Battle of Graspan: Difference between revisions
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In the morning of November 25, the 9th Brigade headed north towards Graspan kopje. A Boer [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|pom-pom]] fired on the British advances, along with four 75mm [[Krupp gun]]s. The artillery fire killed 5 British regulars and two horses, in response the British fired their [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12-inch naval guns]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Military History Society – Journal – OFS Artillery at Graspan |url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/jnl2/vol194nf.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=samilitaryhistory.org}}</ref> quickly silencing the Boers. After the artillery engagement, Methuen [[heliograph]]ed the [[Coldstream Guards|Coldstreams]] and [[Grenadier Guards|Grenadiers]] to advance from Belmont to Graspan. |
In the morning of November 25, the 9th Brigade headed north towards Graspan kopje. A Boer [[QF 1-pounder pom-pom|pom-pom]] fired on the British advances, along with four 75mm [[Krupp gun]]s. The artillery fire killed 5 British regulars and two horses, in response the British fired their [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12-inch naval guns]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African Military History Society – Journal – OFS Artillery at Graspan |url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/jnl2/vol194nf.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=samilitaryhistory.org}}</ref> quickly silencing the Boers. After the artillery engagement, Methuen [[heliograph]]ed the [[Coldstream Guards|Coldstreams]] and [[Grenadier Guards|Grenadiers]] to advance from Belmont to Graspan. |
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At around 7 |
At around 7 am, the Coldstreams and Grenadiers, along with the [[Northamptonshire Regiment|Northamptonshires]] and [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]], advanced up the railway towards the kopje. A Naval Brigade consisting of sailors from the [[HMS Doris (1896)|HMS Doris]], [[HMS Terrible (1895)|HMS Terrible]], [[HMS Powerful (1895)|HMS Powerful]], as well as a battalion of [[Royal Marines]] also was present. |
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The Naval Brigade advanced towards the Boer positions, exposed. Unlike their army counterparts, these troops were not acustomed to the method of fighting that the regular infantry had faced. As such, the Naval Brigade suffered many casualites due to their inexperience. |
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As they advanced towards the Boer positions, the British opened fire on the Boer positions under the cover of the grass and rocks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Battles of Graspan (also known as Enslin) |url=https://www.britishbattles.com/great-boer-war/battles-of-graspan-also-known-as-enslin/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.britishbattles.com}}</ref> Dashing advances were made by the British until they reached the hill. Boer rifle fire managed to pick off some of the British, but were unable to halt the advance. The Guards eventually reached the base of the hill, and charged the Boer positions. Some Boers, upon seeing the British charges, retreated from the hill. Others stayed behind, holding off the British as long as possible. Eventually the British had encircled the position and had successfully infiltrated into the trenches, causing them to retreat to Modder River.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== Order of Battle == |
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=== British Forces === |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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| style="background:#efefef;" |'''[[History of the British 1st Division between 1809–1909|1st Division]]''' |
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|Lieutenant-General Lord [[Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen|Paul Sanford Methuen]] <small>GCB, GCMG, GCVO</small> |
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| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef;" |'''Division Troops''' |
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|[[9th Queen's Royal Lancers|9th Lancers]] |
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|'''Naval Brigade:''' |
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|18th Field Battery, [[Royal Artillery]] |
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|Sailor's Brigade from ''[[HMS Doris (1896)|HMS Doris]]'' |
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|75th Field Battery, Royal Artillery |
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|[[Royal Marines]] |
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|7th Field Company, [[Royal Engineers]]<ref name="GGS">German General Staff (1998), Vol II, p. 238</ref> |
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|Ammunition Column |
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|Army Service Corps |
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| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef;" |'''Infantry Brigades'''<ref name=":0" /> |
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| width="400pt" |'''1st (Guards) Brigade''': Major-General [[Henry Edward Colvile|Henry Edward Coleville]] |
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| width="400pt" |'''9th Brigade''': Major-General [[Charles W. H. Douglas|Charles Whittingham Douglas]] |
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|3rd Battalion, [[Grenadier Guards]] |
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|1st Battalion [[Northumberland Fusiliers]] |
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|1st Battalion, [[Coldstream Guards]] |
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|1st Battalion [[Loyal North Lancashire Regiment]] |
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|2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards |
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|2nd Battalion [[Northamptonshire Regiment]] |
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|1st Battalion, [[Scots Guards]] |
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|2nd Battalion [[King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] |
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|No 18 Bearer Company |
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|2nd [[Manchester Regiment]] |
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|No 19 Company Army Service Corps |
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|1st [[Royal Munster Fusiliers]] |
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|[[1st Royal New South Wales Lancers|New South Wales Lancers]] |
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|} |
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=== Boer Forces === |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|'''Commandos under command of General [[Koos de la Rey]]''' |
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|[[Jacobsdal Commando]] <small>(400)</small> |
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|- |
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|[[Transvaalse Staatsartillerie|Transvaal State Artillery]] section. (4x [[Krupp gun|7.5 cm Krupp Gun]] and 2x [[QF 1 pounder pom-pom]] guns) |
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|} |
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
Revision as of 11:52, 18 December 2023
Battle of Graspan | |||||||
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Part of the Second Boer War | |||||||
The Battle of Graspan as seen from the railway station | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
United Kingdom |
South African Republic Orange Free State | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lord Methuen | Koos de la Rey | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
8,000 16 field guns |
2,000 5 field guns | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
20 killed 165 wounded | ~200 killed |
The Battle of Graspan, also known as the Battle of Enslin, was an engagement in the Second Boer War near the Enslin railway station at Graspan kopje. The battle took place on November 25, 1899, between British forces led by Lord Methuen and Boers led by Koos de la Rey.
