A fine Boer War Battle of Bergendal casualty pair awarded to Private, later Corporal A. Pattillo, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders who saw service during the Boer War as part of the Defence of Ladysmith from 15th December 1899 to 28th February 1900, in action at Laing’s Nek from 2nd to 9th June 1900 and then in present in operations at Belfast from 26th to 27th August 1900. He would be wounded at Geluk on 26th August 1900, the fighting here forming part of the Battle of Bergendal the last set piece battle of the war.
Pair: Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902, 3 Clasps: Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast; (4943 PTE. A. PATTILLO. GORDON HIGHRS.) King’s South Africa Medal 1901-1902, 2 Clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902; (4943 CORPL: A. PATTILLO. GORDON HIGHRS.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
A. Pattillo saw service as a Private, later Corporal (No. 4943) with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa during the Boer War where he would take part in the defence of Ladysmith from 15th December 1899 to 28th February 1900 in action at Laing's Nek from 2nd to 9th June 1900, and was then present in operations at Belfast from 26th to 27th August 1900. He would be slightly wounded at Geluk on 26th August 1900.
The fighting at Geluk on 26th August 1900 formed part of the Battle of Bergendal the last set piece action of the war, which was still to last for another 2 years. On 26th August 1900, General French and his cavalry left Geluk very early and first called at Belfast. They left there at 09:00 and first proceeded west along the railway line, possibly to mislead Boer spies. When they were out of sight they swung right and unexpectedly appeared on the farm Boschpoort. The Boers and their Long Tom beat a hasty retreat, while French cleared the rest of the burghers from Zuikerboschkop and Langkloof. By 14:00 he could send a message to Pole-Carew that they could commence their march northwards. The Infantry Division experienced some cross-fire from the east and the Long Tom on Waterval fired a few shots as well. The result of the march was that Pole-Carew was in command of all the high-lying ground between the railway line and Lakenvley. Most of the Middelburg commando had simply fled.
Buller advanced northwards as well. His plan was to swing right on the farm Vogelstruispoort and then proceed over Waaikraal to Dalmanutha. But that afternoon his scouts reported (a bit erroneously) that the Boers' right flank ended at the railway line. He therefore decided to make his breakthrough on the farm Bergendal the next day.
