 Britain eventually extended its prosecution of the war into the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republic . On 21 August , at Van Wyk 's Vlei , Sergeant Hampton and Corporal Knight held their positions and evacuated wounded mounted Kingsmen under heavy fire , for which they received the Victoria Cross . Two days later , Boer forces attacked the 1st Battalion while it was at the forefront of an advance south of Dalmanutha . The protracted engagement ended when the King 's were ordered to withdraw , having almost expended their ammunition . Casualties exceeded 70 , while Private Heaton earned the Victoria Cross . 