After the Battle of Belmont, Lord Methuen's force advanced up the railway in armored trains. On November 24, the train was shelled by Boer artillery in the nearby hills, deraling it. Methuen then decided to engage the Boers to continue his advance, with a subsequent assault on the next day.[1]
Battle
In the morning of November 25, the 9th Brigade headed north towards Graspan kopje. A Boer pom-pom fired on the British advances, along with four 75mm Krupp guns. The artillery fire killed 5 British regulars and two horses, in response the British fired their 12-inch naval guns,[2] quickly silencing the Boers. After the artillery engagement, Methuen heliographed the Coldstreams and Grenadiers to advance from Belmont to Graspan.
At around 7 am, the Coldstreams and Grenadiers, along with the Northamptonshires and Northumberland Fusiliers, advanced up the railway towards the kopje. A Naval Brigade consisting of sailors from the HMS Doris, HMS Terrible, HMS Powerful, as well as a battalion of Royal Marines also was present.
The Naval Brigade advanced towards the Boer positions, exposed. Unlike their army counterparts, these troops were not acustomed to the method of fighting that the regular infantry had faced. As such, the Naval Brigade suffered many casualites due to their inexperience.
As they advanced towards the Boer positions, the British opened fire on the Boer positions under the cover of the grass and rocks.[3] Dashing advances were made by the British until they reached the hill. Boer rifle fire managed to pick off some of the British, but were unable to halt the advance. The Guards eventually reached the base of the hill, and charged the Boer positions. Some Boers, upon seeing the British charges, retreated from the hill. Others stayed behind, holding off the British as long as possible. Eventually the British had encircled the position and had successfully infiltrated into the trenches, causing them to retreat to Modder River.[3]
Order of Battle
British Forces
1st Division | Lieutenant-General Lord Paul Sanford Methuen GCB, GCMG, GCVO |
Division Troops | |
9th Lancers | Naval Brigade: |
18th Field Battery, Royal Artillery | Sailor's Brigade from HMS Doris |
75th Field Battery, Royal Artillery | Royal Marines |
7th Field Company, Royal Engineers[4] | |
Ammunition Column | |
Army Service Corps | |
Infantry Brigades[3] | |
1st (Guards) Brigade: Major-General Henry Edward Coleville | 9th Brigade: Major-General Charles Whittingham Douglas |
3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards | 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers |
1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards | 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment |
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards | 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment |
1st Battalion, Scots Guards | 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
No 18 Bearer Company | 2nd Manchester Regiment |
No 19 Company Army Service Corps | 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers |
New South Wales Lancers |
Boer Forces
Commandos under command of General Koos de la Rey |
Jacobsdal Commando (400) |
Transvaal State Artillery section. (4x 7.5 cm Krupp Gun and 2x QF 1 pounder pom-pom guns) |
Aftermath
After the battle, Lord Methuen's force continued advancing up the railway towards Kimberley. Eventually on November 28, his forces would engage with a much larger Boer army at the Battle of Modder River. Methuen would win, but take many casualties. Metheun's advance would be halted, however, after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Magersfontein.
References
- ^ "RMA HIGHLANDS". rma-highlands.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "South African Military History Society – Journal – OFS Artillery at Graspan". samilitaryhistory.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b c "Battles of Graspan (also known as Enslin)". www.britishbattles.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ German General Staff (1998), Vol II, p. 238