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BOER WAR

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Captain T/H. Eyre Lixn i >
II. COLDSTREAM GUAI

1899— ic

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Printed for Private Circulation
amongst the family.

BOER WAR.
DIARY OF CAPTAIN EYRE LLOYD,
2nd Coldstream Guards.

Assistant Staff Officer, Colonel Benson's Column,
Killed at Brakenlaagte, 30th October, 1901.

PRINTED BY THE ARMY AND NAVY CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, LIMITED,
105, VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, LONDON, S.W.

YALE

DT<332 L5b

BOER WAR,

FROM

12th November, 1899, to 29TH October,
1901.

November 12th, Sunday. — Reach Cape Town
about 2.30 p.m. Wanted at once at the
front, and so unload ship as soon as
possible and go up in two trains; ist train
9.30 p.m., 2nd train 2.30 a.m. on Monday.
Officers only to take 35 lbs. of luggage.
This will probably not be strictly enforced
so long as the bulk is not too great, so
we all put a few extras in our valises at the
last minute. All other luggage to be
left at Cape Town.

4
Men's valises left behind and everything
put in their great coats and haversacks.
Colonel Pole-Carew came to see us and
was cheered. He came with Lady Ned
Cecil (Ned is in Mafeking) and Lady
Charlie Bentinck (he is at Kimberley,
wounded) and Davies' Grenadiers. Could
not get all luggage out in time.
November i^th, Monday. — Sutton (in com
mand), Baring, Acheson, Gell, Burton,
Campbell, and self, start from Cape Town
at 2.30 a.m., amid cheers. Breakfast,
Wellington. Lunch, Worcester. Dinner,
Matjesfontein. Most of the journey
lovely scenery. Great cheering where-
ever we meet anyone. All very happy
and cheery, men very keen. Write
home. Train very comfortable, 4 officers
in each carriage and there is room for us
all to lie down. Men's carriages also are
well fitted up and make into 6 beds and

5
one sleeps on the floor. Food at the
stations very good. We are travelling
without any baggage. I think our 35
lbs. is in one of the trucks, but am not
sure. I had a great bother with the
horses, I had to fill up spaces with tents.
November 14th, Tuesday. — Breakfast Beaufort
West. Lunch Victoria West, where we
bought tooth brushes. Dined at De Aar,
where we stayed the night. Dined with
Fatty Earle, who is staff officer here.
All this country is under martial law as
it is full of Dutchmen.
Serve out a tin of ten tubes of Maggi's
consomme" and one packet of dry eggs
to each man in company. I had brought
130 of each from England to use as
emergency rations for the company.
November 15th, Wednesday. — Entrained at
4.30 a.m. Arrived Orange River about

9 a.m., where we had breakfast. We
encamp across the river where our other
half battalion is already bivouacked.
Little, 9th Lancers, asked me to lunch,
try to go over there on Julian Steel's
horse, but horse jibs badly and was
evidently ill, was caught in a storm and
had to get back by 2 p.m., just managed
it minus lunch. Eat tongue, bully beef,
bread, cold gravy, whisky and dirty
water — enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Acheson, Burton and I, in a tent together.
Fred comes over from 9th Lancer camp.
No. 3 company mounts inlying picquet at
5 p.m. I am captain of the day.
November i6ik, Thursday. — Reveille at 4 a.m.
Men on picquet (No. 3) stand to arms at
reveille. Coffee at 4.15 a.m. Paraded
at 5 till 7.30 a.m. Breakfast 8 a.m.
Pay-sergeant's inspection at 9 a.m. Strike
camp and re-pitch it at 9.30 a.m. We

7
have been ordered to remove all orna
ments, stars, etc. The Boers tell-off their
best shots to pick off the officers, so it is
necessary to make them as like the men as
possible. No. 3 company goes on out
post at 5 p.m. Our dinner is brought up
to us ; soup, potatoes, meat, all nearly
cold, but most welcome.
We do the night in watches. I take
10 p.m. to 12 p.m., Burton 12 p.m. to
2 a.m., and. Acheson 2 p.m. to 4 a.m.
1st Scots Guards arrive.
November ijth, Friday. — Wake up very cold
at 2 a.m., but pull up blanket and get
warm again. Detached post over 1000
yards off, over very difficult and rocky
country. 3 N. C. officers and 12 men.
Stand to arms at 3.30 a.m. in alarm
positions. Return to cairip at 5 a.m.
Last night we saw flashes of signalling
from Kimberley search lights and at first

8
thought them flashes of big guns. Hear
*Joe Laycock has been distinguishing him
self in Natal. Got a letter from Mother.
Fred says Joe Laycock is coming here.
Wrote home. Northumberland Fusiliers
arrive. 3rd Grenadiers arrive.
November iSth, Saturday. — Paraded 5.10 a.m.
for route march. Burton still bad with
his corn. All officers' swords, revolvers,
etc., sent to store, and men's equipment
drawn for them. Parade 6 p.m. for a
night march. No. 3 was in the assaulting
column and the men were very quiet, but
the section commanders did very badly.
ist Coldstream, arrive at Orange River.
November iqth, Sunday. — Paraded 5.10 a.m.
for route march.
Holy Communion 10 a.m. Post letters
home.
"Captain, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, and A.D.C. to General
French.

9
Joe Laycock comes to see me.
Voluntary service 6 p.m.
November 20th, Monday. — Heavy rain till
8 a.m. Do company attack till 12
o'clock. Practice independent firing and
advance by rushes after 600 yards.
Light baggage packed up 2 p.m., and
also 2 blankets and waterproof sheet
carried for each officer ; 1 blanket for
each man and 1 waterproof sheet between
2 men, to be carried in regimental
transport. Tents struck 8 p.m. Ordered
to parade 1.30 a.m.
November 21st, Tuesday. — Very hard day.
Paraded 4.30 a.m., great coats all rolled
up and not allowed to be unrolled.
Very cold night, no one got much sleep.
Marched without breakfast (except a
biscuit) 9 miles to Witte Puts, very hot

IO
when we arrived ; got nothing to eat till
mid-day. Scouts captured 300 sheep
and 2 mules. Bivouacked.
November 22nd, Wednesday. — Boers retired
north. Paraded 4.30 p.m. Marched to
Belmont Farm where we bivouacked.
Blankets and waterproof sheets taken with
us, but not used ; great coats left behind,
consequently very cold. Scots Guards
make a fearful noise all night and none
of us can sleep.
November 23rd, Thursday. — Battle of Bel
mont. Rouse at 1.30 a.m., paraded at
2 a.m. Grenadiers swept round Gun Hill
and carried No. 2 hill with the greatest
gallantry. This is a steep kopje, 300 feet
high and covered with rocks, which was
meant for our assault ; the whole position
was carried, and a position in rear and the
Boer camp, was taken, but with heavy

II
losses — 306 killed and wounded. After
the first attack, which the Grenadiers
finished before our arrival, I got separated
with about 10 men, by the General's
order. Soon after, poor Burton was
shot through the head by a man holding
up a flag of truce ; Claude Willoughby
was shot through the forearm at the same
time. I am afraid Burton's wound is
mortal, it is very hard luck to be hit in
his first fight ; he was a right good fellow,
and I am very sorry to lose him. The
Boer loss is unknown, but it is believed
to have been very heavy. We buried 60
of their dead. Poor Fryer, adjutant 3rd
Grenadiers, was killed ; Blundell mortally
wounded ; Colonel Crabbe, commanding
3rd Grenadiers, wounded in wrist, and
about 5 other officers of that battalion
were wounded. Grant, ist Coldstream,
wounded in thigh. It was an awful sight
at No. 2 hill. We got back to camp at

12
about 10 p.m., having had nothing to eat
since 7 p.m. the night before. Very
hard day, thoroughly tired.
November 24th, Friday. — Rested at Belmont,
rather depressed at our losses yesterday.
Private George shot in the throat — he
and Burton are the only 2 casualties in
my Company. Marched a short way
beyond Belmont Station and bivouacked
with blankets.
November 2$th, Saturday. — Battle of
Graspan. Paraded 4 a.m. Roused by
mistake at 1.45 a.m. 2nd Coldstream in
reserve, and guarding right flank, never
came under fire. Another frontal attack
upon a very strong kopj6, this time by
our naval brigade, which had 7 officers
out of 9 hit, the 3 seniors killed. If
these senseless frontal attacks do not
cease there wjit^ be a disaster. It is
wonderful how |hey have succeeded up

13
to now. Reached Enselin siding about
2 p.m. Next to no water. Very hard
day, got nothing to eat but a little soup
at 5.30 p.m. ; we were saved by Heaton's
medical stores. Was taken ill in the
night.
November 26th, Sunday. — Rested at Enselin
Siding. I laid up all day as best I could
and was nearly well by the evening.
Paraded at 5 p.m. when the General, Lord
Methuen, complimented the troops on
their performance. Very bad food and
very short of stores in officers' mess.
Stores divided into boxes of neces
saries and luxuries ; but lots of the
necessaries are in the luxury boxes and
there is nothing in the necessary boxes
that you can live on except soup.
Porridge, milk, etc., are all in necessary
boxes, so we are very hard up for food
as we have no luxury boxes here.

November 27th, Monday. — Marched to within
5 miles of Modder River. Good water
at last. Had a moderate sort of a wash,
great luxury. They say the crossing of
the Modder will be unopposed. Expect
not to start till late.
November 28th, Tuesday. — Battle of the
Modder River. Called up early, paraded
4 a.m. Very severe battle. Under fire
from 6.30 a.m. to 6 30 p.m. Personal
experience in note book. Another frontal
attack. Boer trenches very well made.
2nd battalion losses, 12 killed, 59
wounded. When we retired the bullets
came like a hailstorm and I cannot under
stand how any of us escaped. Acheson
was hit in the foot. A. and S. High
landers lost heavily through their kilts
being so conspicuous. Lost 1 killed and
17 wounded in my company, including
Acheson and section commanders. A

i5
man was shot on each side of me. There
were a lot of very narrow escapes.
Towney Butler had a bullet through his
trousers between his legs, two cut his
water bottle and another his helmet.
Colour-sergeant Pitt had his haversack
shot off. To-day's frontal attack was
very nearly a defeat. The next probably
will be. We have won these three
battles in spite of it. Colonel Stopford
and Fatty Earle both killed, dreadful
loss.
November 30th, Thursday. — Had two bathes
in the Modder River, which was quite
delightful. Thank goodness for a little
rest. Firing was heard to-day in the
direction of Kimberley, so I hope they
have been beating the Boers. There is
a hotel here so I have been able to buy
a tooth brush at last ! I lost mine a
week ago.

i6
Just heard that poor Burton died on
the way down to the Cape. Pole-Gell
transferred to No. 3 company.
December ist, Friday. — Had another bathe.
Thank goodness Sergeant Lock has ap
peared with some more food for the mess.
Shute laid up, slight dysentery. Out-posts.
No. 3 picquet has been finding its own
support on the Modder River, food did
not reach us till very late.
December 2nd, Saturday. — Had a nice shady
and cool place to lie in on out-post.
Two swarms of bees came into the house,
we meditated occupying. Caught a
nigger with a white flag, probably up
to no good. Horrible smell from dead
horses. English mail, got letters from
Mother, Marie Balfour and Thea.
December 3rd, Sunday. — Church parade and
Holy Communion, parson, Mr. Faulkner,
preached an excellent sermon.

