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The Van Rensburg's of Rensburg Siding, Colesberg, Cape part 1
The Anglo-Boer War Introduction part 2
The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding: Boer Leaders part 3
The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding Nov 1899 part 4
The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding Dec 1899 part 5
The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding Jan 1900 part 6
The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding Feb 1900 part 7
The Anglo-Boer War in retrospect part 8
Australian units, persons and casualties part 9
MAIN MAP source http://www.mjvn.co.za/anglo-boer/mainmap1.jpg

The Anglo-Boer War: Australians capture De Wet's artillery gun at Rensburgdrift part 10

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The Anglo-Boer War around Rensburg Siding
January 1900
CONTINUED

In the first week of January English engineers, under Major Butcher commanding the 4th battery field-artillery, worked at hauling two 15 pounder cannons on to the summit of Coleskop. From this postion they were higher than any other kopje and were able to use this to their advantage. Major Butcher commanding the 4th battery field-artillery, hauled two 15-pounders to the top of Coleskop (1706 metres). From there they were able to shell the Boers, and this caused Schoeman to have to relocate his headquarters.

Gun ammunition being hoisted to the top of Coleskop with a pulley system

The Essex Regiment on January 11th, 1900 under - Major Butcher commanding the 4th battery field-artillery,
hauled two 15-pounders to the top of Coleskop - (1706 metres - 364 m above the plain).
Food, water and ammunition carried to the top by a hoist constructed of bridging wire.
See also http://www.colesberginfo.co.za/images/coleskopkerk.jpg

Photo of the English with their artillery on top of Coleskop

15 Pounder on Top of Coleskop

Drawing from Coleskop looking north

From 1 - 13 January 1900 the telegraph section of the 1st Field Troop RE under Lieutenant H.L. Mackworth set up telegraph offices at Rensburg Siding, Porters Hill, Maeders Farm, Kloof Camp, the top of Coleskop, the bottom of Coleskop, Slingersfontein, Hobkirks farm, McCrackens Hill, Potfontein and Kleinfontein.

One of the first places where the military ever used wireless telegraphy
was at this wireless station at Rensburg c1900

See also http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/BOER_WAR_TELE.html
http://www.connected-earth.com/Journeys/Transformingsociety/Inpeaceandwar/Changingthefaceofwar/TheBoerWar/theboerwar(1899-1902).htm
http://www.marconicalling.com/museum/html/events/events-i=20-s=0.html
http://www.army.mod.uk/royalsignalsmuseum/Display/BoerWar.htm

Example of an English field telegrapher during the Anglo-Boer War at Klip Drift

On 10th January 1900 there were action at Slingersfontein and Colesberg. Skirmishes took place on 12th January at McCracken's Hill and Colesberg. The same day the Wiltshires and Victorians advanced to Pink Hill.

De la Rey's forces shelled Slingersfontein camp on 13th January 1900. The next day there were skirmishes at Bastard's Nek and Plessis Poort and Colesberg.

Changing of the guard, the coats seem to indicate the night shift taking over from the day shift.
Note the slouch hats, they may very likely be a group of Australian soldiers.
Photo supplied by Alwyn P Smit

Soldier of the 1st Royal Irish Regiment taking his post as night falls at Slingersfontein,
note similar coat worn as above.

1st Royal Irish Brigade at Slingersfontein

New Zealand Hill - On 15/16 January there was a significant battle.
A detachment from the First Contingent NZ distinguished themselves when they fought a Boer force of 1,000 men mainly from the Johannesburg ZARP's. The Boers attempted to seize a hill overlooking the English camp at Slingersfontein. A number of British soldiers were cut off here, they were led by Maddocks. On 16th January a New Zealand patrol came across a Boer commando under the leadership of De Hart of the ZARP. In one of the few hand-to-hand engagements of the war, the New Zealanders under the leadership of Alfred William Robin used their bayonets to charge. The New Zealander leader Dowling was wounded (some state killed) and Sergeant Major Griffith killed. Sixteen other New Zealanders were shot and the rest of the patrol were captured. The English reported that 8 Boers died in the skirmish. The Boers took what became known as New Zealand Hill.

Photo on top of New Zealand Hill

A Boer farm with New Zealand Hills in the distance.
The Boers attacked New Zealand Hills on the night of 14 January 1900

New Zealand Hill http://www.nzmrangloboerwar.org.nz/1stcontingent.html

Alfred William Robin Commander of the First NZ Contingent
(1860 - 1935)

English soldiers signalling from New Zealand Hill to Rensburg Siding after their commanders had been killed

