now gave chase to a party of the enemy who appeared to be galloping south. The squadron pursued to within a short distance of the Boer main position, and retired at a gallop under a heavy fire in open order on the I.L.H., who had dismounted.


Dramatised view of the fighting at Elandslaagte

About 4.30 p. m. the infantry attack had commenced. The Devons, advancing across the open, made a frontal attack against the Boer position, while the Gordons and Manchesters were working round to the right against the Boer left flank. The Devons, slowly and steadily advancing, walked through the artillery and Mauser fire to within 800 yards of the summit of the Boer hill. Here they lay under an appalling fire for over half-an-hour, waiting for the flank attack to develop, and the order to advance.

Meanwhile on the right flank the Manchesters and Gordons were pressing on. On the ridge already mentioned they were joined by the Imperial Light Horse, who, dismounting, doubled out and extended on the right of the Manchesters; while still further to the right "D" Squadron of 5th Lancers were awaiting their opportunity. The flank attack now had half a mile of open slope to cover to reach the main ridge, and in spite of enormous losses they pressed on. At last from the valley below the Devonshire bugles rang out the "charge;" the call spread along the line, and with a cheer and a great rush, the bayonets of the frontal and flank attacks were in possession of the hill, while the Boers were streaming away down the reverse slopes. The "Cease fire" now sounded and the action was apparently over. Suddenly, however, a party of Boers headed by General Kock delivered a counter attack against the soldiers crowded together on the ridge, which went very near to being successful. The men, perplexed by the 'cease fire' and staggered by the sudden fury of the attack, fell back a hundred yards, uncovering the captured guns, which the leading Boers laid hold of. The Imperial Light Horse on the right again rushed to the charge, but not before they had lost their Colonel, Scott Chisholme. His gallant corps, however, leapt forward, the infantry rallied, and once more the Khaki clad line advanced. Four companies of the Devons stormed the detached hill on the left of the position, and in a few minutes Devons, Manchesters, Highlanders and Light Horsemen were rushing for the laager below, and ‘cease fire' again sounded. It was now after half past five, and already getting dusk. During the infantry attack "C” Squadron 5th Lancers and "C" Squadron 5th Dragoon Guards had been lying in a fold of the ground on the left, and a couple of patrols of the Lancers had captured some twenty Boers. But now the opportunity for which they had waited had come. The Boers were streaming off their main position in a Northerly direction, and with the 5th Lancer Squadron under Captain Oakes on the right, and that of the 5th Dragoon Guards under Major Gore on the left, the Cavalry extended, and were let go.


The famous charge of the Lancers at Elandslaagte

As they topped the rise which had concealed them, they found the Boers crossing their front at a distance of a few hundred yards. The Boers endeavoured to get away, but in spite of a donga to be crossed, and the bad rocky going, the big English and Wales horses of the Lancers and Dragoons were soon amongst their little ponies. For over a mile did the two British squadrons ride through the enemy, spearing some forty of them. Then rallying, the troopers wheeled about and galloped back again through the still streaming crowds of fugitives. Many Boers endeavoured to fire their Mausers from the saddle, but after the first onset of the cavalry, the Burghers were straining every nerve to gallop away from those terrible lance points.

This charge created the greatest terror and resentment among the Boers, who vowed at the time that they would destroy all Lancers they captured. On the other hand, an Officer who rode with the squadron stated that in the return gallop he repeatedly saw Boers throw up their hands in token of surrender, and as the lance point was turned and the lancer passed, a rifle would be treacherously fired by the Boer at his enemy. The troops bivouacked on the field, and a cold drizzling rain made matters worse for those wounded who were not found by the search parties.

The victory was complete. The enemy had been driven off a strong position of their own choosing and their retreat converted into a demoralised rout. The British losses were 5 Officers and 50 men killed, and 30 Officers and 175 men wounded. The casualties occurred chiefly amongst the Infantry regiments when they stormed the position.

The Regiment had suffered but little during the action. The lance had struck greater terror into the hearts of the enemy than the rifle, and the Boers themselves are first rate marksmen. The feeling of exultation amongst the troops was excusable as they lay endeavouring to snatch fitful sleep or stood guarding their prisoners all through that wet and cheerless night.

No accurate records were kept (or have been located) which marry a man to a Squadron – it is thus impossible to say with certainty whether or not Gascoigne was one of the men involved in the now famous charge.

"A" Squadron of the Regiment, under Captain Scriven, had left Ladysmith in the early morning and remained out all day to the West of French, and had not been actively engaged. Next morning at 3 a.m. the mounted troops started back to Ladysmith, "C" and "D" Squadrons of the Regiment escorting the Artillery; and during the day "A" squadron returned to the town. The Infantry and prisoners soon after daylight entrained for Ladysmith. This retirement from Elandslaagte was some- what hurried by the movements of the Freestaters on the other side of Ladysmith.