17
Bathed in the evening.
60 dead Boers found in river, rumour
says there are 300 ; this is nice as we
have been drinking the water, no wonder
a great many men have diarrhoea.
Sent off 2 dozen kodaks home to be
developed.
December 4th, Monday. — Highland Brigade
filling up. We shall soon have 2 Horse
batteries, 3 Field batteries, and the naval
gun. At the Modder battle we only had
r battery F. A. and 4 guns and sailors.
15,000 Boers said to be at Spytfontein.
Scouts fired on 3 miles from here. A
squadron of the 12th Lancers have
arrived, the rest of the 12th and the
Carabineers are coming. On fatigue,
building railway bridge. We are
probably going to fortify this place.
Had a slight go of diarrhcea.

i8
December $th, Tuesday. — 12th Lancers
arrive. Naval big gun has arrived ; this
will counteract the Boer " Long Tom,"
but it is too heavy to move from
railway. Rumour that Carabineers not
allowed to come up, because they looted
at Southampton. Went on out-post
parade at 3.30 p.m., in reserve this time.
Quite well again. Shute, Steele, Hardy,
Towny, G. Baring and several others are
seedy with the same complaint.
December 6th, Wednesday. — Nothing
happened on outpost, except that Wilty
saw a line of wagons moving northwards.
Keswick, 12th Lancers, passed through
the out-posts awfully pleased because he
had been nearly shot. Geoffrey Stewart
returned to-day, cured, but still looking
pale.
December jth, Thursday. — Boers cut railway
at Enselin siding last night. Brigade

19
attack parade. Frank Farquhar arrived,
and is posted to my company, and Gell
returned to No. 5. All the Highland
Brigade have now arrived. Fearful dust.
Frank says Acheson and Claude are
getting on well.
Joe Laycock dines with me.
Boers were driven off at Enselin
siding, but not before they had blown up
three culverts and cut several miles of
wire. A few Boers have taken up their
old position at Gras Pans.
December 8th, Friday. — Left half battalion
paraded for fatigue at 4 a.m. ; right half
paraded at 2.15 p.m. We built part of
a redoubt on the island, good position.
Temporary railway bridge finished.
G. battery R.H.A. have arrived.
December qth, Saturday. — Paraded 6 a.m.,
battalion attack. The new naval gun

20

fired a few lyddite shells at the Boers,
they made very good practice, so did
the R.H.A. Lyddite are splendid shells
and the naval guns best practice is at
10,000 yards ; Howitzer battery arrives.
Out-post at 4 p.m. No. 3 company in
picquet line.
December 10th, Sunday. — Relieved at 6 a.m.
Lyddite shelling commences at 4 p.m.
from big naval gun and Howitzer battery.
Thank goodness the Boers have no
lyddite. Church 7 a.m., communion after.
9th Lancers have gone round the
Boers left and the Boers are shelling
them ; towards 7 p.m. the shelling seems
to have made the Boer position unten
able, we shall see to-morrow if this is so.
Battalion parades at 7 p.m. to attack
Spytfontein. Bivouacked about i\ miles
out of camp.

21

December nth, Monday. — Battle of Magers-
fontein. Paraded 12.45 a.m. Highland
Brigade attacked 4.10 a.m. with terrible
loss, they were in quarter column just
going to extend, when they were fired
upon from behind at 30 yards and
completely surprised, panic set in and
the whole Brigade ran. The Black
Watch lost 6 officers killed and 14
wounded and 237 N.C. officers and men
killed and wounded. Total Highland
loss, 800. General Wauchope com
manding Highland Brigade killed and
3 colonels out of 5. We were ordered
to form reserve for our left half
battalion which would attack the
trenches in continuation of the big
kopje, only as a containing force. Later
on I was ordered to support the High
landers' attack on the left of the trenches,
we got about 300 yards from the trenches
when we met the Highlanders beaten

22

and running under a murderous fire, we
were on a bare plain, a perfect field of
fire for the Boers, I had collected about
30 stragglers and shirkers on my way
up and these of course ran too. My
company was unsupported and we joined
Shute on my right, to support Airlie and
the 1 2th Lancers. Every attack was
repulsed. The Highland Brigade was
completely destroyed as no Highlander
was worth much after this terribly rough
handling, in the morning. The Artillery
saved us and must have done great
execution. We had the balloon out
to-day for the first time. The Boer
trenches are splendidly made, their
strength is variously reported from
12,000 to 24,000. We attacked an
almost impregnable position very strongly
entrenched, with a frontal attack with
under 9000 men. This repulse was bound
to come. No. 3 lost 2 killed and 5 wounded.

23
December 14th, Thursday. — 4 battles in 3
weeks with every one seriously engaged,
our total loss, over 800 killed and
wounded. The loss of the Highland
Brigade was simply cruel, it was a mag
nificent brigade, but I don't suppose it
will be fit to fight again for at least a
month. In the last hour of daylight I got
badly sniped by a Boer, why I was not hit
I cannot imagine, he nearly hit me every
time. Poor Winchester was killed. We
were badly off for the night, having no
water within 3 miles and no food.
Acheson returned, but has to go into
hospital again, his wound is not half
healed.
December \%th, Friday. — Out-post, No. 3
in picquet line. Pole-Gell was told off
to look out for a flag of truce which must
not be allowed to go near the guns, so
he went out with a sergeant and 2 men

24
to the front ; he then imagined he saw
a flag of truce and borrowed a gunner's
horse and cantered about 1700 yards to
the front alone, waving a World news
paper, there was no flag of truce and he
was captured. The Boers are entrench
ing all the way to Jacobsdal. We have
had a thorough check and are entrench
ing. I hope the Boers won't cut our
supplies.
December 16th, Saturday. — Relieved early
from out-posts. Methuen sent a flag of
truce to Cronje about Gell, but got an
impertinent answer. English mail arrives.
They had just received news of Belmont
in England.
December ijth, Sunday. — Church parade
7 a.m., Holy Communion 7.30 a.m.
Entrenching out - post line here.
Paraded 1.30, return 7 p.m. Modder
Drift in flood.

25
December 18th, Monday. — Formed covering
party for entrenching. Paraded 9.30 a.m.,
returned 3.30 p.m.
Sir Redvers Buller or General Clery
has been defeated at Tugela River with
a loss of 10 guns and 2,000 men.
General Gatacre has also received a
reverse, so now all three columns have
been checked. We are now in rather a
tight place. Shute goes to Cape Town
for stores.
December 19th, Tuesday. — Paraded 2.45 a.m.
Relieved out-posts at daybreak, No. 3
Company in reserve.
December 14th. — Recommended
Privates Green and Lazenby to C. O.
for gallant conduct yesterday. Lazenby
left his cover to carry a wounded
Highlander out of action. Both names
were sent in to the General.
December 20th, Wednesday. — Sergeant

26
Ricketts wounded in shoulder at Modder,
returns to duty.
December 21st, Thursday.— Working party
for digging entrenchments 2.30 p.m.
Gymkhana committee meeting, Hotel
5 p.m. Gymkhana arranged for January
ist. Leather-Culley goes to base with
dysentery.
December 22nd, Friday. — Clery lost about
1,200 men at Tugela River. Poor
Freddy Roberts reported killed.
December 23rd, Saturday. — Out-post No. 3
on picquet line near Modder. Reported
defeat of the Boers near Ladysmith.
Lord Roberts said to be coming out to
command with Kitchener, Chief of the
Staff. Eight Divisions have now been
mobilized, the Eighth having 16 bat
talions. Gymkhana Committee Meeting.
Diarrhoea.

27
December 24th, Sunday. — Relieved at dawn.
New naval Long Tom arrives. Parade
service 7 a.m. Quite well again. Private
Cubitt wounded at the Modder, returned
to duty.
December 2$th, Monday, Christmas Day. —
We dine with the ist battalion, very
successful dinner. Shute remains in
hospital at Cape Town. This battalion
has now laid up : Leather-Culley,
dysentery ; Claude Willoughby, wounded
at Belmont ; Roundle, bad knee ; Shute,
dysentery, in hospital at Wynburg, Cape
Town ; Acheson wounded, at Modder ;
Studd, diarrhoea, in hospital here.
Hardy
C. Baring „
Stewart „ ,,
December 26th, Tuesday. — Paraded 4.45 a.m.
Railway fatigue. A little shelling done
on both sides. Muller's house blown up.

28
Desultory shelling goes on nearly every
day. Our guns were ordered not to fire on
Christmas Day. Cavalry draw Boer fire
and find they have 4 new guns. Heavy
firing all along the Boer position at about
8 p.m. Don't know what at. Boers
have strengthened their right on the
railway.
December 2'jth, Wednesday. — Relieved Scots
Guards out-post between Riet and
Modder. They stood to arms for 2 hours
while the firing was going on. The
Boers did not attack and they don't know
what the firing was. Hear Boers had
"jim-jams" and fired from 5 tiers all along
their lines for half-an-hour ! Julian adds
they shot so many of their own men that
they thought we had attacked. At
10.30 p.m. the Naval guns fired and the
Boers fired again just like last night. I
had not been warned and so stood to arms

29
till 12.45 a.m. Lance-sergeant  ,
who was on a detached post with a
corporal and 6 men, lost his head and
ran back into my fort ordering his men
to retire. I sent Corporal Adams on
patrol : he also behaved very stupidly.
December 28th, Thursday. — Corporal Adams
reduced to the ranks. Lance-sergeant
 to be tried by F. G. C. M. for
cowardice. Storm at night.
December 29th, Friday. — Lance-sergeant
 pleaded guilty and sentenced
to be reduced to the ranks and 2 years
Impl. H. L. Neither Adams nor
 were any good as N.C.O's.
I am sorry for  as he is very
young and he lost his head, but there is
no doubt about the justice and the
necessity of the verdict and sentence.
The only alternative would have been
death. Paraded 7 a.m. Physical drill.

3°
December 30th, Saturday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Physical drill.
December 31st, Sunday. — Out-posts daybreak,
No. 3 reserve with Nos. 2 and 6. Skeff
with No. 5 caught 3 blacks signalling to
the Boers, a fourth escaped. Grenadiers
make a redoubt at night, further to the
front of No. 2 redoubt. Our ist battalion
relieved us at daybreak, ist January, and
are shelled. We drink the New Year
in with rum ! Farquhar and I too sleepy
to join.
January 1st, 1900, Monday. — Sergeant
 — , F.G.C.M., was read out on
parade at 10 a.m. Went to see him
after parade, and told him to write to
me after he had done his sentence and
promised to get him started in life
again if I could.
Cavalry and horse artillery go out on
a reconnaissance.

3i
Gymkhana.
Won 4 furlong Boer pony race on
Jerry Ruthven's grey pony. About 12
starters. Great joy being on a horse
again, tired of my own feet. Called on
Lieut-Colonel Hall, C.R.A., who is a
nephew of General and Lady Louisa
Hall, and a cousin.
January 2nd, Tuesday. — No. 8 dig a new
redoubt, 2A. Boers land a shell in it,
wounding 2 men. No. 3 and No. 2
dig from 7 to 10 p.m. Grenadiers, on
outpost, are sniped from right of redoubt
and had one man hit.
Mounted infantry and Canadians from
Belmont capture 43 prisoners and des
troy Boer lager near Douglas. They
attacked like the Boers, and the Boers
could not see them.
January 3rd, Wednesday. — Sports post
poned.

