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Speech by General Coke, No. 1 Commanding 10th Brigade to 2nd Middlesex Regiments.
Colonel Hill, Officers, N.C.O's and men of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment I want to take the opportunity of speaking to you of the work which has been and the privations endured by you during the last week. Here we are at Majuba; where the Boers have been entrenching themselves in that position for months past, and said they intended to stay there till the war was over. Now, as you know, we started away last week on what was intended to be a reconnaisance, and we little thought that when we left De Wets Farm, with our dinner being cooked, but we should return the same day. We never thought we should have to stay all night but the position (Van Wyk) was of great importance. Now I don't wish to praise

the Middlesex more than you deserve, but the honour is with you all for the manner in which you won and held Van Wyk, that being the key to the whole work. By holding that position, as you did, we were able to gain Botha"s Pass, and then as you know, we got into the Free State. Then again your action at Almans Nek-that battle was fought and won by the 10th Brigade. There was another Brigade on our left, but they did not close with the enemy and it was a very serious position. We found the Boers there in a very strong position about 2,500 strong, but a great many retired at the commencement of the fight; what remained were stubborn and determined men, and I must say, had not the Middlesex come up again at the most critical moment, just as the sun was

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