The afternoon of the 23rd found the Regiment reconnoitring towards Tinta Inyoni. "C” and "D" Squadrons returned to Ladysmith at dusk, leaving "A" Squadron out for the night.

Meanwhile the force at Dundee was in a difficult position. General Yule, who had succeeded Penn-Symons in the command, at length decided that the only course left to him to save his force from disaster was to leave all standing in his camp, abandon his stores etc., and slip away at night for Ladysmith. Accordingly at 9.30 p.m. on the 22nd, the retirement commenced. The camp was left standing and the wounded left in the hospital.

The column trudged by forced marches down the Helpmakaar road to Waschbank. The Free State Boers had re-occupied Elandslaagte, and a large force of Boers was known to be in the neighbourhood of Jonono's Kop and on the hills of Rietfontein Farm. To prevent the enemy from attacking the retreating column on its exposed flank. Sir George White decided that by demonstrating in force in the neighbourhood of Rietfontein Farm, some 8 miles out of Ladysmith, he would keep the Boers too fully occupied to annoy the Dundee Column.

About 4.30 a.m. on the 24th of October, the following force marched out of Ladysmith: — the 5th Lancers, 19th Hussars, I. L. H., some Natal Mounted Volunteers under General French, the 42nd and 53rd Field, and 10th Mountain batteries, and an Infantry brigade of Gloucesters, Devons, Liverpools and 2nd 60th. Rifles, under Ian Hamilton. The cavalry pushed on ahead of the main body, which moved in column of route along the Newcastle road.

"A" Squadron, who had been out all night, were picked up on the road. When near Modder Spruit, the left flanking patrols of the Regiment came in contact with the Boer outposts on the low spurs of Tinta Inyoni, while from the mountain itself a Boer gun opened fire on the main body. The Regiment drove the enemy off the low spurs, which they occupied themselves. The Boer position was along the lofty ridge of Tinta Inyoni, between which and the road and railway, and running parallel, was another and lower ridge. On to this ridge Sir George White moved his infantry and artillery. His flanks were protected by the mounted troops. The 5th Lancers remained all day on the foot hills of Tinta Inyoni opposite the Boer left, and by dismounted fire were a check on the enemy reinforcing his right. Part of I. L. H. and M. I. were in rear of the 5th Lancers, and the 19th Hussars were further to the right, at Modder Spruit.

At midday heliographic communication was obtained with the Dundee Column at the Waschbank, and Sir George White, considering he had attained his object, commenced to withdraw his infantry under the cover of the guns. The Regiment retired by a succession of squadrons from the kopjes they had been holding. As soon as they left the cover of the kopjes they came in for a severe fire, which dropped a few men and horses. During the return march to Ladysmith the Regiment acted as rear guard to the Column.

Next morning the Regiment marched out along the Helpmakaar road to the Modder Spruit just East of Mbulwana. From there "A" Squadron was sent on towards the retiring Dundee Column, whom they met in the afternoon at Sunday's River. The Lancers were met with loud cheers and great enthusiasm from Yule's tired soldiers. At 6 p.m. the Column again started for another night march, the squadron of Lancers acting as its rear guard. This last march of the retiring column was a frightful ordeal to the hungry and weary soldiers from Dundee ; streaming torrents of rain all night, and inches of mud to toil through. However, the men and animals crawled steadily on through mud and rain, and at daybreak reached the Modder Spruit, where the remainder of the 5th Lancers were in bivouac awaiting them. From here a short march brought the Column into Ladysmith.


Maurice's map detailing where the 5th Lancers were camped in Ladysmith during the Siege

The Boers were now rapidly moving down to Ladysmith. The Free Staters were already a few miles to the North of the town, and by the 27th the Transvaal commandos were laagered along the eastern and north eastern front of Ladysmith. On Sunday the 29th of October the Boers cut the Ladysmith water supply, and further employed themselves in mounting a "Long Tom" on Pepworth Hill, which is some 7000 yards to the North of the Town. The enemy were quickly closing in from the North, and Sir George White decided on a general action for the next day.

The supposition was that the Orange Free State commandos were moving South past Ladysmith, and the idea was to "roll up the Transvaal force from its left flank." The first objective was Long Hill, and an infantry brigade consisting of the 1st and 2nd King's Royal Rifles, the Liverpools, the Leicesters, and the Dublin Fusiliers under Col. Grimwood, was to carry the hill in flank, supported by four batteries. The right flank of this attack was to be covered by General French with the 5th Lancers, 19th Hussars and the Natal Mounted Volunteers, from the direction of Lombards Nek. An infantry brigade of Devons, Manchesters and Gordon Highlanders (joined later by the 2nd Rifle Brigade) under Ian Hamilton, with three batteries, 5th Dragoon Guards, 18th Hussars and I.L.H. were to take up position under the cover of Limit Hill.

