t was on
outpost duty.

The rear-guard was engaged heavily the following day during the march to
Bankpan.

Campbell's and Babington's columns were on the immediate right. The
Devons halted for the day at Bankpan, when the 5th and 6th West
Australians left to join Campbell's column at Middlekraal, the 18th
Hussars exchanging over to Kitchener's column.

A night march was made on the 26th for the purpose of surrounding a farm
some eight miles distant. This was accomplished by midnight. No Boers
were taken. The column halted till daylight, when the march was again
resumed, and Erstegeluk reached in the afternoon. A number of Boers were
surprised in the neighbouring farms by the mounted troops; and shortly
after camp was formed, a body of Boers attempted to drive in the
outposts and to attack the camp, but without success.

The following day Bethel was reached, and camp was formed close to
Colonel Babington's column. The 18th Hussars, reconnoitring to the
south-east of Bethel, were surprised by a large party of Boers.
Lieutenant Green, Devonshire Regiment, who was in charge of the Colt gun
attached to the 18th Hussars and which was manned by men of the
Devonshire Regiment, behaved very gallantly in bringing his gun at once
into action and engaging the Boers within a range of 500 yards, thus
covering the cavalry and giving them time to rally.

On June 29th the march was resumed, and the column reached Schurvekop,
the rear-guard receiving a good deal of attention from the Boers. Camp
was formed at Middlekraal on the following day. Here Campbell's column
was again met with.

Middlekraal was left on July 1st, and the column marched in the
direction of Springs. A number of Boers were in the vicinity of the
first camp, Witbank, and the camp was sniped during the night. The
following day the column marched to Bakenlaagte, the scene of the
disaster to Benson's column, the rear-guard being followed up by a few
Boers.

After a short march the following day Grootpan was reached, and at 8
p.m. three companies of the Regiment under Captain Bartlett, and the 5th
and 6th West Australians, made a night march to the south, capturing a
picquet of six Boers early next morning. The column, after a
twelve-miles' march, reached Sondagskraal on the 4th at 1 p.m. On
arrival there news was received that a Boer convoy, accompanied by Louis
Botha, was in the neighbourhood of Trichardtsfontein, about fifteen
miles from Sondagskraal.

Gener