5. 2nd Battalion - Gordon Highlanders - 4 July 1901
After the capture of Lydenburg March 1901, 2nd Battalion was assigned guard and escort duty on the Pretoria-Pietermaritzburg Railway until November. A detachment of 23 Gordon Highlanders leapt into action when a train exploded at Naboomspruit on 4 July 1901. They were subsequently surrounded by 150 Boers and there were many casualties in the first few minutes. Twenty minutes later only five men were able to fire a rifle. The Boer leader Commandant de Villiers was forced to surrender. On 4th July 1901 a party consisting of 1 officer of the 2nd Gordons and 22 men were escort to a train which was derailed and attacked. The officer and 9 men were killed and the remainder wounded. (see also the original burial site at Mookophong - Old British Cemetery). The following telegrams speak for themselves:— RESIDENCY, PRETORIA, "5.35 pm, 10th August 1901. To OC 2nd Gordon Highlanders, Pietersburg. I have to-day cabled following to his Majesty the King, begins: 'As Colonel-in-Chief of the Gordon Highlanders your Majesty might be pleased to know that Commandant De Villiers, who was present and has just surrendered, informed me that at the attack on the train on 4th July at Naboomspruit the guard of Gordon Highlanders under Lieutenant Best, who was killed, behaved with utmost gallantry. After the train had been captured by 150 Boers, the last four men, though completely surrounded, and with no cover, continued to fire until three were killed, the fourth wounded. On the Boers asking survivor the reason why they had not surrendered, he replied, "Why, man, we are the Gordon Highlanders". The King's reply, received 12th August:— "Very pleased to hear of the bravery of the Gordon Highlanders. Proud to be their Colonel-in-Chief". (source: Anglo-Boer War.com)
Memorial - 4 July 1901 Naboomspruit - 2nd Battalion_1
Memorial - 4 July 1901 Naboomspruit - 2nd Battalion_2
Memorial - 4 July 1901 Naboomspruit - 2nd Battalion_3