32
January 4th, Thursday. — Outposts. No. 3
at No. 2A redoubt ; left half company of
No. 3 and No. 6 company, right half of
No. 3 at Nos. 1 and 14 works of the
above redoubt. I am in command of the
works. A little sniping during the day ;
no harm done. Lord Methuen visited
the works, also C.R.A. (Colonel Hall)
and Adjutant and C.R.E. Grenadier
working parties all night. Relieved
before daybreak next day.
January $th, Friday. — Skeff and No. 5 go
up right bank of Modder to find snipers.
At 3 a.m. fires a volley at a few
Boers near blown up house and retires.
Boers ceased sniping after this.
January 6th, Saturday. — Paraded at 6.45 a.m.
and strike tents. 7 a.m. fighting order,
physical drill, and practice scouts.
6 scouts are to be chosen from each

33
company. Have chosen 13 to weed from.
Men very keen. Read Baden-Powell's
book to them.
Sports and gymkhana last day.
Battalion beaten at football by North
Lancashire. Scouts semaphore, 6.15 p.m. Very
cheery dinner. Young, Skeff, Brooke
(9th Lancers), and G. Trotter dine.
Paraded at 10.15 to dig at 2 A redoubt ;
get back to camp at 4 a.m.
January jth, Sunday. — Mail comes in ;
letters from Mother, Lady Alston,
Florence, Geraldine Crosbie, and Lady
Limerick. I asked CO. yesterday to
let me take my company up the River
Modder in boats, with scouts on each
flank, but the General would not allow it.
Shute and Leather-Culley return to
duty from hospital.

34
Colour-Sergeant Panter in hospital
with rheumatism.
January 8th, Monday. — Outpost at No. 13,
work. Corporal Bedington, C.M.R.,
finds boat near Muller's house sunk.
Scouts do semaphore. Very wet night,
but I manage to make a comfortable
shelter with corrugated iron and
blanket for a roof, so I kept fairly dry.
Frank Farquhar is sent to 2A, so Culley
comes to me for the day.
Cavalry and Horse Artillery go out,
but I don't know where to.
January gth, Tuesday. — Everything wet
through when I returned from outpost.
Very lucky I have my box, as every
thing in it is dry.
News arrives that Ladysmith has been
attacked by the Boers without success.
Boer loss great. British loss unknown.

35
January 10th, Wednesday. — President Court
Martial, 8 a.m., to try Sergeant Hartley,
No. 2, for speaking improperly to
 . Conviction necessary, but I was
sorry, for I was certain that 
irritating manner caused it.
Dug shelter trench, between Nos. i
and 14 works, 100 yards long.
Position in case of attack given out.
No. 3 go to shelter trench, between 1
and 2 works dug to-day by No. 2 com
pany under Studd.
January nth, Thursday. — 7 a.m. practised
scouts. Slight attack of ' Modders.'
Lance-Corporal Holmes reduced to
the ranks for selling to men and breaking
out of camp.
January 12th, Friday. — Out-post No. 3
reserve. Nothing interesting occurs.

36
Joe Maude arrives as 2nd in command.
Quite well again.
January 13th, Saturday. — Ordered to shift
our camp across the drift, said to be for
medical reasons, but I think the water
was the cause of the sickness, not the
camp. Gregson gives me news that Sam
Lloyd was at the Colesburg disaster, but
is all right.
Mail comes in, no letter from home.
Maisie and Thea write. Dine with Fred.
January 14th, Sunday. — Awful dust in new
camp, quite blinding between 3 p.m. and
8 p.m. Fred was to have dined with me, but
dust too bad.
January i$th, Monday. — Bad dust storm.

37
January \6th, Tuesday. — Out-post 2A.
Fired a few volleys at 2,200 yards. In
the evening there was a demonstration in
force ; when the new 4.7 siege gun
shelled with Lyddite, very good view from
2A works. It was a lovely sight to
see the whole force coming out of camp
with the sun setting behind it.
January ijth, Wednesday. — Frank Farquhar
fainted at luncheon, probably the sun.
Got a touch of 'Modders' myself.
Another demonstration. Guard's Bri
gade confined to camp.
January 18th, Thursday.
January igth, Friday. — Report that Buller
has crossed the Tugela.
January 20th, Saturday. — Out-posts. Self
and No. 3 company in No. 3 redoubt with
John Campbell and machine gun. Give

38
evidence about death of Steele's horse.
Heavy storm, my tent was blown down,
rather wet night, but am fairly comfort
able with stretcher, waterproof and water
proof sheet.
Frank still ill.
January 21st, Sunday. — Madocks name in
paper as having performed gallant action
at Colesburg.
January 22nd, Monday. — Route march
6.30 a.m., very little dust, consequently
a nice walk.
January 23rd, Tuesday.
January 24th, Wednesday. — Out-post, No. 2
redoubt. Wilmot and 20 men try to
catch snipers, but no good. Duckett,
9th Lancers, spends part of the day with
me.

39
January 2$th, Thursday.
January 26th, Friday. — Mail arrives, Aunt
Alice sends me cap. Pay Evans for
guns and revolver, ^92. Good news
from Ladysmith, Buller seems to be
getting all round the Boers.
January 2jth, Saturday. — Frank Farquhar
put in charge of Battalion scouts, he is
doing duty again.
No. 3 company beaten badly at football
by No. 2.
Route march 6.30 a.m.
January 28th, Sunday. — Out-post, No. 3 in
No. 12 redoubt. Joe Maude sleeps with
us. Acheson returns to duty to-day, but
did not come on picquet out-post, he
does light duty.

40
January 2<)th, Monday. — News from Buller,
not so good.
January 30th, Tuesday. — Telegram says that
Warren has crossed Tugela — uncertain
which way ? Bad attack of ' Modders,'
excused duty.
January 31st, Wednesday . — Still excused,
but better. News comes that Buller had
a reverse that we did not hear off, retired
across the Tugela, but hear now that
he has re-crossed again.
Frank Farquhar struck off all fatigues
to look after battalion scouts.
February ist, Thursday. — Out-posts. Still
excused, but better.
Ordered to change camp again back to
our original camp, to our great indigna
tion, it is rather bad luck being sent

4i
backwards and forwards like this, we
had just finished our new mess house.
February 2nd, Friday, — Mail arrives.
Still excused.
Troops pouring in.
February 3rd, Saturday. — Paraded again
6.30 a.m. New attack. Roberts's order
read to officers.
No. 3 (Boshoff commando) parade for
fatigue 3-30, but I am " excused."
Acheson still light duty as he can't walk
far on account of his foot. Composite
regiment, Household Cavalry arrives
under Colonel Neeld. All French's
Cavalry are coming. All arms are still
pouring in.
February 4th, Sunday. — Still excused, but
getting much better. Rumour of good

42
news from Ladysmith ; also that Gatacre
has won a victory.
February 5th, Monday. — Out-posts No. 3 at
Nos. 1 and 14, works, under Clive.
Farquhar out sniping. The snipers bag
one Boer and draw a Boer picquet.
Highland Brigade goes out.
February 6th, Tuesday. — Casualty list from
Spion Kop very heavy.
February jth, Wednesday. — Cricket versus
ist battalion.
February 8th, Thursday. — Roberts arrives.
Still got ' Modders.'
February gth, Friday, — Mail arrives. Roberts
visits Guards' camp, tremendous ovation.
Sent into hospital to prepare to go to
Lemonfontein for a week. Julian Steele

43
went to-day. Must go into hospital
before you are allowed to go away ; liver
out of order and feel weak, otherwise
pretty well.
February 10th, Saturday. — ist battalion
Coldstream, Scots Guards and Grenadiers,
move to the other side of Modder ; cavalry
and some artillery start apparently for
Bloemfontein ; 2nd division infantry go
to Enslin.
February nth, Sunday. — Fearful waste of
time in hospital ; they say no answer has
come from P.M.O. re Lemonfontein.
2 divisions start from Enslin for apparently
turning move to Kimberley.
February 12th, Monday. — Start for Lemon
fontein to-day at 2 p.m., train delayed
all down the line. Get some dinner in
hospital train.

44
February 13th, Tuesday. — Breakfast De Aar,
Lunch Victoria West. Arrive Beaufort
West about 9 p.m. Winterton met me
with 2 very nice Basuto ponies and drove
me 6 miles to Lemonfontein, Uncle
Willie's place. Winterton is the lessee
of the Sanatorium. Julian Steele, Knox,
A.S.C., and Wilson are there.
February 14th, Wednesday. — Julian Steele
and Knox go out Spring-Buck shooting
but get nothing. I went up the mountain
at the back of the house with a revolver
to shoot a baboon, but could see none.
Had a desperate climb. Rain.
February i$th, Thursday. — Rain.
February 16th, Friday. — News arrives that
Kimberley has been relieved by General
French and the cavalry from Modder
River. Drove into Beaufort West. Rain.

45
February ijth, Saturday. — Climbed Baboon
Hill. Dejager and daughter, large Dutch
farmer near here, came to dinner.
Relief of Kimberley confirmed.
French seems to have done a very fine
march. He captured five lagers.
February 18th, Sunday. — Left Lemonfontein
at 2.30 p.m. with Julian Steele and Knox.
Wilson still in bed.
February i<)th, Monday. — Arrive Modder
River about midnight. Hear that
Magersfontein is evacuated. Sleep on
in train. Battalion said to be at Magers
fontein.
February 20th, Tuesday. — Hear that battalion
is probably at Klip Drift, having started
at 2 hours' notice on Sunday night. Julian
and I hire a cart and drive to Jacobsdal,
where we catch up our transport. Hear

46
14th and 15th Brigade had a small fight,
turning the Boers out easily. Paraded
with convoy cavalry and half ist
Coldstream escort 5 p.m. Battalion has
no blankets and is on half rations owing
to capture of convoy of 200 wagons by
Boers.
February 2 ist, Wednesday. — Reach Klip Drift
2 a.m. 18 miles. Hear 2nd Coldstream is
6 miles ahead at Klip Kraal Drift. 31
Boer prisoners arrive. Cronje" and an
unknown number of Boers are surrounded
by Roberts on Modder. Kitchener made
an unsuccessful attack, losing about 1000
men. Highland Brigade suffered very
heavily. Black Watch has only 2
officers left. They say South Wales
Borderers almost wiped out. Parade
with small convoy at 5 p.m. Reach
battalion at 9.30 p.m. at Klip Kraal
Drift.

47
February 22nd, Thursday. — This is a nice
place on the Modder, with lots of trees
near the river. Battalion very glad to get
their blankets. French seems to have
done a splendid march of 30 miles in 6
hours into Kimberley, surprising the
Boers everywhere. Roberts is all round
Cronje, with Tucker, Colville and Kelly-
Kenny's divisions. French and the cavalry
have gone to meet the Boers coming to
Cronje's aid from Natal and Colesburg.
Heavv rain, miserable night. Blankets
and clothes wet through.
February 23rd, Friday. — Get into Geoffery
Stewart's valise when he goes on out-post
at 4 a.m. and sleep till nearly 8. My
valise and canvas bag arrive, thank
goodness. Kitchener spent last night here
— he says Cronje" must surrender. 91
Boer prisoners pass through camp. Some
of them came from Ladysmith. French

48
seems to be mopping up any Boers coming
to help Cronje.
February 24th, Saturday. — Had a good night
in my valise last night, the men very wet
again. 82 more Boer prisoners came
through, including a Commandant and 2
Field Cornets. General Pole-Carew (now
commanding Guards Brigade, Colville
commands 9th division), Wilde, Cooper,
Crabbe, and Lygon come here for a few
hours from Klip Drift.
February 2$th, Sunday. — Out-post. Darell
attached to my company and goes to
kopje at the other side of the river ; river
rises and Darell is cut off, Darell
furious ! Wet morning and afternoon,
fine night, heavy dew.
February 26th, Monday. — Darell still on
kopj6, raging ! Heavy ^dew, but fine.