When Long Hill was carried, both the aforementioned infantry brigades would storm Pepworth's Hill and capture the guns. The cavalry would then pursue by Bells Spruit and Tinta Inyoni. Seven miles out of Ladysmith this road passes through the defile of Nicholson's Nek, where the pursuit might be easily checked. To prevent this and to keep the pass open, and to occupy a proportion of the enemy, a column consisting of the Gloucestershire Regiment, Royal Irish Fusiliers and 10th Mountain battery was to be sent to occupy the Nek.

The Boer forces north of Ladysmith extended along an irregular crescent from the Harrismith railway on the north west to the laager near Farquhar’s Farm just east of Long Hill on the East. A little before 11 p.m. on the Sunday night the infantry columns moved out. Day broke crisp and clear on “Mournful Monday," the 30th of October. Long Hill was found to be practically unoccupied, and the brigade originally destined for its capture was swung round to face an attack from its right.

The Cavalry moved out at about 3 a.m., part going towards Limit Hill as ordered, and the main body under French along the Helpmekaar road to Lombard's Kop. Here French halted his regiments. About 6.30 a.m. the 5th Lancers and the 19th Hussars rode forward. "Two squadrons of the Lancers rode up to a small kopje forming part of Grimwood's position opposite Long Hill, while the Hussars went further to the right, to what was then Grimwood's right rear. The Lancers, who expected to be fired at, if at all, from their left, received a heavy fire in front and on their right flank as well." The 19th met with an equally warm reception. The men were dismounted and lined the nearest ridge, but soon after mounted and rode back under a heavy pom-pom fire to the nek north of Lombard's Kop, where, taking up a line on the Kopjes north east of Lombard's Kop, French prolonged the line from Grimwood's right.

By 8 a.m. the cavalry on the right could do no more than hold their own. They and Grimwood's infantry were drawn up on a line some four miles long facing east. Sir George White now sent the 5th Dragoon Guards, 18th Hussars and 21st and 69th Field Batteries to French on the right. Meanwhile news from the detached column for Nicholson's Nek showed that something was wrong in that quarter, and a helio message to retire was sent, but was not got through.

The Boers were now steadily reinforcing their left and making a bold bid to turn Grimwood's position. White now determined to abandon the contest, and at midday commenced the withdrawal of his infantry. The retreat into Ladysmith, which was commenced under great difficulties, was materially helped by the "Powerful's" Naval Brigade, who, arriving by rail from Durban, promptly got their 12 pounders into action and engaged the Boer "Long Toms" at their own ranges.

Following the return of the British force into Ladysmith came the news of the surrender of the Nicholson's Nek detachment, and if any succession of unfortunate events was calculated to throw a place into gloomy foreboding that of " Mournful Monday" should have had such an effect on the garrison of Ladysmith. The British losses were, 6 Officers and 57 men killed, 13 officers and 245 men wounded, and 43 officers and 925 men reported missing. The Boers on their side must have lost heavily, but no reliable report was obtainable. Beyond some horses killed the Regiment had no casualties.

The next two days the Naval guns and the Boer "Long Tom" on Pepworth were engaged in a long range artillery duel, while the Boers were rapidly getting their big guns into position and preparing for the investment of Ladysmith, the British being equally busy in their defence preparations. The camp of the cavalry brigade was now moved to below the Princess Victoria Battery (a Naval 4.7 gun) on Cove Redoubt. About 2.30 a.m. on the 2nd, the 5th Lancers with the 5th Dragoon Guard and 18th Hussars, a battery of R.F.A. and some Natal Volunteers made a reconnaissance towards Besters and shelled a Free State laager.

"A" Squadron of the Regiment escorted the guns, and came under a heavy shell fire while covering the retirement of the battery. On reaching Ladysmith the force found the Town and Camps being shelled by the enemy from Pepworth and Mbulwana, a high flat topped hill commanding Ladysmith some 6000 yards to the South East.

The Defence of Ladysmith.

With the rail and telegraph destroyed, and the enemy in possession of all the points surrounding and commanding Ladysmith, the isolation of Sir George White's force was complete, and the investment of Ladysmith commenced. The bombardment practically began on the 2nd of November. On the 3rd, the 5th Lancers rode out at 4 a.m. to Observation Hill, a low ridge to the North of Cove Redoubt, and remained there on outpost duty until 7 p.m. A certain amount of sniping was indulged in during the day by the enemy on Stone Wall Hill, but with no result. During the afternoon a shell dropped into a bell tent, in the 5th Lancers camp, in which three men were sleeping, but not bursting, the occupants of the tent escaped with a fright.

Next day the Regiment marched before daybreak down to the Klip river, where the horses remained saddled up all day, the men ''standing to,” hidden from the Boer artillerymen by the Kopjes on either side of the river. Orders were issued to dye all white horses. The 5th of November was spent by the Regiment at outpost duty on Observation Hill, while the 5th Dragoon Guards took their turn of "standing to" below the Klip river Kopjes. The enemy were rapidly getting the guns into position and the bombardment was getting more severe.

