The Naval Brigades in the South African War, 1899-1902
By Lt Cdr J Garner Naval Historical Branch In 1899 in the various states now known collectively as the Republic of South Africa, tensions were running high between the Dutch descended longer-term settlers and a large number of newly arrived English speakers in pursuit of gold. This situation resulted in the outbreak of the Second Boer War. The Boer military effort was hastily but soundly improvised and was often effective through tactics better suited to the country than the British ones were, at least initially. In particular, guerilla methods were used to great effect and this dictated a large British military presence, which took a long time to build up, South Africa being a long way either from Britain or India, the two best sources of troops.
Days into the war, a naval brigade drawn from the station forces at Simonstown had been despatched up country. Formed of 16 officers and nearly 350 ratings and Royal Marines, it joined the Berkshire regiment at Stormberg Junction. Nor were other military aspects neglected, the force also having two naval twelve-pounder guns. Their conversion for shore service had been overseen by Captain Percy Scott of HMS TERRIBLE, the father of modern naval gunnery, whose ship fortuitously had been on passage to the China station. This was followed by even more powerful 4.7 inch, then 6 inch, gun adaptations. The first brigade was to be succeeded by two others in short order, one of which was to be besieged in Ladysmith, one to be involved in its relief and a third to have a wider scope.HMS TERRIBLE The siege of Ladysmith saw the naval brigade under Captain Hedworth Lambton of HMS POWERFUL with two 4.7 inch guns and four 12-pounders, the only weapons with any chance of responding to the Boer's five 6 inch and seventeen 75 millimetre weapons. However, it was correctly anticipated that the siege would be a long one and fire was limited to responding to Boer artillery. Thus despite having only some 600 rounds of 4.7 inch ammunition, this lasted until Ladysmith was relieved. General and victualling stores were under greater pressure and, despite great forethought and resource, by the 75th day of the siege the menu contained such delights as horse tongue, horse sausage and chevril (not quite Bovril). Perhaps a greater hardship for a century ago was the total exhaustion of the tobacco ration. On 28 February 1900 the relief of Ladysmith was effected after 117 days in which the Naval Brigade had played a very full part, although not without the loss of 3 officers and 30 ratings from either direct enemy action or disease. The relieving force, too, had a Naval Brigade which played a very full part in the various actions associated with the relief. In this instance, their role was more akin to field artillery rather than the more static part played by the Ladysmith guns.
Naval 12 pdr on 'Percy Scott' Gun carriage At the same time Percy Scott assumed a new role as military commandant of Durban, his inventive mind conjuring up an armoured train with 7-pounder guns. This was effective for some time until ambushed by the Boers and over half its complement wounded or taken prisoner including the young Winston Churchill.
A further Naval Brigade of some 400 under Captain R C Prothero of HMS DORIS joined the force under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen attempting to relieve Kimberley in November 1899 Although again armed with 12-pounders they were used largely as infantry, often in the lead of operations. During the battle for Graspan, the brigade took considerable casualties including Prothero, who was seriously wounded. Prothero, who was known throughout the service as 'Prothero the Bad", was a large imposing man with a beard down to his waist. During the Graspan action, his brigade carried out their tactics flawlessly, lying down when not actually advancing. Prothero, loud in encouragement, stayed upright in support of his men until wounded. Later on 10 December the brigade was involved somewhat less fiercely in the disastrous battle of Magersfontein. This resulted in a more static form of warfare which was to last for the next few months and was to result in the splitting up of that brigade and the turning over of its artillery to the army.HMS DORIS A new force was formed in early 1900 under Field Marshal Lord Roberts and this too included another naval brigade, again with improvised artillery pieces. The formation advanced towards Bloemfontein which was eventually taken before moving on to Pretoria and Johannesburg. One particular sub-formation, Grant's Guns, a party of about 100 men, 300 oxen and two 4.7 inch guns set off on an epic series of marches of several hundreds of miles in pursuit of the enemy.
Naval 4.7 inch gun at Bloemfontein The sailor showed himself to be adaptable to life ashore as well as being militarily effective and when occasion called, brave. The ingenuity of Scott and others was marked until recently by the Field Gun Competition at the Royal Tournament. Perhaps sailors became too well adapted; when army-supplied rations ran low, it was noted that bluejackets lived better off the land than many a soldier; indeed the areas that they passed through became notable foe the scarcity of sheep whilst roast lamb or mutton featured regularly on naval menus.
The involvement of the Naval Brigades ended in the year 1900. The war continued for some time, largely by guerilla means, but was concluded in 1902. The South African or Second Boer War reflected the versatility, adaptability and ingenuity of the Royal Navy as well as its effectiveness a long way from the sea. It also demonstrated in the most obvious way possible that maritime forces can make vital contributions to operations many miles from the sea.