49
February 2jth, Tuesday. — Half No. 3 and
half No. 8 paraded 4.45 a.m., with
No. 2 company as escort to convoy to
Paardeberg, Roberts's camp. Reach
Paardeberg about 10 a.m. and hear
Cronje and 4,800 Boers have surrendered
in their position of Stynkfontein. To-day
is anniversary of Majuba Hill.
The whole camp smells horribly of
dead horses and cattle. River full of
dead animals. Bivouac. 1 company
Scots Guards with Baden-Powell is with
us. See Cronje and Mrs. Cronje in
Roberts's camp. Mrs. Cronje" crying.
February 28th,, Wednesday. — Rode with
Studd and Clive to see the Boer trenches
and lager, Studd fell backwards off his
horse into the Drift. Boer trenches very
deep, from 3 ft. to 5 ft. 6 in., divided up
into compartments about 5 or 6 yards
D

5°
long, about 3 ft. wide, parapet all round,
very strong position, but they must have
been in a bad way as it smelt fearfully.
Their lager and wagons mostly burnt by
our shells. Prisoners say lyddite does no
harm, but they don't like shrapnel.
Brought away some mauser, dum-dum, and
pom-pom ammunition. They had a great
quantity of ammunition and Lee Metford,
Mauser, Martini-Henry, and Rimington
sporting rifles ; also brought away a
powder ammunition box, which I intend
to make into a cartridge magazine if
allowed to keep it, and a bandolier. We
were stopped by the Assistant Provost
Marshal outside the lager and were told
we were not allowed to take anything
out. However, Studd knows Poore, the
Provost Marshal, so I hope it will be all
right. Scots Guards, half No. 3 and half
No. 8 return Klip Kraal Drift, arriving
10 p.m.

5i
March ist, Thursday. — News arrives of the
relief of Ladysmith, great cheering in
camp. Dundonald relieved Ladysmith
with his Cavalry Brigade on 27th.
March 2nd, Friday. — Connolly and Cavanagh
pass through. No. 3 company out-post
withdrawn by day, leaving only half
company No. 6. Parade again for out
post, 5.45 p.m. Wet night. Telegram
arrives that Marker has been ordered
to England and is not coining out
here.
March 3rd, Saturday. — Valentine and Dudley
pass through on their way to Lord
Roberts, and bring news that we have
taken 5000 Boer prisoners at Colesburg.
Things are looking up now. Got most
of No. 3 properly booted, there are still
3 with moderate boots. Khaki in
terribly bad condition.

52
March 4th, Sunday. — Dry till 8 a.m., rainy
morning, no church. Very wet night,
but manage to keep pretty dry on a
stretcher inside a valise, with waterproof
sheet and waterproof.
March $th, Monday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to Briandath Farm. Very sorry
to hear Eddo Perceval was killed at
Paardeberg. ist Coldstream and 3rd
Grenadiers join us, so whole brigade
together again. Caryl, Baring and
Monck ill. Officers Left.
Colonel Henniker, Julian Steele,
(Adjutant).
No. 1 Co. Pakenham, Guy Baring and
Longueville.

2 ,, Studd,

Clive.

3 „ Self,

Darell.

4 ,, Newtown Butler,

Wilmot.

5 „ Skeff,

Hardy.

53

No.

6 Co,

Campbell.

)>
7 „
Sutton.
Monck.
>)
8 „
Willoughby.
Quarter-master Grindle.
Shute, 2nd in
command,
March 6th, Tuesday. — Transport all broken
down. A few Boers start sniping, so
some Colonial Mounted Infantry go out ;
South Australians charging magazines at
a gallop ! Wonderful no accident. They
pursue too far, run against Boer position
and lose 14 killed and wounded. Paraded
2 o'clock and march to Ossfontein, beyond
Paardeberg, where we join Lord Roberts,
march with rolled blankets, valises left
behind.
March Jth, Wednesday. — Paraded at 3.15 a.m.
to attack Boers at Ossfontein. Cavalry
should have been in rear of the Boer
position by daylight, but lost their way
54
and were late. Boers about 6,000 or
7,000 under De Wet and Delarey, all
bolted on appearance of the cavalry,
though well entrenched in front they
were undefended against a flank attack.
Our force about 40,000. A long walk
and a heavy day, halted at Poplar Grove
on the Modder. Mess cart fortunately
turns up. No food for men, no blankets
for officers or men.
March 8th, Thursday. — Only got an hour's
sleep last night, too cold. Transport
arrives with valises. Cavalry still pur
suing.
March c^th, Friday. — Rested owing to want
of transport.
March 10th, Saturday. — Marched to Drie-
fontein, long hard march. Bivouacked
about 2 miles beyond water and had to
send back for it ! Staff again ! 1 8th

55
Brigade did a fine bayonet charge killing
a lot of Boers.
March nth, Sunday. — Paraded 5.20 a.m. and
reached Aasvogel Kop at 12 o'clock,
where we bivouacked.
March 12th, Monday. — Paraded 5.30 p.m.,
but just as we started we were told to do
rear guard and start at 3 p.m. and that
we might have to fight. We did not
have a fight and reached  at about
1 a.m. Tuesday morning.
March 13th, Tuesday. — Paraded 5 a.m.
Marched to within 3 miles of Bloemfontein
where we ate emergency rations, arriving
1 a.m. — having done 40 miles in 22 hours.
Roberts said he wanted to march in at
our head, but there was a mistake made
and Roberts did not know we had arrived.
We reached Bloemfontein at 6.15 p.m.,
very tired, but having done a big thing.

56
It started raining about 8 p.m. We were
bivouacked outside the lunatic asylum
and the men were very wet. I slept on a
mattress in the casual ward of the lunatic
asylum and kept dry and comfortable.
March 14th, Wednesday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
and marched into one of the Bloemfontein
Forts, so we are housed once more.
Bedding full of bugs unfortunately.
Paraded 12.20 p.m. for inspection by
Lord Roberts, very successful inspection.
Roberts said he was very sorry he did not
know we had arrived. I am in a room
with Studd, Darrell, and Clive. Got two
swords, a small revolver, helmet, etc.,
belonging to O.V.S. Artillery.
March i$th, Thursday. — Baring mounts guard
at Field Marshal's quarters (Steyn's
house). Grenadier and Scots Guards go
down the line by train to Glen up the

57
railway. I escort 64 prisoners to the
Provost Marshal from the Fort ; all
except 21 are released on taking the oath
not to take up arms again or give
information to the enemy.
March 1 6th, Friday. — Escort 2 1 Boer
prisoners to jail, and 47 Blacks and 9
Boers to Provost Marshal (Major Poore,
7th Hussars). Private Browne died of
mortification in a few hours — buried this
evening.
March ijth, Saturday. — Irish regiments
allowed to wear shamrock in uniform by
the Queen's order, in recognition of their
gallantry in this war.
March 18th, Sunday. — Church parade in
Bloemfontein Cathedral.
Warder of lunatic asylum sent to say
that the female lunatics were getting
into a dangerous condition owing to the

58
Highlanders and sailors bathing near
there and that he could no longer be
responsible for their safety unless the
bathing ceased.
March igth, Monday. — Captain of the day.
Russian and German Military Attache's
dine at Mess.
Towney, Wilmot, and No. 4 Company
go forward to hold the Modder Bridge,
which they find broken.
March 20th, Tuesday.
March 21st, Wednesday. — ist Battalion go
to relieve Towney, Scots go down the
line again. We stay here, great luck.
Grenadiers join ist battalion at Glen
Towney, Wilmot, and No. 4 return late.
March 22nd, Thursday. — Send off wire to
Polly Lambton to back Romidoff for the
National, ^85 both ways.

59
March 2377/,' Friday. — Captain of the day.
Towney, Baring and Skeff go buck
shooting, but shoot nothing. Rumour
arrives that Colonel Crabbe and Colonel
Codrington and 3 men have been shot
at Glen.
March 24th, Saturday. — Rumour confirmed.
Colonel Crabbe, Colonel Codrington,
Eddy Lygon, G. Trotter, and a private, out
scouting 7 miles ahead of the bivouac,
attack across the open 7 Johannesburg
Police in a kopje" ! All 5 of course shot in
5 minutes. Eddy Lygon killed ; Crabbe
wounded, arm and leg ; Codrington
wounded leg ; G. Trotter shot through
elbow and has to have his arm taken off ;
private shot in leg — such a mad escapade
is inconceivable.
March 2$th, Sunday. — Went to cathedral
service and communion.

6o
Connolly (Greys) lunched with me.
Another mail in.
Received a Shetland wool sweater and
cap from Aunt Alice.
March 26th, Monday. — Sergeant Stevens
(acting colour-sergeant, No. 3) promoted
colour-sergeant. Mail still coming in,
100 bags a day are coming till the back
mails are all worked off. Handkerchiefs
arrive from home.
March 2 jth, Tuesday. — Sapling (Caryl,
Baring), Geoffrey Stewart return, also
Colour - Sergeant Panton. Sir Alfred
Milner, the High Commissioner arrives.
March 28th, Wednesday. — Went for a ride
with Colonel. Boers reported to be
concentrating at Kroonstad. Heywood
arrives, also Jarvis Smith with drafts.
Lord Kitchener arrives. Colour-Sergeant
Band died from exhaustion.

6i
March 2^th, Thursday. — Captain of the day.
7th Division reported heavily engaged at
Brandfort. Jenkins arrives, 1 1 men of
draft belong to No. 3 company. Colour-
sergeant Band, private Prior, Commander-
in-Chiefs orderly, and 1 man of ist
battalion buried. Geoffrey Stewart posted
to No. 3, Darrell to No. 1.
March 30th, Friday. — Colonel Gough buried.
7th Division under General Tucker,
made a hash of it ; ist, a frontal attack,
then Wood's brigade marched round the
Boer flank, enfiladed the whole way !
130 casualties, but they gained their
point, i.e., opening up the country in
Brandfort. Cavalry were too late again.
Went to see Tryon, Geoffrey, Fielding,
and Leslie Hamilton in hospital.
March 31st, Saturday. — Bloemfontein water
works captured by the Boers, 21 miles

62
from here. Broadwood's Cavalry Brigade
were driven out with loss of baggage and
5 guns, and Colville with 9th Division
has gone out there.
April ist, Sunday. — Paraded for out-post
5 P-m.
April 2nd, Monday. — Came off out-post
6.30 a.m.
April 3rd, Tuesday. — Boers still hold water
works. Got ' Modders ' again, have had
them ever since we arrived here.
April 4th, Wednesday. — Boers captured 3
companies Mounted Infantry.
April 5th, Thursday. — Start milk diet.
Imperial Yeomanry with Methuen, start
well. They captured a commando to-day
killing the French Colonel.
April 6th, Friday.

