A special ceremony took place in Warrington yesterday, (Sunday) to commemorate the 122nd anniversary of the Battle of Pieter’s Hill during the Boer War.
The ceremony took place next to the statue of Lt Col W McCarthy O’Leary in Queen’s Gardens, Palmyra Square as military veterans were joined by the Mayor of Warrington Cllr Maureen Creaghan, who laid a wreath.
Lt Col W McCarthy O’Leary commanded the 1st battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment when it left Preston for South Africa.
As he led the charge on Pieter’s Hill, his words have become a part of the regiment’s history as he told his gallant troops: “Remember men, the eyes of Lancashire are watching over you.”
Sadly the Colonel and three of his men were killed at the moment of victory on February 27, 1900. His statue in Palmyra Gardens, was unveiled seven years later on February 21, 1907.
In January, 1883 he was appointed Adjutant to the 9th Lancashire Volunteers at Warrington, and with them he served five years, with advantage to the corps and great credit to himself, being equally respected by both officers and men.
Then 1888, he was appointed to the command of the battalion, and in autumn of 1898 he took his corps to the manoeuvres at Salisbury Plain, where he was highly complimented on the efficiency and smart appearance of his men, and upon the skilful manner in which he handled them.
The the 1st South Lancashire moved to Preston, where they became distinguished by their prowess on the football field, and in 1899 the battalion won the Army Cup.
While in service at Preston, Lieutenant Colonel O’Leary had an opportunity of renewing his acquaintances with the 1st Vol. Batt. South Lancashire Brigade, in which he was always interested, and it was a source of much gratification to
him to be asked to present the annual prizes to the members of the corps in December 1898, when he met many old friends.
At Pieters Hill, on the 27th February, 1900, the South Lancashire’s much distinguished themselves. They carried the hill, and opened the road to Ladysmith, as General Sir Redvers Buller reported in his dispatch of February 28th; “The main position was magnificently carried out by the South Lancashire’s about sunset.”
But in this final and successful attack, Lieutenant Colonel O’Leary was shot dead – close to the enemy position while leading his men to victory.
The World of the following week wrote:- “It would be impossible to exaggerate the feelings of sorrow with which all ranks of the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment will have laid the remains of their much loved commanding officer to rest after the last days fighting for the relief of Ladysmith. Lieutenant Colonel O’Leary was one of the most popular commanding officers of the whole service. He was a trusted friend of every officer, non-commissioned officer and man serving under him, entered into all their sports, and never thought of sparing himself where the interests of his Battalions were concerned. Though one of the tallest men in the army, he was also the most active, and it was largely due to his encouragement of sport that the 1st South Lancashire had established such a reputation for themselves as cricket and football players, in both of which games they excelled, as Lieutenant Colonel O’Leary needed to say, with true Irish humour, “the old 40th should.”
Background info http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/2015/10/02/lieutenant-colonel-william-maccarthy-oleary-coomlogane-house
