The Nineteenth and Their Times / Being an Account of the Four Cavalry Regiments in the British Army That Have Borne the Number Nineteen and of the Campaigns in Which They Served

APPENDIX F.

“It affords me great pleasure to thank you for the valuable services you have rendered during the campaign, especially on the 29th February at Fort Teb, where you displayed extreme coolness, unparalleled courage and fearlessness and cheerful and ready obedience to orders, when under a heavy fire, and surrounded by an almost innumerable foe. As a cavalry officer I had not the chance to notice each act of bravery as others had, but the conduct of the regiment, and its steadiness and boldness were noticed by several Infantry Officers who were better able to see and judge than I, and who have spoken to me in the highest possible terms of the way in which it discharged its difficult duties.

“Your loss has been heavy, but your victory has been sure. I mourn the fate of my comrades in arms, and of your second in command Lieut. Colonel Barrow.

“I had heard of your drill, and I proved the efficiency of the regiment when it was on the Curragh, and its present state of efficiency is admirable. Words are inadequate to convey to you how much I would wish to thank you, but I do thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

APPENDIX G.

APPENDIX H.

APPENDIX I.

APPENDIX K.

The March up the Nile.

The 19th Hussars marched by squadrons from Wady Halfa to Korti, distance 360 miles. Average daily march about 16 miles, not including halts.

Halts were made for one day at Absarat, one day at Dongola, and two days at Shabadood when crossing the river.

The ration was supposed to be 8 lb. of grain, barley or dhourra, and 10 lb. of dhourra stalk; but owing to scarcity of grain, the horses generally received about 6 lb. of grain and 10 lb. of dhourra stalks.

They arrived at Korti in very good condition.

Halt at Korti.

The horses remained at Korti from 20th December to 7th January, and received 8 lb. green dhourra stalk daily instead of dry stalk. They improved during the halt at Korti.

On the 30th December 40 horses proceeded to Jakdul, 100 miles, and performed the reconnaissance duties of the column. The march to Jakdul was performed in 63 hours, 15 hours’ rest there, and the return journey in 63 hours. Six horses returned the 100 miles in 46 hours; the last 50 miles in 7½ hours.

During the 141 hours of this march the horses were ridden for 83 hours.

Desert March.

From the 8th to the 19th of January, the 19th Hussars, strength as below, marched across the desert with General Sir H. Stewart’s Column:—

In addition, therefore, to one extra horse for each Officer, there were 12 spare horses.

The following table will show the daily work performed and amount of food and water given daily to each horse.

The 40 horses referred to in previous paragraph returned to Korti on the 5th, and started again on the 8th, as fit as any horses in the troop.

There was not one casualty out of the 40:—

It will be seen from the above table, that the average forage ration for the first 10 days was about 5 lb. to 6 lb. of grain, and 2 gallons of water, the horses performing 31 miles daily, not counting one day’s halt.

When the final advance was made on Matammeh, the horses marched to the Nile without having received a drop of water for 55 hours, and only 1 lb. of grain. Some 15 to 20 horses received no water for 70 hours.

The Halt at Gubat.

During the period, 20th January to 14th February, the horses received no grain, but were fed on dhourra stalk, or green dhourra stalk, about 8 lb. daily; two days before marching they received 6 lb. of grain.

They performed outpost and patrol duty, averaging some 8 miles daily. Under the above conditions the horses recovered from the effort made during the desert march, but many were in a weak state.

Return to Korti and Dongola.

The first 75 miles, the horses performed the whole distance on 4 lb. of grain and 3 gallons of water, the remainder of the journey water was plentiful, and the 8 lb. of grain was supplied. Two marches of over 40 miles were performed, which shows that the horses were still able to march. After two weeks’ rest at Korti, the horses marched strong and well to Dongola and other stations, receiving plenty of food and water, and after two months’ halt they were in quite as good condition as when they left Wady Haifa.

The Return March—Dongola to Wady Haifa.

On the return march to Wady Haifa the distance, some 250 miles, was performed at the average rate of some 16 miles a day, with one halt for two days.

The marching was done mostly at night, but the horses were generally exposed to a hot sun all day, as there was not much shelter for them under the palm trees.

Except two fractures from kicks, no horses were lost or left on the line of march.

The horses were conveyed from Wady Haifa to Assouan in barges, and after two weeks’ rest at Assouan were handed over to the 20th Hussars in quite as good order as when they left Wady Haifa nine months previously.

The attached statement gives a list of casualties.

I think it may be considered a most remarkable circumstance, that out of 350 horses during nine months on a hard campaign, only 12 died from disease.

This result must be attributed to the two facts:—

1. That the climate of the Soudan is most suitable for horses.

2. That the Syrian horse has a wonderful constitution, and is admirably suited for warfare in an eastern climate.

Conclusion.

The distance actually marched from point to point, not taking any account of reconnaissances, &c., was over 1500 miles.

The weight carried was reduced to the minimum, but averaged about 14 stone. The weather during the last four months of the campaign was trying. Food was often very limited, and during the desert march water very scarce. Under the above conditions, I venture to think that the performances of the regiment on the Arab ponies, will compare with the performance of any horsemen on record.

Casualty Return of Arab ponies, 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Hussars, 13th November 1884 to 1st July 1885.

Casualty Return of Arab Ponies, 19th (Princess of Wales’ Own) Hussars, from 13th November 1884, to 1st July 1885, showing the period during which the horses died.

A few practical lessons learnt.

1. When water was limited to two gallons or less it was given in small quantities, not all at once. Even one pint to the horses, or just enough to moisten their mouths, enabled them to come up to time again. On one occasion, late at night, the horses were much exhausted—we were 35 miles from water, and less than one pint left per horse—the horses could not eat, their mouths were so parched. I had a sack of dhourra meal, and with the water made a number of moist balls of meal. These balls revived the horses, and they marched on their 35 miles next morning. I obtained this hint, previous to the campaign, from General V. Baker, who told me that the Turkomans used to carry in skins balls of grease, or oil and meal.

2. The horses were saved on every possible occasion, and by every possible device. The men never sat on their horses’ backs for a moment longer than necessary. Marches in column were avoided, extended line being used, so that each horse had pure air to breathe; when picketed, horses always had plenty of room and their heads to the breeze; when possible, they were washed two or three times a week, which tended much towards their healthy condition.

3. Several horses were severely wounded, but recovered rapidly, although in a very exhausted condition.

4. The horses were fed, whenever possible, on the grass of the Bayuda Desert. This grass was very dry. The horses chewed it, but ate very little. During the last few days of the march to Matammeh, there was no opportunity for giving the horses any grass.

On several occasions, tins of mouldy biscuit, unfit for issue to the men, were obtained from the Commissariat, and the biscuit given to the horses.

They ate this greedily and worked on it.

P. H. S. BARROW,
Lieut.-Colonel, 19th Hussars.

Cairo, 1st August 1885.