63
April Jth, Saturday. — Get orders to entrain
for Kaffir River, 6 p.m. train, entrain at
about 10 p.m. Get to Kaffir River at
about midnight. No. 5 company remains
in Bloemfontein.
April 8th, Sunday. — Our 2 battalions and 5
companies Cameron Highlanders and a
battery of artillery here. Boers said to
be threatening railway bridge. Go on
out-post at 4.30 p.m.
April yth, Monday. — Off out-post 5.30 a.m.,
on again directly after breakfast.
April 10th, Tuesday. — Came off out-post
at 5.30 a.m.
About this date General Pole-Carew
got command of the 1 ith division, con
sisting of our Guards Brigade and 18th
Brigade (Welsh, Essex and Warwick),

64
and Colonel Inigo Jones gets command
of the Guards Brigade. Joe Maude,
Brigade-Major Longueville, A.D.C, Pole-
Carew's staff.
Lieut.-Colonel Hamilton, R.A., A.A.G.;
Ruggles Brise, D.A.A.G. ; Farquhar,
A.D.C.
April nth, Wednesday.— Out-post 5.30 a.m.,
paraded 4.30 a.m. Picquet on No. 1
kopje, N. E., half company under Geoffrey
Stewart, No. 2 kopje. Very wet night.
April 12th, Thursday. — Cross river 6 a.m. in
support. Fine night, but very heavy dew.
April 13th, Friday. — Came off out-post. Go
to Bloemfontein with Henniker and
Pole-Carew, Stirling, Massey, Frank
Farquhar and Hughes. Expected to start
mid-day, did not start till 9 p.m. The
Colonel took me up on account of my

65
having a return of ' Modders ' which has
been going on for some time. Sleep in
Colonel's house.
April 14th, Saturday. — Magill says I must go
into hospital to-morrow for a few days
and get quite well, as I am run down.
Much better.
April 15th, Sunday. — Much better. Taken to
Raaddaal Hospital with Massey, who has
jaundice, Brazier Creagh, A.S.C., fever.
Jack Beresford, R.A., attached Roberts's
Horse (shot through lung). Cruikshank,
Essex Regiment (M.I.) (shot grazed
cheekbone, eye and nose) in same
ward ; also Massey.
April 16th, Monday. — Feel rest doing me
good. Very heavy rain all night- The
battalion must be having a very bad
time of it without tents. Colonel Fisher

66
(ioth Hussars) dysentery, and Monkhouse,
R.H.A., just missed enteric, have come
into the ward.
April i jth, Tuesday. — Heavy rain again, very
lucky for me being under cover. Another
fellow arrived in the evening, making our
room full. Rain all night. Peel and
Meeking die. New patient turned out
to be Monkhouse, he has just escaped
enteric fever.
April 18th, Wednesday. — Beresford and
Cruikshank go to Cape in hospital train.
Still raining. 2 more patients arrive.
Fine night. Tents went to Kaffir River
early this morning.
April i()th, Thursday. — Polly - Carew says
the brigade can't come back till Cherm-
side's division can advance. The latter
can't move on account of the going

67
being too heavy from rain for transport
to move. He also says the Brigade have
had a very bad time in this rain.
April 20th, Friday. — Walk about outside
hospital ; I feel much better, instead of
starving me, they let me eat as much as
possible, and I am all the better for it
and much stronger to resist ' Modders.'
April 21st, Saturday. — Come out of hospital
at 2 p.m. Orders to march, sent Kaffir
River ; CO. and self will ride out
to - morrow. Division's destination is
Springfield, with orders to take Water
works.
April 22nd, Sunday. — Direction altered,
Brigade at Fereira Siding. CO.,
Romilly, (joining ist battalion reserve
of officers), and self go down by train.
April 23rd, Monday. — Parade 5.20 a.m.

68
March to Lew Kop, which is held by a
few Boers. 18th Brigade have a smart
fight and drive Boers out. We shell
Lew Kop on out-post. The Canadians
were fired at from a house flying a white
flag.
April 24th, Tuesday. — Parade rear guard
1 p.m. Farm from where Canadians
were shot at burnt by Pole-Carew.
March to Paarde Kraal. Cavalry and
mounted infantry fight on left. Whole
cavalry division here, French in com
mand. Bivouac Parde Kraal.
April 2$th, Wednesday. — Parade 5.40 a.m.
Battle expected. We are to cross the
River Modder and complete circle
enclosing about 2000 Boers. Boers bolt,
no battle, and whole Boer Force escape
North. CO. says that if French had not
altered Polly-Carew's plan we should

69
have caught them. The cavalry certainly
never seem to do much. Bivouac at
Vaalbank or Damfontein.
April 26th, Thursday. — Parade 6 a.m.
March about 9 miles across the Modder,
and then got the order to return, about
18 miles march for nothing. We have
burnt all the farms in this country ; very
good thing, as the Boers were taking
advantage of the proclamation to put
their farms to rights and then return to
fight. On out-post.
April 2jth, Friday, — Paraded 9 a.m.
Marched to Paarde Kraal, 18 or 19 miles.
April 28th, Saturday. — Paraded 6 a.m.
Marched to Lew Kop, about 15 miles.
April 2()th, Sunday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched about 11 or 12 miles to Bloem
fontein. Here we found John McNeile

7°
and a draft of ioo men. Marker also
here. Ferguson of the Rifle Brigade is
here and gave me a warm pair of
breeches, which is a valuable present, as
our ioo lb. parcel has not turned up yet,
and I have only one pair of thin breeches
quite worn out.
April 30th, Monday. — New serge clothing
arrives for the men. This is very lucky
for us.
May ist, Tuesday. — Paraded 6.10 a.m.
Marched past Lord Roberts in Bloem
fontein and marched on to Karee Siding,
arriving there about 7.30 p.m. Stopped
for men's tea at a drift near Glen. Did
rear guard, distance about 22 miles. Never
saw the men march worse. 18th Brigade
were continually cutting into our baggage
and interfered with our progress. Two
wagons left out all night. Mules and
oxen dead beat.

7i
May 2nd, Wednesday. — Division stands by.
We are encamped on the ground where
Lygon, Crabbe, Codrington and Trotter
were shot. We don't move till to-morrow
in all probability. Paraded at 4.30 p.m.,
and bivouac about 2 miles on.
May 3rd, Thursday. — Paraded at daybreak.
March about 4 miles, halt for breakfast.
March on again to Brandfort and form
for attack. Coldstream Regiment ; ist
and 2nd line — Scots and Grenadiers ; 3rd
line — 1 8th Brigade, flank attack on the
left. 6 columns are said to be converging
on Brandfort, but I cannot make out
where they all are. Boers about 2000
strong, a little fighting on the left.
Mounted Infantry lose 1 1 men, Artillery
2 men. Boers bolted. Delarey wounded.
May 4th, Friday. — Remain at Brandfort.
Engineer construction train comes up to
repair bridge. Basuto workmen.

72
May $th, Saturday. — March to Vet River, 21
miles. On out-post round Lord Roberts's
house. Hear that 12th, 10th, and Tins
have cut up the German Legion at
Thaba N'chu. Winburg occupied by our
mounted infantry.
May 6th, Sunday. — March to Small Deel, the
junction for Winburg. Vet River bridge
badly destroyed. Baggage takes a long
time crossing bridge and does not arrive
till late. 98th joins the Guard's Brigade
till they can rejoin their own.
May jth, Monday. — Rest. More rumours.
May 8th, Tuesday. — Rumours that the 8th
Division have had a fight at Thaba N'chu
and Verschoyle killed. Heavy loss on
Boer side. French's cavalry arrive.
May c)th, Wednesday. — March to Welgelegen
— do flank guard to baggage.

73
May 10th, Thursday. — Paraded 6.15. March
to Reit Spruit on the Zand River. Fight
expected on the Zand River. Fighting
all the morning on our right, probably
Tucker's division. We march about 20
miles. Tucker does well. Hear that 30
Inniskilling Dragoons shot under white
flag. Baggage very late. Cross the Zand
River without opposition.
May nth, Friday. — March to within 1 mile
of Geneva Siding.
May 12th, Saturday. — Paraded 5.45 a.m.
Advance guard expect a fight to get into
Kroonstad, but all the Boers have bolted.
Long tiring march. March past Lord
Roberts in the market square of
Kroonstad. Bivouac 2 miles the other
side of town. Boers evidently on the run.
War will soon be over. Baggage very
late. Average time for dinner during
this march has been about 7.30 p.m.

74
May 13th, Sunday. — Church Parade 8 a.m.
Holy Communion after.
A good wash in the middle of the day,
very comforting ! Walk round Kroon
stad. Very ugly, insignificant town.
May 14th, Monday.
May \$th, Tuesday. — A patrol was fired on
to-day out of a house flying white flag.
A squadron sent out and farm burnt at
once. Parade railway fatigue 8 p.m.
May 16th, Wednesday. — Buller said to be at
Newcastle, Hunter at Cristiana, Mahan
at Vryburg, French is coming up on
our left and Hamilton with M. I. on
our right ; while we advance along the
railway. Boers are said to be going to
make a stand at Rhenoster River.
May 1 jth, Thursday. — More wild rumours,
the best lie being that all is settled for

75
peace except the indemnity. Kitchener
has stopped all our mails at Zand River
and they say we shall not get a mail
before we get to Pretoria. Rather a
nuisance as I am anxious to hear about
the horses at home. No answer ever
comes to questions about horses, and the
winter seems to have been wasted.
Paraded 7.30 for railway fatigue, 8 to
12 p.m.
May 18th, Friday. — De Wet offers to sur
render with 1000 Boers on condition of
not being sent to Cape Town.
May 19th, Saturday. — Got telegram from
home enquiring after my health.
May 20th, Sunday. — Paraded 8 a.m. for
engineers fatigue. No tools ready for us,
wait till 10.30. Paraded again 12.30, dig
shelter trench for defence of Kroonstad
by a small force, dismiss at 5 p.m. Mail

76
arrives. Receive a Cardigan jacket,
bovril, socks and woollen jersey from
home. Got more than enough warm
clothing now.
May 21st, Monday. — Company parades for
fatigue 11.55 a-m- Cavalry advance.
May 22nd, Tuesday. — Left Kroonstad,
marched to Honnings Spruit station,
about 20 miles.
May 23rd, Wednesday . — Parade 8 a.m.
March about 17 miles to the Rhenoster
River. The Boers had prepared this for
defence, but did not wait for us. They
have blown up all the bridges.
May 24th, Thursday. — French's cavalry cross
the Vaal. Orange Free State annexed
and declared British territory. Marched
to Vredefort station, about 15 miles.

77
May 2$th, Friday. — Paraded 6.45 a.m. Very
cold. Marched to 3 miles beyond
Grootvlei station, about 13 miles. The
map we have been given is all wrong.
Hamilton's mounted infantry a few miles
ahead.
May 26th, Saturday. — Paraded 6.45 a.m.
Marched to Tai Bosch Spruit.
May 2jth, Sunday. — Crossed the Vaal.
Paraded 6.45 a.m. Marched to
Vereeniging across the Vaal, at Viljoen's
drift, without opposition. Cavalry are
checked at a drift 10 miles east. There
are a few coal mines here, but hardly
any town. It is a horrid dusty place.
The cavalry were here in time yesterday
to save the mines from being blown up
and we have captured 4 days' supplies,
which will enable us to go on to-morrow.
Only one span of bridge blown up.