The Regiment spent the 7th on Observation Hill, and the 8th "standing to" down by the river. The Cavalry Brigade camp was badly shelled on the former day, but as the men and horses were away no casualties occurred, while on the latter date the Boers dragged a second "Long Tom" on to Mbulwana, which joined in the bombardment of the town at a range of 7500 yards.

A week of steady bombardment had now gone by, and yet Ladysmith showed no signs of surrendering. The enemy were getting impatient, and on the 8th Joubert called a Council of War, at which an assault on the defences was decided on for the next day.

The 9th of November was the turn of the 5th Lancers for outpost duty on Observation Hill. At 3 a.m. the squadrons rode out to take up their usual positions on the hill, "A" squadron on the left, "C" in the centre and "D" on the right. On approaching their positions, advanced scouts were as usual sent on ahead, and day was just breaking as these men reached the top and discovered the Boers running across the valley from the dongas at the foot of Surprise Hill. A number had actually reached the railway wire fencing at the foot of Observation Hill West, and another five minutes would have found them in possession of the ridge. The scouts of "A" Squadron however promptly opened fire on them and checked their rush, while the squadron, rushing up with their carbines, soon drove them back to the shelter of the nearest dongas. It was a close thing, but all three squadrons were now in position.

Covered by a heavy long range fire from Stone Wall Hill (or Bell's Kopje), the Boer supports were now coming along in considerable numbers from the dongas of Surprise Hill and Bells' Kopje. The attack was mainly directed against the "A" squadron position on Observation Hill West, and one troop of "C” Squadron was sent galloping across to reinforce "A." This troop, leaving their horses at the foot, ran up the Kopje, and on reaching the top rushed through an enfilading fire from the enemy on Stone Wall Hill across an open bit some fifty yards wide to the shelter of some rocks. The fire the troops had just run through was pretty hot, but nothing compared to the next open space of some sixty or seventy yards to the "A" Squadron firing line, across which the men had to face a very severe frontal in addition to the enfilading fire. There were three troops of "A" and one of "C" now in the firing line, sheltered by a low loosely built stone wall some eighteen inches high, from which the Lancers kept up a slow and steady carbine fire at the dongas in the valley below, and checked numerous attempts of the enemy to rush across the open. The low stone wall was now the mark of every Boer rifle on Stone Wall Hill and in the Surprise Hill dongas, and the rifle fire directed on it was tremendous. However the men knew how to take every advantage of cover. Not a man was hit, and this cavalry squadron kept a large contingent of Boers armed with a better weapon at bay. As the light got better, the enemy's howitzer on Surprise Hill, and two guns up Bell's Spruit, opened fire on the low stone wall, and gave the Lancers steady doses of shrapnel, but with no effect; lying low behind the wall, with a steady and well-aimed fire from their carbines, they prevented every attempt of the Boers to come out of their dongas.

About 9 a.m. two companies of the Rifle Brigade were sent up in support from Leicester Post, and soon after the Boer Long Tom on Mbulwana joined in the bombardment of Observation Hill West. This gun shelled the hill in rear, and caused some casualties amongst the lead horses, which were moved round a projecting spur, and necessitated the whole of the supporting riflemen to be moved up into the more sheltered firing line of the 5th Lancers. The din on the hill was appalling, and about 11 o'clock shells were breaking on the Kopje almost without intermission, while the rifle fire was incessant. A little before noon there was a lull in the firing, but at 12 o'clock the Sailors' guns in the Naval batteries got going, planting a succession of shells in the Boer batteries, and as suddenly ceased.

The enemy again woke up, and kept the men behind the low stone wall lying very tight for some hours, and then apparently gave up all ideas of possessing the hill. As evening approached they dropped to a desultory fire ; and after dark the 5th Lancer Squadrons left the hill to the Rifle Brigade, and rode back to camp. Considering the heavy fire "A" Squadron and the troop of "C" had been subjected to from daylight to dusk, the casualties were extraordinarily small. The men on Observation Hill West had had a most trying day; from daylight to dusk they had lain prone behind the eighteen inch wall in a broiling African summer sun, with no food beyond the biscuit and water some may have had in their haversacks and water bottles.

The total British loss only amounted to 4 killed and 27 wounded. An enormous number of shells had been thrown into Ladysmith. It had been a close thing on Observation Hill West before daybreak, and the Boer possession of the ridge less than 1700 yards from Cove Redoubt, and within rifle range of the Naval guns, would have seriously cramped White's defences. As a result of the affair, Observation Hill was put in a position of defence, and while the Cavalry continued to hold it by day, they were relieved by infantry at night, except at the Western end, which was permanently held by the Rifles.

