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Converted coal truck waggons were given extra armour but were still regarded as death traps by many officers and soldiers due to their vulnerability to attack. Christian de Wet wrote ‘.....a train was captured by the simple device of blowing up the line in front of and behind it...the burghers found a large quantity of the things they needed.....when they had helped themselves the train was burnt’.
Not sure if this event is related to Charles Orr's account but the dates are quite close to one another but on the 7th June, 1900 Roodewal Station was attacked. At daybreak De Wet attacked the station which was garrisoned by 150 men, including one company of the 4th Btn. Sherwood Foresters. They were guarding stores including 2000 mail bags and hundreds of 28lb lyddite shells. The garrison held out until Boer reinforcements arrived but later surrendered. |
Charles Orr's Memoirs Volume 3
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