[How is it that nothing was said of this to Celliers and Rowland; nothing in the Letter of Colonel White and Dr. Jameson which they wrote at 11 a.m. Wednesday; nothing in the message sent by Bugler Valle, who was despatched on Thursday before daybreak after the Krugersdorp light? How is it that if the forces were to meet at Krugersdorp Dr. Jameson telegraphed to Dr. Wolff to meet him en route, so as to decide whether to turn off 20 miles before reaching Krugersdorp and march direct on Pretoria or go into Johannesburg first?]
I append (1) a sketch-map of the route from Pitsani to Krugersdorp, marked A. This distance (154 miles) was covered in just under 70 hours, the horses having been off-saddled ten times. The 169 miles between Pitsani and Doornkop occupied 86 hours, during 17 of which the men were engaged with the Boers, and were practically without food or water, having had their last meal at 8 a.m. on the morning of the 1st January at Van Oudtshoorn’s, 17 miles from Krugersdorp.
The average weight carried by each horse was 16 stone.
(2) List of officers engaged in the expedition and composition of the force marked B. From this it will be seen that there was a total of 494 men and officers (exclusive of staff).
(3) Plans of engagements at Krugersdorp and Doornkop, and of the bivouac on the night of January 1st.
I cannot close this narrative without testifying to the very great gallantry and endurance of all officers, non-commissioned officers, and troopers under my command in the field and on the march under most trying circumstances.
COMPOSITION OF FORCE.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Willoughby,
Royal
Horse Guards
Commanding.
Major Hon. Robert White, Royal Welsh
Fusiliers
Senior Staff Officer.
Major C. Hyde Villiers, Royal Horse Guards
Staff Officer.
Captain Kincaid-Smith, Royal Artillery
Artillery Staff Officer.
Captain Kennedy, B.S.A.C.’s Service
Quartermaster.
Captain E. Holden, Derbyshire Yeomanry
Assistant Quarter-Master.
Surgeon Captain Farmer, B.S.A. Co.
}
Surgeon Captain Seaton Hamilton, late
1st Life } Medical Officers.
Guards
}
Lieutenant Grenfell, 1st Life Guards
Remount Officer.
Lieutenant Jesser-Coope, B.S.A. Co.
Transport Officer.
Captain Lindsell, late Royal Scots Fusiliers
In charge Scouts.
Major J.B. Stracey, Scots Guards
}
Major Heany, B.S.A. Co.
} Officers temporarily
Captain Foley
} attached to Staff.
Lieutenant Harry R. Holden, late Grenadier
}
Guards
}
OFFICERS OF MASHONALAND MOUNTED POLICE.