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Home / New Zealand

1900, William Maddocks: Bayonet charge at New Zealand Hill

Herald online
11 Oct, 1900 12:11 AM2 mins to read

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An Auckland Weekly News illustration depicting the heroic charge of the New Zealand soldiers under Captain Maddocks, at Slingersfontein. (NZ Herald Archive)

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.

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"Sergeants Gourlay and Connell, of Auckland, were side by side with him and both fell.

"Maddocks got a bullet through his hat, and shot a Boer officer dead five yards away, who was aiming at him. The Boers fell back as soon as they saw the steel.

"There were only between 20 and 30 of our men all told there at first - about 12 of the New Zealanders and 15 Yorks - but they were soon reinforced from other parts of the hill."

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A grateful commanding general renamed the place New Zealand Hill after the battle, and for his cool-headed courage and leadership we name Captain Maddocks our New Zealander of the Year for 1900.

From the Herald archives:
'The Colonial troops: Hot fighting appreciated', New Zealand Herald, 16 February 1900

'With the New Zealanders at the front', New Zealand Herald, 23 February 1900

'Letters from Auckland troopers', New Zealand Herald, 27 February 1900

'Letters from Auckland troopers', New Zealand Herald, 7 March 1900

'With New Zealanders at the front', New Zealand Herald, 10 March 1900

Further reading:
NZ in the South African War, New Zealand History Online

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