Private J. Anderson was severely wounded during the train ambush at Naboomspruit. Of the Gordon Highlanders escort, which numbered one Officer and 22 men, the Officer and nine men were killed and the remainder wounded. On 10.8.1901 Lord Kitchener sent a telegram to the Officer Commanding, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders at Pietersburg:

'I have today cabled following to his Majesty the King, begins: 'As Colonel-in-Chief of the Gordon Highlanders your Majesty might be pleased to know that Commandant De Villiers, who was present and has just surrendered informed that at the attack on the train on 4th July at Naboomspruit the guard of Gordon Highlanders under Lieutenant Best, who was killed, behaved with utmost gallantry. After the train had been captured by 150 Boers, the last four men, though completely surrounded, and with no cover, continued to fire until three men were killed, the fourth wounded. On the Boers asking survivor the reason why they had not surrendered, he replied, "Why, man, we are the Gordon Highlanders."
Lord Kitchener'

The King's reply, received on 12.8.1901, read:

'Very pleased to hear of the bravery of the Gordon Highlanders. Proud to be their Colonel-in-Chief' (Stirling refers).