e located in the various kloofs
which should have been captured, escaped. Abel Erasmus was taken the
following day.

The force bivouacked at Kruger's Post for the night, and returned to
Lydenburg next day, bringing with it fifteen Boer families in addition
to the prisoners. On their return a wire was received by Colonel Park
from Lord Kitchener: "Highly appreciate successful operation of Colonel
Park and troops engaged."

The remainder of the month was spent mostly in convoy work between
Witklip and Lydenburg. Whilst returning to Lydenburg with one of these
convoys, General Walter Kitchener, who was riding ahead with a small
escort, suddenly came across some Boers lying concealed in the grass. He
lost two of his own personal escort killed, his own horse also being
shot. He himself narrowly escaped capture.

On April 10th an order was issued for the battalion to concentrate in
Lydenburg, preparatory to a general advance of three columns. The posts
at Bridge Hill, Mission Village, Strathcona, and Paardeplaats were
evacuated, and the company at Witklip withdrawn.

The destinations of the columns were as follows:--

One column under Colonel Park was to proceed in the Kruger's Post
direction and to scour the country towards the north, and later to join
hands with General Kitchener's column, which was to proceed in a
north-westerly direction, and the third column under Colonel Douglas was
to proceed from Witklip in a westerly direction.

On the 12th, Lieutenant-Colonel Park handed over the command of the
battalion to Major Davies, who had arrived from Witklip, and Captain
Jacson took over the duties of second in command.

CHAPTER V

TREKKING IN THE NORTH-EAST TRANSVAAL

On April 13th, 1901, General Walter Kitchener commenced his long trek
with a night march.

His force consisted of--

Two guns 53rd F.B.R.A. under Major Johnson and Captain Talbot-Ponsonby.
One 5-inch gun.
One 5-inch howitzer.
One naval 12-pounder.
One company mounted infantry.
1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment (20 officers and 900 men).
2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.
The 6th Western Australians.

General Walter Kitchener's column formed one of the many operating at
the time in a combined movement in the Northern Transvaal and bush
veldt, under the direction of General Sir Bindon Blood.

Two columns were sent north to drive the bush veldt, forcing any Boers
that might be located there on to the other columns, who were acting as
stops