VII.

1871–1881.—INDIA. AFGHAN WAR. SOUTH AFRICA. ZULU WAR. FIRST BOER WAR.

The overwhelming defeat of the French Armies by the German troops in the momentous war of 1870–71 brought about vast changes in military Europe. A system of compulsory service on the German model was introduced by all the great nations of Europe—Great Britain excepted—and German drill, German style of uniform, and German methods were generally adopted.

In England a strong wave of pro-German feeling swept over the British Army, and military critics advocated the methodical system of the German Army with its stern unbending discipline and exacting method of machine-like _collectivism_, to the destruction of the elasticity and rapidity of movement, with the self-reliance and initiative which makes for _individualism_.

The spirit of the 60th stood out, and did much to counteract this tendency, and to bring about the re-action.

[Sidenote: 1878–1880, AFGHAN WAR.]

In the autumn of 1878 the 2nd Battalion, commanded in the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Collins by Major Cromer Ashburnham, was quartered at Meerut, and formed part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, under _Lieutenant-General Sir Donald Stewart_, which, upon the outbreak of the Afghan War, was directed upon Kandahar.

After a trying march of 440 miles (one day thirty miles across the desert without a man falling out) Kandahar was occupied without resistance on the 8th of January, 1879.

In the following September there was a rising of the Afghans at Kabul, and the British envoy and his escort were massacred. An advance upon Kabul, the necessary retort to such an outrage, was accordingly made by two columns, and after severe fighting Kabul was occupied by _Lieut.-General Sir Frederick Roberts_.[43]

[Sidenote: April 19th, 1880, AHMAD KHEL.]

On the 27th of March, 1880, _Sir Donald Stewart’s_ Division of 7250 men was directed to leave Kandahar and march upon Kabul. On the 19th of April the Afghan Army attacked the column on the march at AHMAD KHEL, when, concealed in the khors and gorges of the hills, a large body of Ghazies charged boldly upon the flank of the first line. Carrying all before them, the issue for a time seemed doubtful, but the stubborn courage of the British column won the day, and the formidable Ghazies after suffering great loss, were totally defeated. The 2nd Battalion then commanded by Collins, had the ill-fortune to be taking its turn of rear and flank guard on this particular day, but, on hearing the firing, at once hurried to the scene in time to bear a leading part in retrieving the critical situation and aid in turning what at the onset threatened to be a serious reverse into a decisive victory. G Company, however, under Lieut. Davidson,[44] allotted to the permanent duty of escort to _Sir Donald Stewart_, played a prominent part in meeting the first sudden onslaught of the Ghazies, and did much to stem the rush which at the moment seemed likely to be overwhelming. Continuing the march, the Battalion was present at the surrender of Ghuznee, and at the fight of Urzoo on the 23rd of April when the Afghans were again defeated. The column finally reached Kabul on the 28th of the same month, thus accomplishing a notable march. It had covered 320 miles in thirty-five days over a hostile, difficult, and almost unknown country, fought two general actions, and captured a fortress.

In July Ayub Khan defeated a British force at Maiwand, and besieged _General Primrose_ in Kandahar. The Battalion, already distinguished for its marching powers and steady discipline, was selected to form part of the Relief Force of 10,000 men, which left Kabul under _Sir Frederick Roberts_ on the 9th of August, and reached Kandahar on the 31st. This march—by the same route as that of _Sir Donald Stewart_, but at the hottest time of the year—was effected in twenty-four days, inclusive of halts, giving an average of 13·3 miles per diem, or of 14·5 for the days of actual marching.

[Sidenote: Aug. 21st, 1880, KANDAHAR.]

On the 21st of August _Sir Frederick Roberts_ had notified in the orders of the day that the city of Kandahar was completely invested, characteristically adding that he “hoped Ayub Khan would remain there.” This wish was duly realised, for the Afghan leader was found in position for battle, and on the following day, September the 1st, he was attacked in front and flank, and completely routed; the whole of his guns and camp (which had been left standing) were captured by the victorious troops.

On the 8th of September the 2nd Battalion left Kandahar to take part in the Mari Expedition, which lasted for two months and entailed much hard marching; there was not, however, any fighting.

On the termination of the campaign the Commander-in-Chief in India published the following General Order:

“The 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles has throughout the war maintained its high reputation for efficiency. In the march from Kandahar to Kabul, at Ahmad Khel, in the memorable march from Kabul to Kandahar, and the subsequent expedition to the Mari country, the 60th Rifles were remarkable for their discipline and marching powers. In the operations above described the Regiment marched 1000 miles in 100 days. No light feat anywhere, but in such a country as Afghanistan it is one well worthy of record in the annals of the British Army.”

