Ill, maps, p.48.non-fictionThe battle of Magersfontein in 1899boer war - 1899-1902, magersfontein

Andrew Wauchope initially trained as a naval cadet. After three years he obtained his discharge and resolved to enter the army. In 1881 he served on the staff in the Transvaal War. In 1885 he returned to Scotland to manage his family estates which he had recently inherited. The coal mines were highly productive and as a result he became one of the richest men in Scotland. He was promoted to Colonel in 1888 and given command of the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch in 1894. Promotion to Major-General occurred in 1898. He was appointed to command the 3rd (Highland) Brigade in the South Africa War, which saw action at Belmont and Modder River as part of the force sent to relieve Kimberley. Pushing further, they again encountered the Boer force at Magersfontein. In the resulting Battle of Magersfontein, the Highland Brigade was ordered to make a dawn attack on the Boer defences. However, the force was spotted before it was prepared to attack and faulty reconnaissance meant that the enemy positions were not properly located. Under heavy fire it struggled to deploy action. Wauchope was killed by rifle fire in the opening minutes of combat. It held its position for a short time after Wauchope's death. It was leaderless and no-one would take command until late afternoon and despite the Guards Brigade being in support, in the early afternoon it was routed. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.andrew gilbert wauchope, naval cadet, transvaal war, coal mines, black watch, major-general, highland brigade, boer, battle of magersfontein

In 1898 Eyre Macdonnell Stewart Crabbe had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and became commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. In 1899 he led the Battalion to South Africa following the outbreak of the Second Boer War. At the battle of Belmont he was wounded but able to continue and attend the battle of Magersfontein. He was wounded again in 1900 when ambushed at Karee Siding but a month later was back in action. In 1901 he fought against Fouche and Kritzinger, and defeated Van der Merwe and Hildebrand. After the war he held staff posts at Aldershot but died suddenly in 1905 aged 52.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards. eyre crabbe, lieutenant-colonel, 3rd battalion, grenadier guards, south africa, second boer war, battle of belmont, battle of magersfontein, karee siding, fouche, kritzinger, van der merwe, hildebrand

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

The Second Boer War saw attempted application of bombardment as an alternative to the use of ground forces. In most battles fought during the conflict this was proved not to be possible. There was competition from the other side's ability to take evasive measures. The opponent was able to use cover to protect himself and hide his position. This was the tactic used against the British at the Battle of Magersfontein and the Battle of Colenso. The British had success when they ceased using artillery by itself and used it in conjunction with infantry. British General Buller linked the use of artillery and the movement of infantry in continuous interlocking assaults upon each hill south of Ladysmith. As soon as shelling had finished in a location the infantry moved. The front collapsed on the 27 February 1900 when use was made of a creeping curtain of shell fire sent over the heads of advancing infantry destroying everything 100 yards ahead of them. It was this tactic of the creeping barrage that has been described as "revolutionary'. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.second boer war, ground forces, battle of magersfontein, battle of colenso, general buller, infantry, ladysmith, interlocking assaults