On the 2nd August, on arriving at Graaf Reinet, “B” Squadron was ordered to proceed,with a pom-pom section, to Aberdeen and left the column during the night. Hereafter it acted as an independent column until the end of the war, ten months later; its scene of occupation was Aberdeen, Murraysburg, Richmond, Elandspoort, Taaiboschfontein, Biejiespoort Station, Krom River Station, Carnarvon, Arbeitersfontein, and Colesberg etc. and valuable work was done in harassing the commandos of Wessels, Pypers, and others. The squadron accounted for many of the enemy killed and captured, and rendered good service in protecting the lines of blockhouses during the construction and after completion. Luckily little damage was inflicted on it by the enemy.
The commander of the tiny column, Lord William Bentinck, who was also “B” Squadron’s leader, was mentioned in despatches for the good work done under his leadership, and received the D.S.O.
The Headquarters and “A” and “C” Squadrons performed services of a similar nature, scouring the country from Graaf Reinet in a westerly direction, through Baviaans Kloof where several casualties were sustained in a fight against superior numbers in unassailable positions. Thence to Uniondale, where on the 19th August, near Avontuur, a very critical situation was relieved by precipitate, but orderly, retirement to a pass in the hills, the nek of which commanded the only possible line of the enemy’s advance.
The column, which on this day, -- 19th August – consisted only of the two squadrons of the 10th with its supply column, numbered 205 of all ranks. It was advanced on Avontuur, which was menaced by the Boers in force, under Scheepers and Van de Merwe. The hills through which it had to march and the roads precluded the possibility of taking the guns which had been left behind. When within a mile of its objective, the enemy, from well concealed positions in the surrounding hills, opened a heavy fire upon the column, checking its advance.
The Boers came on in overwhelming numbers from ridge to ridge, pouring in a heavy fire, and a number were getting round the flank with the obvious intention of cutting off the line of retreat. The order to retire was given. The ammunition had run out, and five boxes only was obtainable from the town of Uniondale. The line of retreat was most difficult, some distance of it being exposed to the Boer fire – the road here was very narrow, the towering hill on one side, a deep declivity on the other; this was negotiated by one man at a time, with an interval of two horses’ length between each: despite the incessant fire of the enemy, not one man was hit in this bullet swept zone, the summit of the hill was gained, the nek held, and the burghers checked. One man was killed, a Squadron Sergeant-Major mortally wounded, two Officers severely wounded and four men wounded. The squadrons remained in their position that night and next day; during the night the enemy retired. Two squadrons of our old comrades the 12th Lancers, who were also working in this part of the colony, and had been ordered to make a forced march to reinforce us, arrived at Uniondale during the night. \on the 21st the remainder of the 12th and a section of “Q” Royal Horse Artillery arrived at Uniondale, and our squadrons came down from the hills and bivouacked to the west of the town.
