Sortie Long Valley

The day before, on the 2^nd, a force comprising some cavalry under Major-General French, Natal volunteers under Colonel Royston and one battery of artillery went out across Long Valley to probe the Boer positions. The volunteers and two guns took up a position between Wagon Hill and Middle Hill whilst the rest of the force advanced to the Nek between Middle Hill and End Hill; a squadron of 5h Lancers held the ridge. The remaining four guns and two squadrons 5^th Lancers moved ahead a further 2500 metres firing about ten shells into the Boer Laager with the enemy very quickly returned with rifle fire. French, having achieved his objective, withdrew the force, reaching Ladysmith about 10 am and embarked on the last train to leave the town before the Boers blew up the line south.

After General French had left Major-General J Brocklehurst was sent to reconnoitre the Freestate Boers to the west of the town, in essence to draw enemy fire and thus ascertain their strength and calibre of their guns. At 4.30 am on the 3rd of November 1899l Brocklehurst with the 18th & 19th Hussars, 5th Lancers, 21st RFA and four squadrons of Imperial Light Horse (B,C,E & F) advanced along the Colenso road and down Long Valley. E squadron ahead quickly came under fire from a big gun on the forward hill. Captain T Fowler with half of B & F then occupied Middle Hill.

Lieutenant John Pakeman took up a position facing east and the Boer gun whilst a troop under Lieutenant GM Mathais took cover below the summit, both taking steady fire on the riflemen below.

Before midday the Natal Carbineers and Border Mounted Infantry were at the western end of the hill with B Squadron taking most of the fire wounding Trooper McLeod and Lieutenant Arthur Brabant. Sergeant Kirk in rescuing Brabant received slight wounds but regrettably Branbant died about a week later. The action continued from 9.30 am until 4.30 in the afternoon with most of the Boer shells coming from two guns on Umbulwane.

Soon after Brocklehurst started to withdraw the Boers re-occupied Middle Hill believing the British were returning to the town however C & F squadrons ILH galloped along the valley towards the Boer position for about 2000 yards, dismounting in a donga (depression) near Flagstaff Spruit. They immediately came under fire killing Captain Knapp and pinning down the rest of the men. All this time the artillery were shelling the Boers but now, being uncertain as to the advanced position of the ILH, they ceased fire. This encouraged the enemy to increase the intensity of their fire. Major Karrie-Davis with Captain J Orr took a few men to the right in support of Major Doveton whilst at the same time telling Doveton to retire. Simultaneously orders were sent to the artillery to cover this withdrawal. After and extremely difficult period the retirement was achieved.

As the ILH retired from the donga, they were covered by the 5th Dragoon Guards, under Major Heneage and 21st RFA. Support was also given by the 42nd and 53rd RFA that had hurriedly been brought out of Ladysmith.

The Boers had now got the range of the Colenso road, the only way back into town, and put it under heavy shellfire from Umbulwane.

The ILH, E,F & B squadrons returned via a dry stream to the east of the road and C Squadron made a wide detour south-east. In a very short time the Boers had regained their lost ground.

The ambulances that had followed to the rear of the troops now collected the bodies of Captain Knapp, trooper Fred Dearlove, Captain Brabant, and trooper Short (died of wounds 24.1.1900).

Boer casualties were one killed and six wounded.