680 
laing’s nek and ingogo. 
At about 10 a.m. the action commenced with tbe guns opening fire 
on Laing's Nek, tbe range in tbe first instance being incorrectly 
taken by a range party under tbe command of an officer and skilled 
N.-C. O’s., provided with Watkin's Range Finder. No greater facilities 
for range finding on service could possibly be conceived; yet there 
was an error of 450 yards, tbe range to tbe Nek given us as 2350 yds. 
eventually proving to be only 1900 yds. We began firing at tbe Nek 
at 2350 yds. with common shell, but never saw tbe shell; we then 
knocked off 200 yds. with no better result; and knocking off another 
200 yds. we found tbe range to tbe Nek to be about 1900 yds. 
In tbe event of taking tbe range by trial shots, we bad determined 
to lay tbe trial shot for a range of 2000 yds. Sir G. Colley, who was a 
great advocate for range finders on service, was greatly disappointed 
at tbe result. 
Tbe artillery deposition was as follows - 
N/5, R.A., on tbe left of tbe line, with orders to shell tbe Nek and 
tbe left front. 
10/7 was on tbe right of tbe line, with orders to cover tbe advance of 
tbe 58th Regiment and Brownlow’s charge, in conjunction with tbe 
centre division of 7-prs. under Lieut. Young, 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers. 
Tbe artillery fire lasted for about half an hour, when tbe 58th Regiment 
were ordered to form for attack and proceed up tbe spur, with a view 
of taking tbe bill marked B, termed by Sir G. Colley the key of tbe 
position. Brownlow, with bis mounted men, was ordered to charge 
up Cj with a view of taking that ridge and clearing tbe spur, and then 
(by moving to D), preventing tbe flanking fire that afterwards bad such 
a deadly effect on tbe 58th Regiment during their advance. 
Brownlow’s charge failed, but from no shortcoming on tbe part of 
that gallant officer. Although bis horse was shot and be himself was 
slightly wounded, be managed to reach on foot tbe crest of tbe bill, 
and getting in among tbe enemy killed a Boer with bis revolver. His 
escape was miraculous. He was nobly followed by Sergeant-Major 
Lenny, K. D. Guards, who was killed. Brownlow seeing bis men 
could not come on, made bis way back: tbe charge bad failed, and 
tbe day was lost. 
Tbe artillery practice throughout this action was particularly good, as 
was testified to by one Aylward, an Irishman, once editor of tbe Natal 
Witness , who went over to tbe Boers on war being declared, apparently 
in tbe capacity of their military adviser, while at tbe same time acting 
as correspondent to an English newspaper. His account of tbe action 
at Laing’s Nek was published in a Natal paper soon after tbe engage¬ 
ment. We bad a difficult and delicate part to perform; having to 
keep up a constant fire over tbe heads of our own advancing and re¬ 
treating infantry and mounted men, who were manoeuvring on ground 
at a far greater elevation than that on which tbe guns were working. 
After the failure of tbe range finder we endeavoured to guess the 
ranges, being very fortunate on one occasion when tbe enemy came 
down in strong force on our left front, and after seizing a strong 
Jcoppee, or hillock, began harassing tbe Naval Brigade. We guessed 
