Paul Sanford Methuen became deputy adjutant-general in South Africa in 1888. He was promoted to major general in 1890 and succeeded his father as 3rd baron in 1891. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1898 and was given the command of the 1st Division on the outbreak of the Second Boer War. He suffered both defeats and successes during the war - the greatest defeat was at the Battle of Magersfontein, one of three defeats in "Black Week", which led to the dispatch of Lord Roberts to South Africa. During his career he was awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.lord methuen, south africa, adjutant-general, major general, lieutenant general, second boer war, "black week", battle of magersfontein, lord roberts, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order

When war broke out in 1899, and early target for the Boers was the diamond-mining centre of Kimberley. This was located near the point where the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony met. General Sir Redvers Buller detached the 1st Division under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen to relieve the Siege of Kimberley. This decision was made partly for reasons of prestige. To capture Kimberley (which contained the famous imperialist and former Prime Minister of Cape Colony, Cecil Rhodes) would be a major propaganda victory for the British. Methuen's force advanced north and won two engagements against the Boers of the Orange Free State. Reinforcements from Transvaal under General Koos de la Rey arrived and he convinced the Boers to follow his plans for attacking the British. Instead of relying on the hills for protection and missing their targets, de la Rey proposed they make use of the flat veld and introduced them to the Mauser rifle with its flat trajectory. Trenches were built in the banks of the Modder River from which they could sweep the veld for a great distance. The trenches were built on the south side of the river and on the smaller Riet River where they meet at Modder River Station. Methuen's force began advancing towards the Modder planning to cross the river. The Boers opened fire and the British troops were unable to find cover on the veld. They had to lay flat so as not to be seen or hit. The British guns pounded the buildings near Modder River Station and the north bank of the river, missing the trenches on the south bank. The battle became a stalemate. The British found an opening on the Boer's right flank at Rosmead ford downstream and drove the Boers out of Rosmead. De la Rey drove them back into a small insecure bridgehead. The Boers feared they were vulnerable and withdrew during the night. Methuen reported that the battle had been "one of the hardest and most trying fights in the annals of the British army". Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.boers, diamind-mining, kimberley, transvaal, orange free state, cape colony, sir rdvers buller, lieutenant general lord methuen, siege of kimberley, cecil rhodes, general koos dde la rey, mauser rifle, veld, modder river, modder river station, trenches, riet river, rosmead

Charles Umphelby began his military career at Warrnambool Garrison in 1884. In 1885 he was appointed Lieutenant in the Victorian Permanent Artillery. He succeeded Major Daniel in command of Queenscliff Fort in 1890. He went to England in 1889 and was attached to the staff of Major-General Clarke. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Umphelby was a Special Service Officer attached to the Censor's Department in Cape Town. He then went to the Howitzer Division of Lord Methuen's force at Modder River. Charles was wounded during the fight at Driefontein, 10 March and died 12 March 1900. He was married to the daughter of Thomas Austin, owner of Barwon Park near Geelong. They had two daughters.Digital portrait from "In Memory of the Gallant Officers and Men of Victoria in Transvaal War, 1899-1900".charles umphelby, warrnambool garrison, victorian permanent artillery, major daniel, queenscliff fort, major-general clarke, cape town, howitzer division, lord methuen, modder river, dreifontein, thomas austin, barwon park