rned to that place on
the 30th, only to find a wire ordering him to go back for the present
to his column and to move to a place on the Vaal south of Pochefstroom
and turn out a Boer force which was occasioning considerable trouble.
Colonel Hicks by a rapid march anticipated the Boers at a pass leading
into this valley, their commander, George Hall, afterwards declaring
that this step saved us a hundred men, as he had determined to hold
the pass till the last.

On October 5th he encountered a force of Boers who were prepared to
dispute the ownership of some cattle with him, but he had little
difficulty in convincing them that under the circumstances might was
undoubtedly right. On the 6th the seven-pounder gun lost by the S.A.C.
was recovered, and George Hall, a prominent Boer leader, captured. The
Colonel induced him to send a letter out to his commando advising them
to give in, which resulted in twenty-two of them surrendering at
Pochefstroom a few days later. In addition to this the column captured
about fifteen prisoners and brought or sent in very large quantities
of stock, mealies, cattle, &c. The Colonel got back to Krugersdorp on
the 12th, having returned by train to take over his command.

Lieutenants Frankland and Weldon of ours were present at the fight at
Bakenlaagte, when Colonel Benson was killed, and had a hot time of it.
Our mounted infantry lost two killed and six wounded. The following
description is supplied by Lieutenant Weldon:--

THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS MOUNTED INFANTRY AT BAKENLAAGTE.

On the afternoon preceding the move from Zwakfontein, where Colonel
Benson's column was camped, I was ordered to escort Lieutenant Biggs,
R.E., to a drift some miles away on the road to Bakenlaagte: this we
accomplished, bringing back one prisoner, whom we took near the drift.
At daybreak on the following morning our outposts were attacked before
the column had moved out of camp, and the rearguard action commenced.
Our mounted infantry formed the right and left flank guards to the
light transport, the right under Lieutenant Grimshaw, and the left
under Lieutenants Frankland and Weldon. The enemy did not pay much
attention to us at first, but after going a little way I galloped with
my section to take possession of a small kopje which commanded the
route. The Boers made a simultaneous dash for it, resulting in a
spirited race, in which we proved victors, having been expedited on
the way by two 'belts' from o