Military History

“De Arr 12th March 1900 - I have just five minutes before the post leaves, here and so will tell you change in our plans. Instead of going to Naauwpoort as arranged, we were detrained at De Arr and are going to Britstown tomorrow under command of Lord KITCHENER to fight the rebels there who have risen 3,000 in all, so that we are soon going to have some fun.

We have to stop in our tents all day, as it is so hot and you can’t do anything outside, it is as cold as anything at night-time, so that it is rather trying to know how to dress. The life out here is all right, but it is a bit rough, and you never know when you are going to get your next meal. We have a 31-mile march to Britstown and of course we shall march all night and off saddle all day.“

Other letters written home can be found by clicking here.

Capt Valintine is listed as dying of wounds on 12 Nov 1917 at the 75th Casualty Clearing Station having been wounded in action on 8 Nov 1917 during the Affair in Huj as described in the Wikipedia article below:

The Charge at Huj (also known by the British as the Affair of Huj), was an engagement between forces of the British Empire' Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and the Ottoman Turkish Empire's, Yildirim Army Group during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War. It took place during the Pursuit phase of the Southern Palestine Offensive which eventually captured Jerusalem a month later.

The charge was carried out by units of the 5th Mounted Brigade, against a rearguard position of German, Austrian and Turkish artillery and infantry armed with machine guns. 

The only mounted troops in the area were 170 yeomanry - two full squadrons and two half squadrons from the Worcestershire and Warwickshire Yeomanry - part of the British 5th Mounted Brigade in the Australian Mounted Division. The squadrons manoeuvred under cover to a forming up point 1,000 yd (910 m) on the British right. Advancing under cover of the terrain they got to within 300 yd (270 m) of the position, drew their swords and charged. The Warwickshire Yeomanry squadron attacked the main force of Turkish infantry, then turned and attacked the gun line. The regiment's other half squadron and the Worcestershire Yeomanry squadron attacked the guns from the front, while the remaining troops attacked an infantry position located at the rear behind the main force.

The German and Austrian artillerymen carried on firing until the horsemen were around 20 yd (18 m) away then some took cover underneath their guns. Those who remained standing were mostly stabbed by the swords of the attacking British, while others running away from the guns escaped injury by lying on the ground.

The only officer of the Worcestershire Yeomanry to escape uninjured Lieutenant Mercer described the charge; Machine guns and rifles opened up on us the moment we topped the rise behind which we had formed up. I remember thinking that the sound of crackling bullets was just like hailstorm on a iron-roofed building, so you may guess what the fusillade was....A whole heap of men and horses went down twenty or thirty yards from the muzzles of the guns. The squadron broke into a few scattered horsemen at the guns and seemed to melt away completely. For a time I, at any rate, had the impression that I was the only man left alive. I was amazed to discover we were the victors.

All three charges were successful and the British captured the position, seventy prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery and four machine guns after the main force of infantry withdrew leaving the guns undefended apart from their crews. However British casualties were heavy; of the 190 men taking part, twenty-six were killed, including three squadron commanding officers, forty wounded and 110 horses were killed or wounded.

The charge was the last classic unsupported British Cavalry Charge (arme blanche) to capture guns (one of which is at the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum) and was immortalised in the above watercolour by the noted British artist Lady Butler.

Military Cross

Captain Valintine was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the Charge which was Gazetted on 18 Jul 1918 with the following citation:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his squadron with great courage and skill in an attack on the enemy's guns, and was largely responsible for the success of the enterprise".

Once again our thanks to Philip Wilson and the Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum for their help with this man and please click on the links below for more relevant information about Rudolf and the Yeomanry contained on the Museum's website. Rudolfs letters home can be found in the South Africa link.