On the 14th of November when "standing to" the 5th Lancers were suddenly ordered out about 10 a.m. with the Imperial Light Horse and the 21st and 67th Field batteries, under the command of General Brocklehurst to turn the enemy off Rifleman's (or Blaaubank) Ridge. The I.L.H. succeeded in establishing themselves on Star Hill while the rest of the force remained in support on Sign Post Hill. For some time the Boer position was heavily shelled, and a little before 1 p.m. the I.L.H. were withdrawn and the 5th Lancers covered the retirement into Ladysmith, being well shelled by the Rifleman's Ridge guns and the Mbulwana 'Long Tom,' the latter at a range of 10,000 yards. The only result of this sortie was a furious artillery duel lasting nearly two hours.

Until the 29th of November the Regiment was employed as usual on Observation Hill or "standing to” in the river bivouac; but little of interest occurred. On that day the Regiment was relieved from its duties on Observation Hill and formed part of a flying column to co-operate with Sir Redvers Buller and the Relieving Force. Each man was ordered to carry 2 days rations and each horse 20 lbs corn. The next day while the Regiment were at "stables" in the Convent donga, a shell from Mbulwana fell into the midst of "D" Squadron and buried itself in the sand without damaging a man or a horse, in spite of the crowd of men and horses in the donga.

About 4 a.m. on 8 December while at exercise, the Regiment was warned for a reconnaissance by the Cavalry Brigade, but it was not until nearly 7 a.m. that the Brigade turned out. The 5th Lancers were ordered to Limit Hill and Long Hill, the 18th Hussars to Bell's Spruit and towards Pepworth, while the 5th Dragoon Guards remained in reserve behind the Eastern point of Observation Hill. However, by the time the Lancers and Hussars got away, the Boers were everywhere on the alert and rapidly reinforcing the threatened points, with the result that both regiments got a good dusting. The 5th Lancers rode out at a gallop from Ladysmith, being shelled the whole way to Limit Hill. They continued along the Newcastle road, but being checked by very severe rifle fire from the lower slopes of Pepworth, they rode in an extended column of troops parallel to the thorn bushes south of Long Hill, and then swinging round returned over Flag Hill to Limit Hill, where they remained some time being shelled by Mbulwana. Eventually a message came from Sir George White ordering the return of the Regiment, which sent them trotting quietly back to Ladysmith through the shells from Mbulwana and Surprise Hill.

And so the days wore on, the Regiment "standing to" in the Klip River bivouac by day, turning out for the flying column at night, and exercising the hour before dawn. Meanwhile food was getting scarce, and dysentery and enteric were beginning to make themselves felt; and a plague of flies, and the intense heat made life scarcely endurable. The siege of Ladysmith was now entering upon its third month, and yet no signs of surrender from the garrison. The bolder spirits in the Boer laagers were clamouring for a great effort to attack and capture the place. It was high time the siege was ended, and the investing commandos set free for service elsewhere. Joubert was against it, but at a general "Krygsraad" was compelled to yield to the pressure of a large majority in favour of a desperate assault on Ladysmith.

The plan adopted was the delivery of a main assault against the Platrand (the Caesar’s Camp- Wagon Hill ridge). A vigorous attack was also to be made on Observation Hill, while a general demonstration along the whole perimeter of the defence would prevent the withdrawal of troops to reinforce the defence of the Platrand. The points of attack against this ridge were the Eastern and South Eastern end of Caesar's camp, and the Southern and South Western end of Wagon Hill and Wagon Point, while the supports were to concentrate in the bed of Fouries' Spruit and behind Mounted Infantry Hill. The Mbulwana and Telegraph Hill Creuzot guns would enfilade the ridge, while half a dozen guns drawn from Colenso were to be placed at various points along the southern side of Besters' valley. Finally, the attack was to be delivered before dawn, and its actual date was left to Joubert, whose order was to be published at the last minute, to prevent any chance of Ladysmith discovering the Boer intentions.

After dark on the evening of January the 5th Joubert sent his orders for the great assault to be carried out in the early hours of the following morning, and a few hours later the commandos rode out of their laagers and began assembling at the appointed rendezvous. About 2 a.m. the working party with the Naval gun were hard at work on Wagon Point, and about 2.30 a.m. an advanced picket of the I. L. H. heard men scrambling amongst the boulders at the foot of Wagon Hill. They reported the matter, and the squadron was aroused. A quarter of an hour later there was no doubt about it, the picket could plainly hear the Boers climbing up the hill. A sentry challenged and the picket fired a volley down the slope. A crash of musketry was the answer, and the enemy scrambled up the hill and a desperate fight ensued at point blank range, until a couple of rounds from a Hotchkiss checked the Boers. Some I. L. H. on Wagon Point were moved towards the direction of the firing, and gained the nek below the Crows Nest.


A more detailed map showing the Wagon Hill position

About 3.15 a.m. the Boer fire was steadily increasing, and to prevent being outflanked, the I. L. H. on the slope retired to the top of Wagon Hill, a murderous fire being poured on the men. The Boers immediately pressed forward, and at the same time a small party of Boers, endeavouring to work round the foot of Wagon Point to the British rear, were checked by the guard over the 4.7 gun lying at the foot of the hill.

