'A Heartbreaking Experience' - The Black Watch at Magersfontein, 1899

This video is an account of the Battle of Magersfontein, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, by an officer of The Black Watch, Christian Malise Hore-Ruthven. This battle was one of the greatest catastrophes in Scottish military history, and Hore-Ruthven's account illustrates the sheer extent of the mental and physical suffering endured by the Highland Brigade.
This video is part of a collaboration with ‪@adventuresinhistoryland5501‬ ‪@AtunSheiFilms‬ ‪@ChristheRedcoat‬ ‪@BrandonF‬ ‪@TheFarOffStation‬ ‪@theministryforhistory‬ ‪@TheShogunate‬ and
‪@TheFallofRome‬ , with nine new videos highlighting the central concept that war is hell. Check out their videos here:
• "War is Hell: No Matte...

[@WoWBaxter]

I'm so glad I was able to find this channel from this collaboration event. Subscribed and excited for any new content!

[@alenmcculloch7823]

Thank you for this deeply moving account. In 1999, on the exact anniversary of the battle, I was privileged to accompany the RSM and Pipe-Major on a Battlefield Tour there. We joined a large number of fellow pilgrims in re-enacting the march of the Highland Brigade that fateful night. We halted where the Bde was halted, and a volley of blank rounds rang out from the hill. A poignant salute to the dead of both sides. Later in the morning I shared the conduct of a Memorial Service with an Afrikaans-speaking Chaplain from the SADF. A powerful moment of reconciliation. The Chaplain of the Highland Brigade in December 1899 was Revd James Robertson, who was beside General Wauchope when he was shot. Padre Robertson's portrait still hangs in one of the staircases of the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, just across the road from the Black Watch Anglo-Boer War Memorial, and he is quoted in this link: www.angloboerwar.com/books/93-sellers-from-aldershot-to-pretoria/1898-sellers-chapter-vi-magersfontein

[@euansmith3699]

What a sad tale; very movingly read. 12:08 The man at the rear of the photo, on the right-hand side, appears to be a giant; a head taller than the rest.

[@sirfox950]

Absolutely phenomenal video, one can only imagine the hardships this men lived through.

[@brooksymusic6907]

Capt MacFarlan is buried in old Campsie High Church Cemetery, now called Lennoxtown near Glasgow. A beautiful tomb stone with a carved Bearskin and Hackle with a hilted Highland Broadsword. Notified recently to Major (retd) Tim Carmichael Black Watch.

[@grendel42ful]

"An extreme emergency without any plan leads to chaos." - These are perhaps the most important words someone can hear, especially when anticipating a dangerous situation.

[@aje1200gs]

The commissioning ceremony of the intelligence corps before democratisation in 1994 was at Magersfontein; a moving ceremony. The underlying message was to respect your foe; irrespective of how evil he may be.

[@thomasshepard6030]

My uncle Jim Matthew was captured at st valery 10th of June 1940 he was with the black watch royal highlanders he was part of the 51st highland division even to this day there is no memorial to these brave men they fought on until the ran out of ammunition food and water

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

There is a chance that both my great-grandparents fought against each other at Magersfontein. On the Annandale side, they rode with de la Rey, and on the Nicholl side, marched with the Black Watch as an officer. I wish I knew when Nicholl got to South Africa, and in which battalion. Similarly with my (ex-Scots) Boer ancestors, but there isn't that much surviving paperwork on the Boer ranks. The Afrikaans side of the family barely talks to the English-speaking side of the Annandales after my grandfather married a Khaki soldiers daughter.

[@trevbees7957]

My Grandfather was injured in this battle, he was a Black Watch regular.

[@thehistoadian]

Lest we forget. Nice to see the Victorian era getting some attention

[@miketickner6108]

Another first class and well researched film.

[@EPICFAILKING1]

Hey man, I just realised I've seen you at the Victory Show this and last year and maybe earlier, we've exchanged a few words (I think I complimented your kit). I didn't realise you had a YT channel and I've just found my way here via Brandon F, the video was great and also very moving. I'm defo gonna subscribe and I'll probs see you again V Show 2023 if you're there.

[@johncounts2182]

a very good video, and a coincidence on my own part. I once made a dnd character based on a member of Clan Ruthven in the affair over the murder of Mary, Queen of Scott's courtier by Ruthvens. it's nice to have heard an account from a later figure with that familiarity. War is hell, and deids shaw.

[@AgentGB1]

Great video and account.

[@outpostraven]

Great video

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for covering this battle of the 2nd Boer War. Any idea what happened to the author , who appears to have survived the 2nd Boer. War

[@thehighlandsubaltern8139]

Christian Hore-Ruthven was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions during the Boer War. He commanded a company of the 1st Black Watch in 1914, then rose to command the 1st Battalion during the 1920s. He retired from the regular army in 1933.

[@anselmdanker9519]

@@thehighlandsubaltern8139 Thank you for your response. It was a very interesting description of Magerfonten from the ground level.i don't suppose there is a similar account of the Storming of Dargai by the Gordon Highlanders 😀?

[@peterrooke5336]

I was there in 1991 on my way to Kimberley, fascinating

[@00muinamir]

Dude was brutally honest about how much this battle sucked. I can't help but wonder if we'd even get this clear of a picture of what it was like had they won.

[@CaptRons18thcentury]

Interesting video…

[@dentoncrimescene]

Well, I've learned from this to keep my head down if I'm being shot at.

[@gerterasmus2810]

Ha ha we Boers. Can still shoot strait today

[@thesmilyguyguy9799]

: O

[@subaruadventures]

Why have you paused comments and likes and dislikes? something to hide?

[@hashkangaroo]

One can only be inundated with so much moronic nonsense of the _"I didn't watch your video, but I think you're wrong anyway; no listen to my 1-3 sentence dissertation, citation reddit"_ variety before one wishes to hear no more of it.

[@user-vr8uo3oj2h]

A British disaster