as observed.

An officer writing of the armoured train affair at Chieveley so well
described the glorious deeds that were performed that his version was
quoted even by war correspondents. It is therefore reproduced here.

"The train," he writes, "had gone on past Frere towards Chieveley, when
a party of about 200 Boers were seen evidently watering their horses.
After watching them for some time the train reversed, and went back at a
fair speed. On rounding a curve, a truck containing men of the Durham
Light Infantry toppled over, almost burying the inmates. Fortunately the
men had room to scramble out, although three or four had almost to be
dug out before they got free. In the meantime the Boers were pouring a
rifle-fire into the train, and were working their big guns and Maxim as
fast as it was possible for them to load and fire. The Dubs (Dublin
Fusiliers) in the truck in what was now the rear of the train were
firing as hard as they could, and the Naval men on an open waggon at the
rear opened fire with their 7-pounder, but after about three shots it
was put out of action. Gradually all the men got out of the overturned
truck, and, seeking cover behind waggons, returned the Boer fire, but
the enemy was so well protected that hardly a man could be seen. It soon
became apparent that the foe being in overwhelming force and provided
with heavy artillery, the best thing was to endeavour to get the road
clear.

"Twenty volunteers were called for, and it was at this point that
Lieutenant Winston Churchill so distinguished himself. With the greatest
coolness he superintended the operation of getting the trucks free of
the line. He encouraged the men at work by walking about in the open
with bullets flying round him, and telling the working party not to mind
the Boer fire, as the aim was bad.

"The engine was backed and then pushed against the trucks on the line,
and it was when this operation was going on that another truck, behind
which the men were firing to cover the working party, fell over and
injured one or two D.L.I. seriously. They had been ordered to stand back
while the engine butted against the derailed trucks, but they evidently
did not hear the order.

"After nearly an hour's hard work and harder fighting, the line was
clear enough for the engine to go forward, but the waggons behind had to
be uncoupled and left. The Dubs who were in them and the Naval men,
however, had got out, and had gone away in extend