78
May 28th, Monday. — Paraded about 7 a.m.
Marched about 22 miles to Klip River
station. On out-post. Boers came down
to defend the place, but went away again
by train at once on our arrival. Very
cold night, 10 degrees of frost. Had to
keep two nigger prisoners all night with
out blankets.
May 2gth, Tuesday. — Marched about 20 miles
to Germaston. We were told we were
only going 12 miles. Bridge over Klip
River broke and all the transport got
stopped. We did not get our transport
till midnight. Mounted infantry were
fired on in Germaston, 1 killed. We
took 3 engines and 40 trucks. A train
went down at once to the Vaal for
supplies. We extended for attack, but
found no one. Got into camp after dark.
May 30th, Wednesday. — Ordered to parade
10 a.m., to march into Johannesburg, 8

79
miles off. Parade countermanded, as
usual about 20 minutes to parade. Rest
in camp. We are encamped in a mealy
field, the second consecutive night. This
is very dangerous for fires.
May 31st, Thursday. — Paraded at 10.30 a.m
Marched through Johannesburg, 8 miles
off — past Lord Roberts — and 7 miles on
N. N. East, near a hospital ; though we
had to go a long way out of our way to
pass through Johannesburg, through mis
management. Our ist line of Transport
did not arrive till 10 p.m., 2nd line 12 p.m.,
and bullocks next morning. Johannesburg
is a fine town and there are lots of trees
which are a great relief to the eye out
here. Transport did not know where to
find the troops in the dark. Disgraceful
on the part of the Staff.
June ist, Friday. — Stand fast. Rode into
Johannesburg in the afternoon. It is a

8o
wonderful place, considering the short
time it has taken to rise. I went to the
Rand Club where the entrance fee is £ ioo
and the subscription ^30. Lord Roberts
has been talking on the telephone for 2
hours and there are rumours that the war
is over. Orange Grove is the name of
this camp.
June 2nd, Saturday. — To our surprise we
still remain here. Can't imagine why.
Pretoria is only 2 1 miles from here direct.
June 3rd, Sunday. — Marched at daybreak —
tiresome tiring march over several drifts
to Linkop. All sorts of rumours. Most
people think we shall get into Pretoria,
about 16 miles from here, without
opposition.
June 4th, Monday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched on Pretoria from S. E. We
came under shell fire about 1 o'clock and

8i
the Brigade formed for attack. Several
Boer shells fell among the transport — 2nd
Coldstream, 3rd line. Soon after we were
ordered to occupy a hill opposite big fort.
1, 2, 3, 4 companies firing line and support,
No. 3 directing, the rest of battalion in
reserve. We occupied the hill without
opposition. No. 2 then occupied ridge in
front. About an hour before dark No. 3
moved forward to support No. 2 on out
post for the night. We got fired on
fairly heavily, but only a man in No. 2
was hit. The Transport was brought up
under the hill, so we got dinner and
blankets about 9 o'clock.
June $th, Tuesday. — Pretoria surrendered
during the night, but we did not hear of
it till about 7 a.m. We took up our old
position at daybreak and advanced at
about 7 a.m. We marched straight to
the station, which Nos. 3 and 4 companies

82
surrounded, and we took 30 or 40 prisoners
and a lot of rifles. I kept a Martini-
Metford 302 sporting rifle which I found in
one of the offices. About 12 o'clock we
paraded outside station. Marched through
Pretoria, past Lord Roberts in chief square
and bivouacked about 2 miles outside and
west of the town. " 4th June " is being
kept to-day at Eton. Pole-Gell met us
at the station.
June 6th, Wednesday. — Colonel so pleased
that he has remitted all punishment under
7 days C. B. Gell's experience interesting.
He is not allowed to do duty till he has
been tried. The Boers have taken away
about 900 of the prisoners. No one knows
what we shall do now, though some say
we shall have to follow the Boers to Lyden-
burg. They cannot have more than 10,000
left. Kruger has not paid his mercenaries
and has bolted with two millions !

83
June jth, Thursday. — Regimental photograph.
Paraded I p.m., to change camp to the
other side of Pretoria we are told ; we
marched about 8 miles the other side of
Pretoria and finish with a bad drift,
bivouac in the dark, food 7.30 : transport
about 9.20. Very cold.
June 8th, Friday. — Boers start shelling
mounted infantry and very nearly reach
us, firing at 10,000 yards. Our 5 -inch
gun fires 2,000 yards short. Get ready to
move, but unpack again when we found
the Boers could not reach us. We had
no notion that they were so near. The
cavalry were encamped in rear and we
had no information, as usual. Negotiations
seem to be going on. Telegrams published
from the Queen, Prince of Wales, Lord
Wolseley and Lord Lansdowne.
June qth, Saturday. — Three companies on out
post. This camp is called Kruger's

84
Poort. We have marched 600 miles
since Orange River, 49 bivouacs.
June 10th, Sunday. — Went to Thanksgiving
Service in Pretoria Cathedral, very fine ;
Communion service particularly impres
sive. Lunched with Campbell, John's
uncle, a correspondent. Hear that we
have to start again to-morrow. Very
unfair if this Division has to follow up the
Boers as the men are exhausted and have
done all the hard work. We have taken
Pretoria, and now we want to go home ! !
and leave others who have just come
out, to finish off the few Boers left.
June nth, Monday. — Paraded 6.35 a.m.
March E. S. E. about 3 or 4 miles. At
first there was heavy firing on the left,
French engaged. We are halted to let
Hamilton's Division and Smith-Dorrien's
Brigade get forward on our right. Ian

85
Hamilton's mounted infantry are in front
on our right. Heavy firing all day on
our right. Can see Boers bolting all
the afternoon, hope we caught them.
Bivouacked on the ground.
June 1 2th, Tuesday. — Kleinfontein, Botha's
camp. Battle of Donker's Hoeck.
Marched about 8 a.m. Heavy firing in
front. Form for attack about 12.30 p.m.,
occupy kopje about 3 p.m. Heavy firing
across valley on Boers on another kopje\
Good cover behind big stones, no one hit.
Boers seem to be surrounded, hope so !
but probably French has been too slow.
Stop on out-post during the night, cover
ing front of guns, some food arrived for
us fairly soon, but we got no blankets
till after 1 a.m., one man No. 4 killed.
June 13th, Wednesday. — No move, Boers all
gone. Bruce Hamilton's Division gone

86
east. Remain on picquet till 4.30 p.m.,
when we become reserve, the battalion
still remaining on out-post. Hear that
Methuen has smashed De Wet in the
Free State, ist battalion had 8 men
killed and wounded, and Brett slightly
wounded in leg.
June 14th, Thursday. — Stand by as Ian
Hamilton is still fighting ahead and so
could not retire. He has smashed up the
Boers at Brunker's Spruit. We return
to Pretoria as soon as possible. Relieved
off out-post by Grenadiers at 11.30 a.m.
Find we attacked over Joubert's farm
and grave, which is about 2 miles off.
Brunker's Spruit is where 94th were cut
up in 1 88 1. Polly-Carew wants us to go
on and has gone to try and persuade
Lord Roberts. Unless he succeeds we
return to Pretoria to-morrow. Roberts
did not change his mind and we return

87
here, 2 miles east of Pretoria, about
18-mile march. Pole-Gell returns to
duty. Rumour says we stay here a
fortnight or three weeks and then return
home.
June i$th, Friday. — We ought to get a lot of
mails, but none have turned up. Rumours
that a lot of mails have been captured
and burnt by the Boers. Mail goes out.
June ijth, Sunday. — Church parade. Rumours
of moving ; but no one seems to know
anything.
June 18th, Monday. — Walked into Pretoria
and bought a jambok and photos. Stayed
in camp in afternoon for John McNeile,
and Towney has his Derby dinner. C. O.
says Boers have still 15,000 in the field.
I doubt it.
June 19th, Tuesday. — John Campbell, Baring

88
and No. 6, and Skeff, Hardy and No. 5 go
to fetch shelters from Waterfalls, where
our prisoners were. Go to see the
Volksraad and get some interesting things
out of Joubert's office. General Inigo
Jones says two weeks' mails have been
burnt by De Wet. Very annoying as I
should have extracted some news of
horses at home by these. About 1 1 p.m.
news arrives that we are to be ready to
move at daybreak to cut off Boers moving
north.
June 20th, Wednesday. — Captain of the day.
Division stands by, going to be a wet
night. This order arrives when it has
cleared up and every one is up and at
breakfast ; very cold and wet.
June 21st, Thursday. — Paraded 8 a.m. March
to Marx's farm. Marx is a rich German
Jew owning most of the land from here
to Pretoria.

89
June 22nd, Friday. — Very wet and cold.
Tin for huts arrive.
June 23rd, Saturday. — Paraded 8.10 a.m.
March to Donker's Hoeck, about 2 miles
from our bivouac, after the battle on the
same ridge of hills. We are told that
this is to be our permanent camp. Nos.
5 and 6 companies return. Tin for huts
come with us. Grenadiers and Scots
occupy ridge where we fought. We and
the ist battalion occupy ridge on left.
June 24th, Sunday. — On out-post ; half
company by day, the other half joining it
by night. No. 2 also on out-post.
June 2$th, Monday. — A little shooting on our
right front. The shelters arrive and are
put up for the men.
June 26th, Tuesday. — Rumour that we shall

go
declare that the Boers only have bel
ligerent rights up to June 28th. I
suppose this means we annex the country
and all men in arms are rebels. Mail
which left England May 12th arrives.
The second mail prior to this has been
burnt by the Boers. Again no news of
anything about the horses.
June 2jth, Wednesday. — Reports of sniping
between Silverton and Pretoria. Canon
Knox-Little arrives to take Falkner's
place, who is ill. He is at once nick
named "4.7."
June 28th, Thursday. — Another out-post to
be held by No. 1 company about 3 miles
off. "Sec. 1."
June 2gth, Friday. — Alarm that Boers are
going to attack disguised as niggers. No.
2 company sent out to re-inforce No. 1
in No. 1 section out-post line.

9i
June 30th, Saturday. — Out-post. Boers drive
in mounted infantry out-post. Johnny
White is in Henry's mounted infantry
about 3 miles off.
July ist, Sunday. — Came off out-post. Went
to church, morning and afternoon. The
" 4.7 " very fine preacher ; Holy Com
munion. Out - posts doubled, which puts 4
companies on every other day as well
as 2 companies on every 4th day.
" Bug hutches " built for the officers, 2
in each hutch ; very comfortable, being
able to sit up in our shelter instead of
always lying down ; get 2 kettle packing
frames and put them under my stretcher,
making quite a good bed.
July 2nd, Monday. — Two mails arrive. At
last Father is trying to get horses, but of

92
course they are very scarce now owing
to the war ; Father very kindly promises
to help me towards the horses if they are
to be found.
July 3rd, Tuesday. — Mail goes out.
July 4th, Wednesday. — Out-post. Had some
excellent tinned turtle soup, which
arrived by the mail from home. Mail
arrived which left England May 18th.
July $th, Thursday.
July 6th, Friday. — Mail arrives which left
England June 9th.
July Jth, Saturday. — Out-post. No. 1 section.
Shelled a party of Boers.
July 8th, Sunday. — Church parade, Holy
Communion.

93
July qtk, Monday.
July 10th, Tuesday. — Captain of the day.
July nth, Wednesday. — Were up at 3 a.m.
and told to relieve the South Australians
at 6. All the mounted infantry went
out. We shelled the Boer position, we
had a very good view and the Boers did
not shell us, they only shelled the
mounted infantry.
July 12th, Thursday. — Through a mistake in
orders we did not get back to camp till
3.20 a.m., though we should have been
withdrawn at dusk.
Two squadrons of Scots Greys and 3
companies Lincoln Regiment, captured
through having no out - posts. Tom
Connolly (Greys) killed.
July 13th, Friday. — Whole battalion had to
stand to arms at 4.30 a.m.

