APPENDIX 7.
Reading edition
APPENDIX 7.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF TRAINS, IN ORDERS FOR DECEMBER 6, 1900.
“The following C. of S. circular memo., No. 25 of Pretoria 27-11-00 is published for information.
1. All officers and men travelling by train on all occasions must be armed.
2. The senior officer travelling on a train is responsible for its defence, if attacked.
3. For this purpose every officer travelling should satisfy himself whether he is the senior officer on the train or not.
4. The senior officer on the train should see that the men travelling by the train have their rifles handy, and that one or two men are detailed to keep a look-out.
5. It has lately been noticed that the enemy, when they attempt the capture of a train, ride up behind the train when it is going slowly up a grade, and detach the vacuum hose from the rear of the brake-van. They then open fire along both sides of the train, to prevent any one getting out.
6. To avoid this, a truck is attached to the rear of each train, with the vacuum hose disconnected. If any troops are travelling on the train, the senior officer should see that some of them are posted, if possible, on the rear truck.
7. Engine drivers have instructions to blow a long blast on the base whistle, if they have any reason to think that anything is wrong. Troops should be instructed to stand to arms on hearing this warning.”
In orders of February 22, 1901, appeared the following instructions for officers and men travelling by train.
“1. A commander is to be detailed in each truck in which there are troops.
2. Officers travelling with troops are to be distributed throughout the train: they are not all to travel together in one truck.
3. The men are to keep their ammunition on, and their rifles beside them. The rifles are not to be stacked in a corner of the truck.
4. The men in the rear truck are to be mounted as a guard with a sentry, and magazines charged.
5. The officer in command of the train should enquire of the Commandant or R.S.O. which are the most dangerous parts of the line and warn all under his command.
6. Goods and bales on the trucks are to be arranged as breastworks as far as possible, in the rear truck especially.
7. R.S.O.’s are to arrange that these orders are shown to the Commander of every train. When small parties without an officer or N.C.O. are on the train, he should appoint one man in charge.”