On the 8th of September Lieutenant-Colonel J. J. Collins, who had commanded the Battalion throughout the campaign, succumbed to fever while on his way to India on sick leave.

In addition to the war medal, a special bronze star was given for the march from Kabul to Kandahar. It is worthy of note that khaki was worn, and that this was the first campaign in which the Regiment, since it had become Rifles, had fought in any colour but green.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: 1879–1884, 3rd BATTALION.]

Special reference must here be made to the 3rd Battalion, whose good fortune led it to take part in no less than four campaigns in six years, and thus to justify a claim to being called “the fighting Battalion.” Raised in 1855 in Ireland, this Battalion had been moved to Madras at the close of the Mutiny in 1857, to Burma in 1862, back to Madras in 1865, and to Aden in 1871, and thence to England in 1872. It had not unnaturally suffered much disadvantage from its long exile of fifteen years in the East, unrelieved by the experience of active service. It was, therefore, in a condition particularly to profit by the example of Hawley and the 4th Battalion, which had begun to be generally felt, and there can be no doubt that it derived at this period an immense benefit in efficiency and interior economy, not only from the influence of Hawley and his system, but also from the traditions and example of the 1st Battalion. Its new commanding officer, Pemberton,[45] and its second in command, Northey,[46] had both been trained under Hawley, and many of its captains and junior officers, as well as N.C.O.’s, had been promoted or transferred from the 1st and 4th Battalions to the 3rd on its return from India. These officers and men brought with them into the Battalion the vigorous spirit of the Regiment, its flexible drill and tactics, its ideals of rapidity and elasticity of movement, rendered possible by the most careful attention to detail; its extreme steadiness in close formations; and, above all, that assiduous care for the comfort and well-being of the rank and file, which is its great feature. In consequence, the rapidity and smartness of manœuvre, the strong self-reliance and individuality of the Riflemen, and the excellent feeling existing between officers and men were conspicuously the attributes of the rejuvenated 3rd Battalion. The Battalion, therefore, not only won for itself a great reputation as a fighting unit, but conveyed later the same spirit to the Mounted Infantry, for the inception and success of which its officers and Riflemen were largely responsible.

[Sidenote: 1879, SOUTH AFRICA ZULU WAR.]

[Sidenote: April 2nd, 1879, GINGIHLOVO.]

Having been quartered for several years at Aldershot, where it gained much credit, the Battalion was at Colchester in January, 1879, when it received sudden orders to embark for South Africa in consequence of the defeat of _Lord Chelmsford’s_ troops by Cetewayo, the Zulu King, at the battle of Insandlwana. It landed at Durban, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Leigh-Pemberton, and marched direct to the Tugela, where, under _Lord Chelmsford_ himself, it formed part of the column to relieve Fort Pierson. Leaving the Tugela on the 25th of March, it took a distinguished part in the battle of Gingihlovo on the 2nd of April, when the Zulu impis with a splendid gallantry charged up to the muzzles of the men’s rifles, and severely tried the young soldiers of whom the ranks were largely composed. After a short half hour’s hard fighting the Zulu army reluctantly withdrew, leaving an immense number of killed and wounded behind them. The casualties were light, but the Battalion sustained a great loss in the death of Major and Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Northey, who was mortally wounded early in the action.

In June the Battalion was engaged in the second advance to Ulundi under _Sir Garnet Wolseley_; and in the subsequent pursuit and capture of Cetewayo, which brought the Zulu War to a close, two companies of the Battalion, under Captain Astley Terry,[47] had a prominent share.

[Sidenote: 1881, BOER WAR.]

[Sidenote: Jan. 28th, 1881, LAING’S NEK.]

The 3rd Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Cromer Ashburnham,[48] remained in South Africa, and was quartered at Pietermaritzburg, when in January, 1881, the Boers, under Joubert, invaded Natal. _Major-General Sir George Colley_, the High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, having assembled at Newcastle a small force, which included the 3rd Battalion, advanced and attacked the Boers on the 28th in position at Laing’s Nek. The Battalion in part covered the left flank, and in part formed a reserve to the assaulting column. The attack was repulsed with heavy loss, and the Battalion covered the retreat, but did not lose many men.

On the 25th of January the 2nd Battalion arrived from India in a state of the highest efficiency after its successful experience in the Afghan War. Landing at Durban, it marched forthwith to join headquarters at Newcastle, where it remained until the armistice in March.

[Sidenote: Feb. 8th, 1881, INGOGO FIGHT.]

