5785 Private M Watkins, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. Sailed with his Battalion from Gibraltar in the Ghoorkha on 25 Oct 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 15 Nov 1899. Along with the 1st and 2nd Coldstreams and the 1st Scots Guards they composed the 1st or Guards Brigade, under Major General Sir H E Colvile. On arrival they joined the Kimberley Relief Force under Lord Methuen, who with three brigades were on their way to raise the Boer siege of Kimberley. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Belmont on 23 Nov 1899 when his brigade attacked a Boer force of about 2,000 men that had entrenched on the range of Belmont kopje to delay their advance. The battalion had 2 officers and 23 men killed and 7 officers and 97 men wounded. Private Underwood died from his wounds that same day and was buried on the battlefield at Thomas's Farm cemetery, Belmont. His remains were later reinterred in West End Cemetery, Kimberley.
5785 Private M Watkins, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. Sailed with his Battalion from Gibraltar in the Ghoorkha on 25 Oct 1899, and arrived at the Cape about 15 Nov 1899. Along with the 1st and 2nd Coldstreams and the 1st Scots Guards they composed the 1st or Guards Brigade, under Major General Sir H E Colvile. On arrival they joined the Kimberley Relief Force under Lord Methuen, who with three brigades were on their way to raise the Boer siege of Kimberley. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Belmont on 23 Nov 1899 when his brigade attacked a Boer force of about 2,000 men that had entrenched on the range of Belmont kopje to delay their advance. The battalion had 2 officers and 23 men killed and 7 officers and 97 men wounded. Private Underwood died from his wounds that same day and was buried on the battlefield at Thomas's Farm cemetery, Belmont. His remains were later reinterred in West End Cemetery, Kimberley.
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