Royal Irish Rifles absolved after defeat at Stormberg.

On 11 December 1899, when the 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles had withdrawn to the town of Molteno, General Gatacre inspected the Battalion and explained to the Riflemen on parade the reasons for his defeat on the previous day and why his plans had failed.

The Battle of Stormberg, which was the 2nd Battalion's first and only major action of the war, was ill directed, ill handled, and ill supported - especially when the Rifles were shelled by the Artillery. However, Gatacre's explanation may have lacked detail and frankness as the Battalion cheered him at the end of his speech with an eagerness to return and carry on with the fight. Importantly, there had been no error on the part of the Rifles.

The Battalion, as a result of this action, lost 12 other ranks killed; five officers and 46 other ranks wounded; and four officers and 216 men captured. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel H A Eagar, died of his wounds on 3 February 1900.

The battle was the first of three major British defeats by the Boers in a period known as 'Black Week'. Read about the 1st Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers' actions at the week's culminating battle by clicking on the Battle of Colenso.