94
July 14th, Saturday. — Out-post. Paraded
3.45 a.m.
July i^th, Sunday.— Played poker, bad game !
July 16th, Monday. — Go for a ride. Naval
guns shoot a lot at nothing.
Bearcroft tries to get rid of a lot of
ammunition to make room for food in his
wagon.
July ijth, Tuesday. — No. 4 section of out
post line paraded 3.15 a.m. Henry's
mounted infantry return to Pienaars
Poort. Bearcroft's expended ammunition re
placed from Pretoria !
July 18th, Wednesday. — Came off out
post, relieved by ist battalion (George
Crichton). Played football against ist
battalion, excellent exercise, did us all

95
the good in the world. Rumour says
that wire has been cut for 3 miles north
of Kroonstad.
July igth, Thursday. — Confined to camp,
don't know the reason. Mail goes out.
July 20th, Friday. — Out-post.
July 21st, Saturday. — Reconnaissance in
force. Not relieved off out-post till night.
July 22nd, Sunday. — Church parade, Holy
Communion. Brigade warned to march to-morrow.
Very sad to leave our tin sheds. Seems
now as if the war will last for ever !
Infantry will never catch these Boers.
We don't know where we are to march
to, but probably to Middelburg.
July 23rd, Monday. — Brigade ordered to
stand fast. 18th Brigade goes to Elands

96
River station and French to Bronkhorst
Spruit. De Wet is making himself
troublesome in the Free State. Last
night in our tin "bug-hutch."
July 24th, Tuesday. — Paraded for rear-guard
and baggage guard. Supply Park of 400
wagons, besides our usual baggage we
march with 9 days' supplies. My company
paraded at 11. 15, marched about 14 miles
to Bronkhorst Spruit and got in at about
8 p.m. We had the unusual luxury of
finding our dinner ready on our arrival.
July 2Sth, Wednesday. — Paraded 7.30.
Marched about 12 miles to Bosseman's
Kraal. We halted about 4 miles from
our bivouac to let the guns and baggage
get across the drift ; about a mile from
bivouac, rain began and continued all
night. We all got very wet, but managed
to pass a fairly good night under the ox

97
wagons when they arrived. Ribs very
sore, painful to shout.
July 26th, Thursday. — No more rain but very
cold. Got Healy to strap up my ribs.
A little rain at night, but not much.
Paraded 12 o'clock and marched 5 miles
to Hartebeesfontein.
July 2jth, Friday. — Paraded 5.45 a.m. to
march to Balmoral about 5 miles, with
1 8th Brigade. The remainder of the
Guards Brigade are going to Brugspruit
Station, where we are to join them
to-morrow after escorting a convoy to
Balmoral. Fine weather again. We
hear that French has got among the
Boers near Middelburg, and hopes to be
there to-morrow.
July 28th, Saturday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Escort convoy to Brugspruit where the
G

98
rest of the Brigade and Division Troops
are. Go on out-post 5 p.m.
July 2qth, Sunday. — During church service
ist battalion and a battery of artillery
leave. They march off to Oliphant River
in the afternoon. Peel and Bryce who
had been out shooting arrive during the
evening and find their battalion gone !
July 30th, Monday.
July 31st, Tuesday. — March to Oliphants
River.
August 1st, Wednesday. — March to Middel
burg. On out-post. Relieve volunteer
company of Suffolk Regiment. Cambridge
volunteers Nos. 2 and 7 companies on
detachment, about 3J miles out.
August 2nd, Thursday. — Captain of the day.
Sam Lloyd dines with me. Mail arrives,

99
hear at last that father has bought me two
horses "nut brown," by Traverser, dam
by Regent, 4 years old, i6'i. ist Prize
Limerick Show, I3st. 7 lbs. to I5st. class,
^65, and a five year old 15^2, brown, ^35.
£10 more when fully trained.
August 3rd, Friday. — Got a shot at a buck
about 100 yards and missed. Dine with
Sam Lloyd. Colonel Hillier shot near
Pretoria, he slept in a Boer house and
the Boer shot him as he left next
morning.
August 4th, Saturday. — On out-post.
August sth, Sunday. — Captain of the day.
Got news that Hunter has captured 9
guns, 3000 Boers, and 10 miles of
wagons.
August 6th, Monday. — Go after buck again
with Jolly, see several, but don't get a
shot.

IOO
August jth, Tuesday. — Out-post. Two 5 inch
guns on out-post hill and a cavalry post.
August 8th, Wednesday. — Go after buck
again with Geoffrey Stewart. Geoffrey
got three shots but missed.
August qth, Thursday.
August 10th, Friday. — Captain of the day.
Begin putting up tin shelters.
August nth, Saturday. — Out-post. Jenkins
left behind with fever.
August 12th, Sunday. — Tin shelters all up.
August 13th, Monday. — Recalled off detach
ment.
August 14th, Tuesday. — On out-post.
August iSth, Wednesday. — Went on detach
ment to naval guns. Two naval 47 guns,

IOI
all the marines and i company of Black
Watch. Very fairly comfortable. Built
a "bug-hutch."
August 16th, Thursday. — Bearcroft came to
see that everything was in order. Dined
with Wilson. R. M.L.I, pioneers put up
tin house for us.
August ijth, Friday. — ist Battalion arrives.
August 18th, Saturday. — ist Battalion goes on
to Pan station. Grenadiers arrive.
August iqth, Sunday. — Recalled off detach
ment.
August 20th, Monday. — Paraded 8.30, march
to Pan station, out-post. Darell enteric.
August 21st, Tuesday. — Paraded 6.50, march
to Wonderfontein. ist battalion 3rd
Grenadiers and ourselves together again.

102
August 22nd, Wednesday. — Mail arrived last
night. Stay Wonderfontein. Pole Carew
arrives, and also some of Head-Quarter
Staff.
August 23rd, Thursday.
August 24th, Friday. — Paraded 6.30. Boers
hold position just east of Belfast. Form
for attack, but do not come under fire.
Very cold, windy. Henry made a very
good move into Monument Hill. The
Boers turned a pom-pom on a lot of
men reading the Inscription. Left half
battalion and No. 1 on out-post. Very
cold night, hard frost.
August 2Sth, Saturday. — Boers began shooting
on our out-posts, but they were entrenched
and had no casualties. They came in
at 10 o'clock, relieved by Grenadiers.
Artillery firing all the morning.

103
August 26th, Sunday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m. to
attack Boer position. Halted just below
Monument Hill till 3 p.m., when we
advanced to support mounted infantry
attack. Scots Guards get it pretty hot
near the Monument. We did not come
under direct fire at all, but lost 5 men
wounded. Canon Knox-Little went with
the C O. We were all day in column
behind a ridge. Just before dark Nos. 1,
2, 3 and 4 companies extended for attack,
but we did not come under fire. Result
of day's operations considered very satis
factory. I hear French's cavalry sweep
ing round our left was very pretty. 24
casualties in brigade, no officers.
August 2jth, Monday. — Enemy shelled our
baggage, so moved our bivouac.
August 28th, Tuesday. — Came off out-post.
Relieved by Scots Guards at 6 a.m.

104
Breakfast expected at 4.30 a.m., but
wagon lost its way and we did not get any
breakfast to speak of. Marched about 1 7
miles all round the country and bivouacked
at Elandskloof. No one seems to under
stand quite what is happening. Buller
gave the Boers a good hammering yester
day. Rifle Brigade charged successfully
with bayonet, but lost heavily. Buller
occupied Machadodorp.
August 29th, Wednesday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.
Marched about 3 miles and waited on the
Lydenberg road for the rest of the
Brigade. About 3 miles beyond come
suddenly on a completely new kind of
country. We seemed to come to the top
edge of an enormous plateau which we
have been climbing. Suddenly we come
on deep kloofs and high mountains, more
like Switzerland. Then the road became
a precipice and was very difficult going

105
for the transport, scenery lovely. We
marched on about 5 more miles, where
the road went down into a long valley,
passed Helvetia Farm to Watervaal
Onder and halted for the night. Henry's
mounted infantry covering our flanks,
French's cavalry cleared all the front
and got as far as Helvetia where Buller
joined him.
August 30th, Thursday. — Paraded with the
Grenadiers at 7 a.m., and marched to
Helvetia, where we found the rest of
the Brigade. We all then went on to
Watervaal Onder. At the end of this
valley we again come on a change of
scenery, quite precipitous valleys and
wilder and higher mountains. Watervaal
Onder just like a Swiss village. There is
a tunnel on the railway west of this with
a cog wheel in the middle owing to the
steepness of the fall of the line. The

io6
Boers all bolted except a few snipers.
1800 prisoners were released by Boers
at Nooitgedacht.
August 31st, Friday. — French ordered back
to Belfast. We shall probably return
there too.
September ist, Saturday. — We and the 3rd
Grenadiers go over to the other side of
Watervaal Onder.
September 2nd, Sunday. — We are bivouacked
in the station, get a comfortable room
and bed with a spring mattress. Mail.
September 3rd, Monday. — Out-post on hill,
south of village, very steep climb. West
Australians go out to burn some farms.
They were ambushed at one farm and 5
were wounded. I found Belville among
the prisoners, he is a Yeoman private,
had escaped from the Boers before the

107
prisoners were released, so he had nothing
except what he stood in ; gave him lunch
and a tin of Maggi and some papers.
Our ambulances which were sent out to
fetch in the sick prisoners as requested
by the Boers, have been kept by them,
together with the doctors, etc. !
Prisoners left in the afternoon.
September 4th, Tuesday. — The Boers treated
the West Australians well yesterday.
September 5^, Wednesday. — Buller's guns
heard to-day. Four trains are said to be
captured by the Boers. War seems less
likely than ever to finish yet. Buller
has gone towards Lydenburg and they say
he is held up on the road and wants help.
September 6th, Thursday. — Mail of August
1 oth arrived. Very comfortable here
Mail service improving.

io8
September jth, Friday. — Out-post on highest
hill. Henry's mounted infantry cross
our front about 3 miles off.
Horrid night.
September 8th, Saturday. — Buller in Lyden-
burg, said to have immense quantity of
stores there.
September gth, Sunday. — Captain of the day ;
rumours that Steyn and Kruger have
bolted out of the country. Jenkins
arrives out of hospital from Pretoria, his
train was nearly blown up near Brug
spruit. John Campbell returns from
hospital here.
September 10th, Monday. — Four companies
Grenadiers go up the line to guard
construction train. Rumour that we all
go on to-morrow.
September nth, Tuesday. — No move.

109
September 12th, Wednesday. — Paraded
6.20 a.m. March to Noitgedacht.
September 13th, Thursday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Godwaan River, very long
tiring march. Had to march along the
railway in file all the way ; passed
enclosure where the prisoners were, an
oblong surrounded by 2 barbed wire
fences and electric light all round. Had
a delightful bathe in Elands River
when we arrived. Scots Guards ordered
on here late in afternoon.
September 14th, Friday. — Scots Guards arrive
here 3.30 a.m. Paraded 6 a.m., bad luck
on kiddies ; all by bad management of
Divisional Staff. March to De Kaap
Hoof, wonderful scenery. French sup
posed to have got 67 engines, 3 weeks'
food and 2 weeks' forage in Barberton.
We had a very stiff and tiring climb.

