The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-19 00:00:00

AT DOVER.

The volunteers who attended the gathering at Dover
were indebted to Major-General Newdigate, the Com-
mandant of the District, for one of the best-designed
and most perfectly carried out field days that have
ever taken place. The general idea supposed the land-
ing of a hostile army between Folkestone and Hythe,
bent on the capture of London, and to facilitate that
ambitious designdetaching a division to capture Dover
Castle, if possible, or, at any rate, to mask that strong
military position while the main object was being
accomplished. The role of invader was undertaken
by the column which Colonel Davies, of the Grenadier
Guards, marched down from London on Good Friday,
fighting two well-contested actions, one just beyond
Canterbury, the other on Barham Downs.
The Defending Force was under Major-General
W. H. Goodenough, and was strengthened by the
Royal Irish Rifles, L and T Batteries Ist Brigade of
the Royal Artillery, and a fine squadron of the
East Kent Yeomanry. The scene of operations was
an area of country about two miles in length, extend-
ing from the Deal road between Fort Burgoyne and
the new redoubt north of it, in a north-westerly
direction for something over two miles to the old
road from Ewell to Sandwich, which runs in a nearly
parallel direction. The terrain, is agricultural land
gently rolling enough to afford sufficient cover for the
movement of troops, with the fields divided by slight
hedges, set on low banks, afforded the most perfect
shelter for fighting men.
The invaders took up a position parallel to the
Sandwich-road, facing the south-east, their righ(
resting on Kearnsney-hill Plantation, their left on
Archers' Court-wood, with the fine farm buildings of
Archers' Court in rear of their centre. They were in
a depression of the ground that hid them completely
from the defenders, the hedges between the opposing
forces having been gapped in such a fashion as to
facilitate movement. The defenders, who endorsed
the sound military principle that an offensive defence
is likely to prove most effective, were not content to
cower under the shelter of the guns in Fort Burgoyne
and the Redoubt, but boldly pushed forward and
occupied Frith Farm and the line of the tunnel, by
the East Kent, the 4th West Surrey, the 2nd
Tower Hamlets, and the 4th Essex Volunteers,
while the Ist Royal Fusilier Volunteers and the
Ist Tower Hamlets Volunteers, with the Royal
Irish in support, were, with a keen prevision of
what would be the strategy of the invaders, sent off
to the right to occupy the village of Guston. Strong
outposts were thrown forward from the Frith Farm
position so far as to overlook almost the array of the
invaders, while East Kent Infantry scouts and the
Yeomanry were sent out in advance of Gaston. Both
sides had signal parties, who were utilised to the
utmost, transmitting orders and information with
admirable promptitude and success.
The action commenced by the invaders pushing
out part of their cavalry straight to the front to feel
for their enemy, while the rest took ground to the
left. The cavalry, advancing to the front, had only
gone a few hundred yards beyond the ridge behind
which the whole force lay concealed when they were
met by a sharp fire from a recondite foe in their
front, having come upon a reconnoitring party of. the
defenders. The Hussars retired without loss of tune,
carrying the information back to . the main
body. and thereupon 4 fighting Jule cover-
ing 1.1,A;•• "4•^1" 415111 was acployed, with proper
supports and reserve, and a steady advance was made.
Fire was speedily opened, and a smart fight ensued,
accentuated by the thunder of the invaders' heavy
guns from both flanks. The defenders, who clung
obstinately to their shelter to give time for the
redoubt to be armed were obliged at last by the
superior force brought against them to give ground,
and then fell back fighting to their outpost line. The
invaders, continually feeding their fighting line,
after a gallant struggle on the part of the
defenders, bore them back by sheer weight of
numbers, and they retreated under a heavy fire,
which must have occasioned severe loss if bullets
had been flying about, to the Erith farm position.
Meanwhile, in the direction of Gaston, the yeomanry
scouts of the defenders had speedily detected the
advance of the invaders' Hussars, and made a
well-devised attempt to cut some of them off.
The Regulars, however, were too wily .to be
caught, and fell back on the East Lancashire and
3rd London, who were now threatening the
village. The defenders, from the shelter its build-
ings afforded, made a good fight, but Hozier's 20-
pounders were supposed to be doing severe execution,
and being thus shaken by artillery fire, the nerves of
the garrison were not equal to sustaining the shock
of direct attack from a superior force of their own
arm as well. The East Lancashire executed a most
picturesque charge right up to the enclosures, and the
3rd London pouring at the same time into the
principal thoroughfare, the defenders retreated from
tile other end of the village, and retired under a hot
fire from the victorious invaders.

Directly the village was captured, Hozier turned
his guns on the Frith Farm position, and after a
furious attack the defenders fell back, fighting
desperately, and defending every defensible position,
and, leaving a strong garrison in the redoubt,
were fain at last to retreat behind the line
connecting this work with Fort Burgoyne. The
heavy fire which these works commenced on the
invaders at once put a stop to their victorious
advance. They wavered, became stationary, and at
last sought such shelter as the ground afforded, and
endeavoured by sharpshooting from behind the banks
and swells of the ground to keep down the galling fire
from which they were suffering. So every available
gun of the defenders was brought to bear in aid of
the fort and redoubt, keeping the enemy stationary
and preventing him seeing that the defenders, on
falling back behind the lost ridge that they had so
gallantly defended, so far from being cowed,
were actively engaged in preparation for a
final effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day.
The shattered battalions re-formed, field guns
from the garrison, moved by drag ropes, were
got out, and when all was prepared the force moved
resolutely up the slope which had given them shelter,
and on gaining the crest commenced a furious attack
'on the enemy. The whole of the artillery on the side
of the defence thundered without intermission, the
rattle of musketry was incessant, and when it was
judged that the invaders had become completely
demoralised, a bayonet charge, delivered with the
accompaniment of a ringing cheer, drove them back
defeated to the Frith Farm position, the 'cease fire"
which was then sounded bringing the well-fought
action to an end.

This effective counter-attack was delivered in full
view of the many thousands of spectators who
blackened the slopes of Fort Burgoyne, the Castle, the
Redoubt, and every part of the ample parade-ground
in rear of the Fort, and was productive of eminent
satisfaction. This satisfaction was enhanced by the
forming up of the whole force directly after the action
had ceased, for a march past. The saluting base was
planted just in rear of Fort Burgoyne, and the bands
of the various battalions being massed opposite,
General Newdigate and his staff, with a few dis-
tinguished visitors, including the Secretary and At-
tach 6 of the Chinese Embassy, took post to witness
the defile.