The outburst of firing on Wagon Hill had warned the troops on Caesar's Camp, and the crest line was held at double strength by the pickets and their morning reliefs. The Boers climbing its southern face were checked by the steady shooting of the Manchesters, and lying low amongst the rocks and bushes, kept up a heavy fire on the sky line. The Utrecht men, however, had successfully climbed the Eastern slopes, and at 4. 15 a.m. arrived at the crest, and after a short struggle overpowered the extreme left group of the picket there. They now turned to the left and began rolling up the thin line of the British on the South Eastern crest. Reinforced from below at day-light they were now in possession of the eastern crest. They then commenced to work along the southern crest, but supports were sent to the pickets in front of them and the Boers were checked.

About 4.45 a.m. the rest of the Imperial Light Horse came galloping up from their camp in Ladysmith town, and were sent up to various points along Wagon Hill and Wagon Point. The arrival of the reinforcing squadrons resulted in a renewed outburst of fire, and officers and men fell fast. The remainder of the battalion of 60th Rifles arrived a little before 7 a.m., and repeated attempts were made by the Riflemen to charge across the open at the Free Staters on the crest, whose deadly short range fire was playing such havoc. Three officers fell dead together with most of the men who followed them, as they successively attempted the rush. The fighting gradually became stationary, Briton and Boer lying under what cover there was, and separated only by a few yards of open grass on the summit, and for hours across the deadly strip of open did the hum of Mauser and Lee-Enfield bullets continue. The 21st Battery, with an escort of 5 D.G. from near Range post, had meanwhile come into action against Mounted Infantry Hill.

To return to the fight on the Eastern end of the Platrand, we left the Transvaalers in possession of the Eastern crest of Caesar's Camp. Against these a small party of Gordon Highlanders advanced, but were effectually checked by the enemy. About 6 a.m. the 53rd Battery R.F.A. moved out of Ladysmith and came into action in the scrub south west of the Town, and at a range of some 2000 yards, burst shrapnel amongst the Boers on the Eastern point of Caesar's Camp, and gradually forced them back to the slopes on the south eastern end, where they remained in cover. Soon after coming into action the battery received the attention of the Mbulwana "Long Tom,” who steadily fired shell after shell at it, of which, however, the British gunners took not the slightest notice, and continued their bombardment of the Caesar's Camp slope until about 9 a.m., when, having completed their task, they withdrew to cover. Meanwhile some companies of the Rifle Brigade and the remainder of the Gordon Highlanders had arrived in reserve at Caesar's Camp, the latter regiment having lost their Colonel, who was mortally wounded soon after crossing the Klip River.

But where the 5th Lancers? At 2 a.m. the Regiment as usual turned out to exercise, and soon after the search lights on Mbulwana and Telegraph Hill commenced flashing, while half an hour later a sputtering of rifle fire was heard in the direction of Wagon Hill, followed by firing on Caesar's Camp and Observation Hill. The Regiment had reached the river bivouac before dawn, by which time the rifle fire along the Caesar's Camp — Wagon Hill ridge — was very heavy, and evidently more than the false alarm it was thought to be. By 6.30 a.m. the fusilade was tremendous, and Wagon Hill and Caesar's Camp apparently heavily engaged, and the horses were kept saddled up ready to turn out. As the light improved the Boer guns opened fire, their attentions being chiefly directed on Caesar's Camp and Wagon Hill, though some dropped shells all-round the defences.

At 9 a.m. a galloper arrived with an order for the 5th Lancers to go to Caesar's Camp below Manchester Post. The bombardment round Ladysmith by this time was tremendous, and shells were whistling from all directions. The big guns on both sides were paying each other marked attention. Coming up out of the bivouac, the Regiment trotted down the road to Fly Kraal and Manchester Post in a long column of sections opened out to a distance of twenty yards between sections, the whole journey of over two miles being done in full view of Mbulwana, which shelled heavily but ineffectually.

Arrived at Manchester Post, the squadrons awaited events in the dongas below the hill, while on the top the desperate fight was waging, and a continual stream of bullets and splinters of shell went whistling and shrieking high overhead. By 11 a.m, Caesar's Camp was safe, and the Boer attack there had failed, though the gallant Transvaalers were still clinging on to its southern slopes. On the other end of the Platrand, however, a desperate and nearly successful effort was made by the Free Staters.

