CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 18

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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leys from Farcy's men on the enemy's right firing from the East face). Sammort on the Bank from the Wanchai Road, crushed the right was doing as Hadley had done on the attack along the Aberdeen Road. Pushing left-unable to assist the left, he was on with the gans in the centre, Hush's pouring his fire into the masses in front of company leading, the saddle was seized him, whilst the attack was forging up on about 3.30 a.m.

the left between him aud the square; then Harrington at once brought his guns into surging up on his right as well, it swept setion, playing on the now retreating mas- over. He and all his men were slain.

ses of the enemy in the valley. Hush and Our whole line was now advancing down Farey's men skirmished up the ridge to the valley. Tristful's men, who had crown- the left of the Maxims, and Rox's company ed the Eastern ridge and pushed on when covered the guns, firing volleys into the the enemy began to check, wore closing in valley. The murderous fire of the Maxims and prossing hard what had been their speedily drew the fire of the Troopships. right attack-their left in the retreat. Rambie was killed by a heavy shell whilst Hundreds of men were embarking, and sitting on the trail grinding out a hail of now was seen how wise had been the fore- bullets. The Maxim was knocked to pieces, thought in bringing round the junks and Sir John Harrington at once extended the house-boats. Piles had been driven into guns,--Hadley's being sent some 100 yards the sand, and to these, lo trees, and to the up the ridge to the left; Sammert's about Telegraph House, tail blocks had been lash- the same distance southward, to the right.ed which, with hauling lines rove through Here Capt. Landers was killed, a few them, enabled the enemy to drag their boata winutes afterwards. The whole left attack to and from the ships with great rapidity.

As soon as the enemy appeared on the of the enemy was now turned on the Wost- ern Ridge and the Maxims. 600 men who | beach our Artillery opened on them again, had crowned the ridge and been pushing swashing and sinking numbers of the boats. the road, turned and Still the large juuks took much pounding upwards above charged down hill. 800 of the enemy in from our pop-guus, and if it had not been the valley made a front attack. Hush for them, not a man would have escapod. and Farey's men formed rallying squares Rox's square was never broken, though as well as the broken ground allowed, firing fearful gaps wero made in it. Sir from all faces, for they were almost im-John Harrington, Rox himself, and Lt. mediately surrounded and apparently swal-Goward were killed. Hayward also, lowed up. Hadley could not assist them whilst working the Maxim. The whole lest his fire should injure the square, ridge was a mass of combats--the remains so continued steadily cutting swathes of Hush and Farey's companies, in knota through the front attack, whilst the combat of five and six, were fighting with clubbed came roaring down like a torrent on his muskets, or stabbing with the bayonet, left. Rox charged his men up the hill, ringed in with white-capped, green-coated but could not get up before the down-rush swartus, The wounded were firing be of the enemy had swept over Hadley's gun. tweet. their comrades's legs. All his crew were killed with him.

Neither the Russian nor our own Artil- lery could now take part in the conflict on the Ridge for fear of injuring their own

men.

It was a very stubborn contest till Hill's and Hartrum's men, with some of Tanham's gunners, brought relief, and swept the enemy down to the bench, when the Maxims

Rox's men formed square round were manned again, and fire re-opened; the Sir John Harrington (with Hayward's gun fire from the one in the square had never

raen.

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ocásed. Over 700 Russian dead were Wreckage was floating all over the bay. counted here afterwards, and 186 British Nine field guns were captured (all that had A large part of the Maxim fire had been landed), and 160 prisoners, all mostly taken effect in the Valley. The flank wounded. It was a great victory,--an- attack had consisted of 300 men all told, other such and the garrison would be anni- including the Volunteers with their Maxims. hilated.

COUNTING THE COST.

Hush and Rox's companies had suffered before the saddle was reached. Farey Returns were accurately made out for the (R.E.) and Hush's companies had ceased battle of Deep Water Bay; after that, as to exist, and ouly 9 Volunteers out of 40 you can readily understand by the sequel, were alive. Lt. Blackpen was the sole book-keeping ceased. surviving officer. Some 1200 Russians The total forces General White brought escaped on board the troopers, that slipped into action numbered 75 officers and 2,614 and went to sea, firing their stern gans. rank and file, made up as follows:

CORPS.

West Borks.... H. K. Regt.

Strength. Going into

Killed.

Fit for duty Wounded. after action.

action.

Officers. Mon Officers. Men. Officers.; Men. Officers. Men,

26

980

12

538

G

92

8

10 B. 13 N.

3B 5 N.

2 B. IN.

B. 7 N.

350

23

985

8

246

3

153

12

Asiatic Artillery

4 B. 8 N.

1 B. 3 N.

1 B. 3 N.

2 B. 2 N.

586

12

250

4.

78

4

46

4

126

R. Artillery

4

130

1

41

1

28

2

61

3

75

2

56

0

ઇં

13

1

34

0

27

0

36

1

32

100

3

61

1

14

2

25

15 374

30 | 1,193

R Engineers' Marines

Volunteers... Tutal

75 12,614 30 1,047 Of the staff Belman was killed. The beer, tobacco, &c. McHorman died of his wounds. Col. Razor, R.A., and Capt. Pensilian (Army Pay), temporary A.D. C., were severely wounded. Both the other A.D.C.'s (Captains Dove haud and Lunt) were slightly wounded, but remained on duty.

ཚོལླཤ སྒྱུ

Some six thousand coolies, under the Public Works Depart- ment and Royal Engineer staffs, were set to work on the field of battle to bury the dead in trenches. Considerably over 3,000 Russians were buried; some accounts put the figures as high as 3.500, but Rook (the Water Authority), who kept such accounts as were attempted at the time, and was not a man prone to exaggeration, reported 3,100 buried in trenches; some score or so of scattered bodies got a shallow covering of earth where they were found, and possibly All men who had not been in action were some were not buried at all; but the bulk sent up to relieve those who had. The of the dead were strewn thickly together survivors lay down to sleep in the batteries - in the valley as the tide of battle had roll- guards having been posted. Excellent and ed up and then receded. On the beach the plentiful meals were sent out to the troops enemy lay vory close. For days afterwards by the residents, with a liberal supply of corpses came floating up. None of our

The West Borks had borne the brunt of the battles, and their loss was propor tionately great; thoir officers killed were, one Major (poor Rox), three captains, five lieutenants, and three second lieutenants, amongst the latter Rordon's own boy.

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