THE BATTLE OF MAGERSFONTEIN

[jainso31]

Another hill-another error of judgement and another massacre.The Highland
Brigade,the pride of Scotland;shot to pieces through blatent lack of security.
Someone had blundered but WHO??Methuen or Wauchope or both??


jainso31




http://www.britishbattles.com/great-boer-war/magersfontein.htm

[berry]

Jainso,
great account of yet another SNAFU.
best regards,
Sid

[jainso31]

Hi Sid-it was a complete debacle-Methuen first allowing his intention to be given to the Boers,Wauchope ignoring his aide's advice to halt the advance up the hill- beyond a point where there was no cover for his troops and where none could help them.Wauchope lost his life in this mess and that saved Methuen's position,although he rose no further in the campaign after
Modder River-which was also a poorly conducted affair.

jainso31

[jainso31]

Out of 14000 men engaged in one way or another,22 officers and198 men were killed of which 7and 86 respec.belonged to the Black Watch (The Black Watch never retires) and 45 officers and 645men were wounded,of whom 11
and 198 were Black Watch.Boer losses were 300 of whom 87 were killed.Most of the British casualties occurred when the "front"men fell back and panic and alarm spread like wildfire-Boers were shooting at will.

jainso31