On July 3rd he found near Leeuw Kop a considerable force of Boers with three guns opposed to him, Clements being at that time too far off upon the flank to assist him.

Four guns of the 38th R.F.A.
(Major Oldfield) and two belonging to the City Volunteers came into action.

The Royal Artillery guns appear to have been exposed to a very severe fire, and the losses were so heavy that for a time they could not be served.

The escort was inadequate, insufficiently advanced, and badly handled, for the Boer riflemen were able, by creeping up a donga, to get right into the 38th battery, and the gallant major, with Lieutenant Belcher, was killed in the defence of the guns.

Captain FitzGerald, the only other officer present, was wounded in two places, and twenty men were struck down, with nearly all the horses of one section.