The Boers, as a result of their victory at Laing’s Nek, made a desperate effort to sever the communications between _Colley’s_ force at Mount Prospect, and the advanced base at Newcastle. The General accordingly took prompt steps to avert this catastrophe, and thus it came about that on the 8th of February was fought on the Ingogo Heights an action as glorious as any in the history of the 60th. _Colley_, with two 9–pounder R.A. guns, thirty-eight men of the Mounted Infantry, and five companies of the 3rd Battalion, under Ashburnham, marched early on the 8th from Prospect upon Newcastle, crossed the Ingogo River, and, on ascending the heights beyond, was attacked from all sides shortly before noon. The British position was a plateau covered with short grass, rocks, and boulders; whereas the kloofs and slopes occupied by the Boers were also not only strewn with rocks, but overgrown with long grass, which being three and four feet high afforded excellent cover. The troops, though completely surrounded, maintained the fight for nearly seven hours, until at last, in the gloom of approaching night and a heavy thunderstorm, the fire ceased and the enemy sullenly withdrew.

The Battalion had lost five out of thirteen officers, and 119 out of 295 other ranks; of I Company only one officer and thirteen men were left, but nowhere had the enemy gained ground. The survivors, without food or water, and with ammunition running short, but with courage and discipline still unshaken, then faced the last ordeal of that long day. Little could be done for the wounded, except to collect and leave them with the chaplain, the doctor, and a few other noncombatants; and then, in drenching rain and darkness only broken by flashes of lightning, the few remaining horses were hooked into the guns, and the little force moved silently across the veldt to the river, which was in flood, and had to be forded breast high. So slippery was the ground from the rain that the horses could not draw the guns; this for the last few miles was done by the Riflemen. At 8.30 a.m. the following morning Prospect Camp was reached after a peculiarly strenuous test of the courage and endurance of the troops.

“The conduct of all ranks throughout this trying day was admirable,” wrote _Sir George Colley_ in his despatch.[49] “The comparatively young soldiers of the 60th Rifles behaved with the steadiness and coolness of veterans. At all times perfectly in hand, they held or changed their ground as directed without hurry or confusion; though under heavy fire, themselves fired steadily, husbanding their ammunition, and at the end of the day, with sadly reduced numbers, formed and moved off the ground with the most perfect steadiness and order; and, finally, after eighteen hours of continuous fatigue, readily and cheerfully attached themselves to the guns, and dragged them up the long hill from the Ingogo, when the horses were unable to do so.”

[Sidenote: Feb. 27th, 1881, MAJUBA.]

On the night of the 26th of February _Sir George Colley_ decided to seize Majuba Hill by a night march—a hazardous undertaking which was ably executed. The following day the Boers in three assaulting columns, covered by the rifle fire of their largely superior force, carried the mountain with splendid gallantry, and completely defeated the small British force of 414 soldiers and sailors.

Two companies of the 3rd Battalion were posted upon the lower spurs of the mountain, and with a third company sent out later with ammunition they covered the retreat, but were only slightly engaged.

The brave and accomplished _Colley_—dauntless to the end—died a soldier’s death upon the summit of the mountain, and deplorable indeed was the loss in officers and men of the force engaged. A peace—insisted upon by the British Government—brought this unhappy campaign to a close little to the satisfaction of the troops concerned.

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Footnote 43:

Now Field-Marshal Earl Roberts, K.G., V.C., etc., whose only son, Lieut. the Hon. Frederick Roberts, V.C., was killed at the battle of Colenso, December 15th, 1899, when an officer of the Regiment, and serving as A.D.C. to Sir Redvers Buller.

Footnote 44:

Now Colonel Sir Arthur Davidson, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., Equerry to H.M. Queen Alexandra.

Footnote 45:

Now Major-General Sir Wykeham Leigh-Pemberton, K.C.B., Colonel Commandant, 1906. Born 4th December, 1833.

Footnote 46:

Afterwards Lieut.-Colonel Northey, mortally wounded at the Battle of Gingihlovo, Zulu War, April 2nd, 1879.

Footnote 47:

Now Major-General.

Footnote 48:

Now Major-General Sir Cromer Ashburnham, K.C.B., Colonel Commandant, 1907. Born 13th September, 1831. He succeeded Colonel Leigh-Pemberton, and commanded the 3rd Battalion throughout three campaigns, namely, Boer War, 1881; Egypt, 1882; Suakim, 1884, with conspicuous success, and was popularly known among his men as the “Lion of the Ingogo.”

Footnote 49:

Despatch, Mount Prospect, February 12th, 1881, para. 20.