Assault on Talana Hill, South Africa

On 20 October 1899, the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers attacked a strong Boer position at Talana Hill. The feature itself was steep and it took eight hours to reach the top. The keen-eyed Boers picked off many of the attackers on the way up, most of them being shot through the head. On reaching the summit they found it strewn with abandoned materiel, including Mauser rifles, bandoliers, ammunition and great coats, but the Boers were gone and could be seen moving like an army of ants northwards across the green plain.