In the meantime the 5th Lancers were awaiting events in the dongas below Manchester Post. At 1 p.m. a staff officer rode down from Manchester Post and calling to the first 5th Lancer Officer he saw, he shouted, "The cavalry are to gallop to Wagon Hill at once.” The word was quickly passed, and the three squadrons were mounted and away through the scrub and round a shoulder of the hill before Mbulwana could get in a shell. A mad gallop to Wagon Hill, and the Regiment pulled up below the 60th Rifle redoubt. Dismounting, the led horses were put down into some dongas for shelter from the Boer guns on Blaaubank ridge, and the men ran up on the Northern slopes of Wagon Hill.
Halting, the squadrons formed in mass. Soon after some 19th Hussars and 5th Dragoon Guards arrived and formed below the 5th Lancers. Meanwhile Sir George White had ordered the hill to be cleared at all costs. His cavalry had been sent round, and Ian Hamilton was told that the Devonshire regiment were on their way.

All day long the glowing African sun had beaten down upon the backs of the men lying with their faces close to the sweltering stones. But now the whole heavens darkened, and at four o'clock the threatening thunder storm burst with a deluge of rain rare even in South Africa. The blinding, drenching downpour was full in the faces of the Boers, who, fearing that the British would now attempt to rush them off the crest, began firing wildly into the mist. But the exhausted troops on Wagon Hill were not yet ready for the attempt. To the thunder was added the din of bursting shrapnel.

Suddenly and clear rang out "5th Lancers" and the squadrons were up and over the crest, and running like demons, heaven alone knew where, through a hail of bullets and a pandemonium of appalling sounds. The only course for an individual was to run straight and as hard as possible. On the squadrons sprinted, until, as if by instinct, they all fell flat below a line of boulders a foot and a half high, on the summit of the hill and close to the firing line of the 60th Rifles. "C" Squadron was on the right, "A" in the centre and "D" on the left. A short run and a trying one, but thanks to the storm there were few casualties. All around were dead and wounded Riflemen and Light Horsemen. "D" squadron on the left was soon after withdrawn. The rain continued but the thunder had passed, and in its place the Boer guns sent shell after shell bursting on the plateau. The rifle fire was intense, and sounded to the men lying prone behind the rocks as if all the bees in Africa had been let loose, — a continual buzz and hum. Two troops of "C" Squadron had rushed to some rocks on the right, and slightly in advance of the line, and were enfiladed by the Free Staters on the slopes of the Crows' Nest.

The Crows' Nest loomed up on the right of the Regiment, and one wondered if there were sufficient Britishers to hang on to it. Between the Crows' Nest and the right of the regiment was the open plateau running out into a salient, on the crest of which were the Free Staters. The din went on when suddenly, a little before 6 p.m., the Devonshires appeared over the northern crest in rear of the Regiment and with a ringing cheer the mass of men charged down on the Free Staters. Lieutenant Hill, in command of the right troop of "C'' Squadron of the Regiment, jumping up to join in the grand charge, dropped dead with a bullet through his brain. The Boers with one last wild volley, turned and bolted down the hillside, and the Devons lined the crest the Free Staters had held so successfully throughout the day.

For another half hour the firing went on, then kindly night put an end to the sixteen hours of desperate fighting, and the Platrand was still held by the Ladysmith garrison. "A" and "C” squadrons spent the night in the position they had lain in during the afternoon, while "D” Squadron was in support on the northern slopes of the hill. A cold and miserable night, everyone wet through and many of the killed and wounded lying where they fell. The enemy did not renew the attack in the morning, and the first few hours were spent in collecting the killed and wounded, "C" Squadron carrying the dead of the Gordon Highlanders from Wagon Point. Dawn on this Sunday morning produced a ghastly spectacle on the Platrand. The British losses were 18 officers and 150 men killed, and 25 officers and 224 men wounded, a total of 417 casualties. It was difficult to determine the Boer losses, the accounts being so varied, but their casualties were probably much the same as those of the defenders.

After the Relief of Ladysmith ended on 1 March 1900 the Regiment, together with the 18th and 19th Hussars moved out to Field's Farm, and on the 9th of April to Pound's Plateau, below Mbulwana, where the brigade was gradually re-horsed and brought up to strength with drafts from England. During May the Regiment joined the Drakensburg Defence Force, "D" Squadron being at Jonono's Kop, "A" at Besters' Station on the Orange Free State railway, and " C " and Headquarters at Smith's crossing. On the 6th of June a patrol of "A" Squadron were in action with the enemy near Brackwall Station.

On the 27th of July "D" Squadron and Headquarters entrained at Ladysmith for Volksrust, "C" Squadron marching to Elandslaagte and there joining the train, while "A" squadron remained behind at Besters' station. The two squadrons arrived at Volksrust, the Transvaal border town, at 8 a.m. on the 28th of July, and detraining, marched to Sandspruit. Next morning they marched to Meerzicht, some 9 miles to the North, and there rejoined Brig. General Brocklehurst’s 2nd Cavalry Brigade (18th and 19th Hussars). The Regiment arrived at Meerzicht about midday, and found the troops out engaged in a reconnaissance in force towards Amersfort.