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww1/lt-horse/first_aust_horse-boer.htm
On the 16th January 1900 a patrol of 25 Australian New South Wales Lancers and First Australian Horse (Australian Mounted Infantry) left Camp at 3 am under Lieutenant WV Dowling, but they were ambushed near Colonel Porter's camp not far from Slingersfontein. TSM Griffin, No. 367, First Australian Horse, had been killed from bullet wounds, one being through the head. Corporal F. Kilpatrick, No. 755, New South Wales Lancers, was found by his fellow soldiers, Herron and Roberts. One bullet went through the lungs, and the lower jaw smashed as if by an explosive bullet. Despite the pain and agony he had the strength to write the word "cold" on the ground with his finger. He then tapped his finger on the water bottle of Heron, and they gave him some brandy and water, but he could not even swallow it. Heron and Roberts also found that his wounds had previously been roughly bandaged by the Boers. The account continues: "Owing to the Boers appearing on our left flank in strength I withdrew all combatants from the front, and sent on the ambulance. On return the medical officer reported that he had buried TSM Griffin on the spot where he had fallen, and that Corporal Kilpatrick was in the ambulance expiring. Corporal Kilpatrick died, at 5.10 p.m. was buried next to the two New Zealanders on the slope above Slingersfontein Farm". Only three men returned to the English Camp. There were very few losses by the Boers. The Boers in this instance being the ZARP force.

Willoughby Vincent Dowling of 1st Australian Horse.
He was wounded in the head at Slingersfontein 16 January 1900, then imprisoned, he lost his eye.
When he got to Sydney May 1900, he praised the Boers for the humane treatment he received as a prisoner

The New South Wales and New Zealand troops attended the burial. The following account were given of those still still missing;-

New South Wales Lancers.

Warrant Officer Fisher, C.E.
Private Ford, M
304 Sergeant McDonald, P.
574 Private Roberts, J.A
742 Corporal Hopf, C.
866 Private Taylor, A.V.
763 Private Daley, A.
881 Private Whittington, G.B.
880 Private Johnson, R.M.

First Australian Horse

Lieutenant W.V. Dowling,
812 Private Eames, W.
323 Corporal Wilson, R.
680 Private Lynee, R.

www.mjvn.co.za/anglo-boer/cemetery.htm
Squadron Sergeant Major George Allman Griffin of the Gundagai Troop of Australian Horse, was killed in an ambush at Rensburg on the 16th January 1900. He was the first New South Wales soldier to be killed in South Africa. A plaque to his memory was erected in the main hall of the Sydney Town Hall.

Sergeant Major GA Griffin killed 16 January 1900
See article on him
http://www.hagsoc.org.au/sagraves/bios/griffin.php

There was some skirmishes on 17th January 1900 at Colesberg Bridge and Colesberg. The next day the Rimington Guides which were stationed at Tigerhoek shelled the Boers at Ratelpoort.

On 19th January about 25 Boers were buried.

On 25th January French sent Stephenson and Brabazon on a reconnaissance to the north of Colesberg, and found that the Boers were making a fresh position at Rietfontein, nine miles nearer to their own border. A small action ensued, in which the English lost ten or twelve of the Wiltshire Regiment, however at the same time obtaining the information they wanted from the Boers.

Worcesters at New Zealand Hill 25 January 1900

An interesting account is given in the diary of Celliers about the religious practise on Sunday at the Dutch Reformed church attended by the Boers at Colesberg. Some worshippers went without a coat, another without an undercoat, others were wearing their dirty commando clothes with oil stains. The worshippers had their guns in their hands and bandoliers full of ammunition hanging over their shoulders. The minister, Gustaf Adolph Scholtz (1 March 1853 - 16 Sept 1925) continued every Sunday with the religious ritual as if nothing had changed. The worshippers consisted of both local town people and the Boer burghers.
Oorlogsdagboek van Jan F. E. Celliers 1899 - 1902, p. 63. 28 Jan 1900 (Sunday):
Nederduitsch Gereformeerde Kerk in Zuid-Afrika, Almanak voor het jaar 1926, p. 230.

Celliers also mentions how the commando received a visit from ladies of the ambulance. In a letter Celliers wrote to his wife on 31 January he refers to one of the ladies as Elizabeth (Lizzie) Desvages. She was a member of Dr Mangold's field ambulance which had its base at Colesberg. Some of the other ladies may have been nurses Joubert, Theron, Bluhm and sister SE Tric[hardt?]
Oorlogsdagboek van Jan F. E. Celliers 1899 - 1902, p. 64:
TAB, RK 4(13) Rooikruis, inkomende en bybehorende stukke, hoofbestuur, Johannesburg -- Eerste seksie: lys van lede, 15.02.1900.

In the middle of the night of 31st January the English targeted Colesberg with small arm fire, the Boers were not sure what their intentions were or where it was coming from, everyone just bunkered down.
Oorlogsdagboek van Jan F. E. Celliers 1899 - 1902, p. 64. 31 Jan 1900 (Wed)

On 31st January and 1st February General French returned to Rensburg Siding, and started to withdraw some of the cavalry regiments, including the New Zealanders to Modder River.

andre@Rensburg.com