An Auckland Weekly News illustration depicting the heroic charge of the New Zealand soldiers under Captain Maddocks, at Slingersfontein. (NZ Herald Archive)
In the South African war, New Zealand troops established their reputation as brave soldiers by mounting a bayonet charge to defend a hill at Slingersfontein farm in Northern Cape, about 400km north of Port Elizabeth.
The hill was occupied by soldiers from a Yorkshire regiment as well as the New
Zealanders when the enemy advanced under cover of long-range fire.
Some of the Yorkshiremen including their captain and colour sergeant were killed.
Without any non-commissioned officers left, there was "some confusion" until Captain William Maddocks of the New Zealand contingent saw what was happening, said a trooper in a letter to the Herald.
"He dashed up, waved his hat, called on his men to fix bayonets, and with about 12 men dashed for the Boers, and jumped over the breastwork," said the trooper.