The Vaal river was crossed on the 10th, the enemy for a short time disputing the passage of the bridge, and on the 11th the force bivouacked at Klipfontein. The 5th Lancers in the advanced guard halted some distance beyond the bivouac, and spent two most uncomfortable hours in a grass fire. The night of August the 12th was spent at Ermelo, and the following day Botha's Rust, near the source of the Vaal was reached.
On Sunday the 26th, Buller left Geluk and moved north towards the railway, while French operated against the Boer right, north of the railway, and between the two, Robert's guards and mounted infantry advanced. A brigade of Bullers' infantry were engaged all day, and the Regiment, with the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, (Natal) were more or less under shell fire throughout the day on the left of the Natal Army. By nightfall Buller's force was overlooking the Boer position at Dalmanutha. His troops spent a cold night on the ground, with in many cases but little transport. During the night a man of "D" squadron was shot on outpost duty.

On the morning of the 27th, on the ridges he had won the previous day, Buller found himself opposite the Bergendal farm, which was really the centre of the Boer position opposing the united forces of Roberts and himself. Across an undulating valley, about two miles north of his position, and just south of the railway, lay the Bergendal farm. Close to the farm, in amongst the rocks of an apparently unapproachable kopje, Botha had placed his best troops, the "Zarps" of Johannesburg and Pretoria (the Zuid Africaanshe Republik Politie). The kopje, in the shape of a natural platform, was some two hundred yards east to west, and a hundred from north to south, where it fell into the valley dividing it from the Natal Army's position. It was a strong position, and looked like certain death to any troops who attempted to cross the glacis in front of it. Just north of the farm and kopje ran the railway. Another commando was in the farm and along an outcrop of rocks still further to the left.

Early on the morning of the 27th "D" Squadron and one troop of "C” went with the cavalry brigade to their position on the northern flank of Buller's army, while two troops of "C" were ordered off as escort to guns. Shortly before 11 a.m. the bombardment of the Bergendal position began. The shelling of the artillery was chiefly directed on the kopje at Bergendal farm, and for three hours did the luckless Zarps undergo the concentrated fire of Buller's thirty-eight guns.

The artillery having thoroughly prepared the way, the infantry were ordered to the attack. The 2nd Cavalry brigade, which up till now had been lying idle on the left flank, got orders to move to the right. With the 5th Lancers leading, the brigade galloped along the Bergendal position and past the Zarps Kopje out towards Dalmanutha station. The 5th continued on to the east, followed by the Chesnut troop of Horse Artillery. The Boers were everywhere in full retreat, and with the troop of "C” Squadron in front, the Regiment continued on until stopped by the retreating enemy, when the battery came into action. The pursuit was not pressed further, and the Regiment got back to the bivouac of the army at Bergendal soon after dark. That Gascoigne was in on this action, the last pitched battle of the war, is confirmed by the Belfast clasp to his medal.

During the second phase of the war the 5th Lancers were mainly in the Eastern Transvaal operating under Smith-Dorrien, Spens, and other commanders. They took part in the sweep into the Vryheid district. A portion of the regiment was in Cape Colony in 1901 and 1902, and had rather an unhappy time on the Zeekoe River near Aberdeen on 6th April 1901, when they lost 2 killed, 9 wounded, and 23 taken prisoners.

Gascoigne fought through it all, earning the Kings Medal to go along with his Queens South Africa medal. This latter was issued off the roll at Naauwpoort in the Cape Colony on 10 April 1902. This would account for the Cape Colony clasp on his medal being out of sequence. It was issued off a supplementary roll at Colchester, England on 6 February 1903.

Now back on English soil and the war a thing of the past, Gascoigne continued on in the service of the Army. On 18 December 1905 he wed Catherine Olivia Davies at Kirby-Le-Soken in St Michael, Essex. He was 30 years old. Wasting almost no time, a son, Frederick John, was born to the couple at Tongham in Surrey on 28 May 1906. Gascoigne was still a Sergeant with the 5th Lancers.

But time was running out for Gascoigne, his married life and the time he was to spend with his wife and children was about to come to an abrupt and untimely end – on 18 January 1909 he passed away whilst stationed in York, with Liver Trouble. His wife’s address on the Pension Card being provided as Blue House Farm, Kirby Cross, Essex. His daughter, Phyllis Frances, was born on 13 December 1908, just over a month before he died.

A sad end to a brave man.









Acknowledgements:
- The Fifth (Royal Irish) Lancers in South Africa – Walter Temple Willcox
- Register of Soldier’s Effects – Ancestry
- Census data – Ancestry
- Indian birth particulars – Find My Past

A great write up Rory, thank you for sharing with the Forum

Rory,
Many thanks for posting your excellent account of the 5th Lancers, and all of the possible action Fred could have been involved in besides his definite presence at Belfast/Bergendahl. Enjoyed reading while having elevenses the past couple of days!
Cheers Steve

As always, another superb post Rory.


Cheers

Dave...