IIO
September 15/A, Saturday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched what the Staff called 5 miles,
So it was as the crow flies, but we had to
go round and round precipices to North
Kaap River, a fall of about 2000 feet.
September 16th, Sunday. — No. 3 paraded
baggage guard 7 a.m. Went across drift,
waited till 10 and went on to  , down
hill all the way and only a few fairly easy
drifts, so we had not much trouble with
the baggage.
September ijth, Monday. — Paraded 5.45 a.m.
Marched to North Kaap station on the
Barberton Kaapmunden Railway. Ever
since we have left Watervaal Onder, it
has been dangerous marching, but nothing
has happened, the road is through hills
all the way.
September 18th, Tuesday. — Paraded
11.30 a.m., rear - guard. Marched to

Ill
about 3 miles beyond Avoca. We got a
lot of engines at Avoca, about 50. This
is all gold country. Got in about 6 p.m.
September iqth, Wednesday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched to about 2 miles beyond Louws
Creek Station. Only got on very slowly
as the wood had to be cleared of under
growth all the way.
September 20th, Thursday. — Paraded 6 a.m.
Marched to Kraapmunden. All the
transport are dead beat, they have had
no forage for two days.
September 21st, Friday. — Paraded 4.50 a.m.
Marched 20 miles. Very hot and trying
march, long waits in early morning for
transport. Marched all through the heat
of the day. Only ist line of transport
came on. Blankets were to have gone
on by train, but they could not work the
engine. Reached break in the line and

112
bivouacked at about 5.30 p.m. about a
mile from Crocodile River. Cook's
wagon arrived 11 p.m. Mess carts did
well and arrived 10 minutes after us. 30
men fell out. Clive fainted. 102 in the
shade. No forage for mules or horses.
Ox wagon broke down. Coming on to
morrow, very bad road. No blankets,
but luckily warm night. Men ate
emergency ration.
September 22nd, Saturday. — Had nice bathe
in Crocodile River. Brooks not in yet.
Paraded 2.30 p.m. Marched to Hector's
Spruit, where I found Brooks. Weather
very hot now. Only about 1000 feet
above the sea. Warned that we shall be
without water at the next halt. Nice in
this heat ! About 5 miles. Twenty
guns found destroyed here by the Boers.
September 23rd, Sunday. — Paraded 1 p.m.
carrying all the water possible. Marched

H3
to Dorsprong where we arrived 8 p.m.
Mess cart about 12 p.m.
September 24th, Monday. — Paraded 5 a.m.
Marched to Komati Poort, where we
arrived about 1 1 a.m. and had a good
drink in the river. Very hot, Boers all
gone. Mercenaries gone to Delagoa Bay.
7 miles of rolling stock found here on the
Selati railway. All the rolling stock is
now accounted for. Had a lovely bathe
in the Crocodile River. Komati Bridge
all right. Portuguese frontier about i\
miles beyond bridge lined with Portuguese
flags.
September 25/A Tuesday. — On fatigue, to clear
out station. Got a nasty headache. Put
up a big tarpaulin which John McNeile
found in the station for a shelter. Very
hot, can't do much between 9 a.m. and
4 p.m. Kruger has left the country. H

U4
September 26th, Wednesday. — Mail goes out.
Hamilton's brigade arrives. Mail arrives
in the evening. Rumour that we start
very soon for home. Lord Kitchener has
arrived and worked wonders among the
rolling stock. We are to have a cere
monial parade on 28th in honour of the
King of Portugal's birthday. I don't
know who cares about the King of
Portugal or who was the ass who dis
covered his birthday.
September 2jth, Thursday. — ist Battalion
Coldstream ordered to entrain 9 a.m.,
presumably for home ; but don't entrain
till about 2 p.m.
September 28th, Friday. — 3rd Grenadiers start
early by train, they don't get further
than Hector's Spruit. ist Battalion
Coldstream only as far as Nels Spruit.
Paraded for King of Portugal's birthday.

H5
Portuguese Governor of Resand Garcia
attended. Lunch with Johnny White.
See Madocks, Hamilton's A.D.C.
September 29th, Saturday. — Paraded for train
at 10 a.m. We go in 3 trains, Nos. 3, 5,
6 and 8 in 3rd train, starting at 1.45 p.m.
Amateur engine drivers ! We get as far
as Hector's Spruit at about 8 p.m., where
we stop for the night. Grenadiers at
Kaapmunden. ist battalion at Nels
Spruit.
September 30th, Sunday. — Started from
Kaapmunden at 3.45 a.m. Nearly ran
into the train in front and were nearly
run into ourselves. Beautiful scenery
between Kaapmunden and Krokodil
Poort. Arrived Waterval Onder about
9 p.m. Stayed the night there.
October ist, Monday. — Great delay about
starting, got to Waterval Boven about

xi6
n a.m. Gradient over cog line, i in 20,
went on very slowly, engine often
breaking down. At 9.30 p.m., about i£
miles from Pan, Boers had taken up a
rail. Engine ran off the line and Boers
began shooting within 100 yards, dark
night, most of us asleep. Tumbled out of
wagons as fast as possible. Four wagons
of Boer prisoners had been attached to
us at Belfast. One Boer seriously
wounded. Fortunately Boers did not
come on. Our 4 companies lost, 5
killed and 14 wounded. Private Fortune
killed, Private Lilly wounded. Heywood
slightly wounded, graze in head. Very
stupid allowing train to run at night.
October 2nd, Tuesday. — An American doctor
arrived on a truck early from Pan. About
1 a.m. a Mounted Infantry man arrived to
ask what had happened. A construction
train arrived about 7 a.m. to put the

U7
engine on the line again. Our store
wagon had 46 bullet holes and the last
one 25. We were lucky to get off so
cheap. Wounded went back in con
struction trains, also Boer prisoners. Both
at Wonderfontein and at Pan warning
had come that the Boers were up to
mischief, so it was disgraceful letting us
go at night. We buried 5 of our dead,
Shute read the Service. If the Boers
had gone on shooting, in about 20 minutes,
we must have been done. We were
completely surprised. It is wonderfully
lucky they bolted. I expect they thought
we were a provision train and bolted when
they saw half battalion turning out.
October 3rd, Wednesday. — Left Middelburg
4 a.m. The bumping of these amateur
engine drivers is very unpleasant ! If
asleep it makes one think one is held up
again. Reached Pretoria at 1 p.m. Polly-
Carew came out on the 2nd during the

n8
day and was very annoyed about the
attack. He has given orders that no
more trains of his division are to run at
night. It is lucky we did not go over the
embankment when we were derailed.
Healey (Doctor) was with us by the
merest chance. His first orders had been
to go by the 2nd train. Wire broken
from Middelburg.
October 4th, Thursday. — Every sort of rumour.
We shall very likely have to start upon
another expedition before going home.
October sth, Friday. — Dine in Pretoria.
October 6th, Saturday. — Went to see Wilson
in Welsh Hospital.
1.
October jth, Sunday. — Captain of the day.
October 8th, Monday.

iig
October gth, Tuesday. — Went to see Zoo in
Pretoria, poor show. The flowers in
Pretoria are wonderfully luxuriant,
especially roses.
October 10th, Wednesday.
October nth, Thursday. — ist Coldstream go
to Heidelburg. We were to have the
"Nulli Secundus" dinner to-night, but the
departure of ist Battalion made this
impossible. Went to the Zoo again.
Porcupine shot a quill through a man's
boot.
October 12th, Friday. — Captain of the day.
News arrives that both battalions go
home together in the " Bavarian." Played
rounders in the evening.
October 13th, Saturday. — Tried to play polo
on Healy's pony. He never played a
game before. Being unused to game
the pony pulled hard when excited.

120
October 14th, Sunday. — Schooled pony.
October 15th, Monday. — Played Healy's pony
again. He gave me a good run and a
goal to start with and then pulled so hard
I had to stop.
October 16th, Tuesday. — On Court Martial.
" Meet " Lowther, lost all C. M. documents
off his saddle ! " Romeo," the President,
tried to swear him on a bit of iron-stone
by mistake ! Lasted 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 17th, Wednesday.
October 18th, Thursday. — Court of enquiry
on horses. Saw young Deane, Irish
Yeomanry.
October iqth, Friday. — March past Tucker.
October 20th, Saturday. — Got orders at about
2 p.m. to parade in a quarter of an hour,
to march. A lot of men and officers of

121
course away. We got away at 4 p.m.
and after about 12 miles, got off the
road in the dark and bivouacked.
October 21st, Sunday. — Marched on about 3
miles to Ludwig Spruit. Our Force con
sists of J Battery R.H.A., 3rd Grenadiers,
Household Cavalry, and ourselves. Out
post.
October 22nd, Monday. — Captain of day.
Ride up to Nos. 1 and 5 companies on
detachment and find 90 black women
trying to get through. A party raid all
farms in the middle of the night, for Boers
and arms. None found, but the froust
and smell in the Dutch women's bed
rooms was too awful.
October 23rd, Tuesday. — Brooks goes to
hospital.
October 24th, Wednesday. — Paraded at
5.40 a.m. and return to Pretoria. We

122
find our mail has been sent to Rietfontein.
Just like the post office !
October 25th, Thursday. — Paraded 2.30.
Went to see Julian, he has enteric.
Royal Standard hoisted ; annexation pro
claimed. Several V. C's given by Lord
Roberts. March past. Mail arrives.
October 26th, Friday. — Had a bit of exercise,
playing stump cricket.
October 2 jth, Saturday — Sick of Pretoria.
October 28th, Sunday. — Gordon Highlanders
and ist 60th are encamped near here,
they came for last Thursday's parade.
October 29th, Monday. — Gordon Highlanders
and 60th go on trek. Grenadiers under
orders to start down the line.
Very wet night.
Prince Christian Victor died of enteric.

123
October 30th, Tuesday. — Half battalion
Grenadiers go away. We are to leave
for Bloemfontein Friday or Saturday.
October 31st, Wednesday. — Miss Roberts gets
enteric.
November ist, Thursday. — Funeral of Prince
Victor. Orders have arrived for ist
Coldstream and 3rd Grenadiers to go on
an expedition to the Orange River Colony.
Colonel left here in charge of us and
ist Scots ; we shall be here another
5 weeks. See no chance of being at
home before January 15th.
Very wet.
November 2nd, Friday. — Very wet.
November 3rd, Saturday. — Julian Steele
dangerously ill, but going on satis
factorily. Stirling transferred to 2nd

124
battalion to equalize the majors. Ordered
to go by train to Potchefstroom
to-morrow ; not sorry to leave this place.
November 4th, Sunday. — Paraded 12.15.
Entrain 3.45 p.m., no one knew we were
moving till we arrived at the station.
Met Dr. Ker, Aunt Maria's stepson, very
nice man. Dine at Elansfontein. Sleep
at Johannesburg.
November sth, Monday. — Went to Pretoria.
General Hart did not know we were
coming. General Barton had a very
mismanaged fight apparently, here, a short
time ago.
November 6th, Tuesday. — Found a 4.7 shell.
Good news about Julian.
November Jth, Wednesday. — Stay at
Frederickstad. Mail arrives.

125
November 8th, Thursday. — Entrain 10 a.m.
for Potchefstroom. Nos. 5 and 7 Cos.
remain at Frederickstad. Half No. 6
get out at Mooi River. No. 3 on out
post. Boers attack about 7.30 p.m., but no
harm done, except two of the Somerset
shire Regiment hit.
November o.th, Friday. — Raid Boer farms.
November 10th, Saturday. — Another uneasy
night, next to no sleep. Frightened
No. 6 patrols by charging them as I was
not sure they were not Boers ! Sentry
fired 2 shots at a Boer at 50 yards in the
dark and missed. Light in town all first
part of night.
News of De Wet's defeat.
November nth, Sunday. — More good war
news. Very wet.
November 12th, Monday. — Good news about
Steele. Brabant's Horse arrive.

126
November 13th, Tuesday. — No. 3 is ordered
on detachment to Frederickstad. General
Barton arrives at Potchefstroom. Mail
arrives. Unionist majority at General
Election, 132. Occupy sangars round
hill and 4.7 gun at Frederickstad. Head-
Quarters and part of 1 company Scots
Fusiliers on this hill, Lt.-Col. Carr in
command.
November 14th, Wednesday. — Improve
sangars. Last night, disturbed by rounds
constantly exploding in an old refuse fire.
Boers sniped Scots Fusiliers picquet.
Telegram arrives that Stepney and 12
men went to blow up bridge near
Stirling's detachment and fell into a Boer
ambush ; 2 men killed (one being Private
Phillips, No. 3 company attached to
No. 8), Stepney (very slightly), and 1
man wounded.
November iSth, Thursday. — Contradictory

127
orders. First ordered to send Stewart and
13 men to reinforce Stirling. As soon as
they had started, wire arrives to stop
them. Party returned in the afternoon.
November 16th, Friday. — President of
F. G. C M. on a lance-corporal of Royal
Scots Fusiliers for offences under A. A.
Section 18, para 5.
November ijth, Saturday. — Returned to
Potchefstroom.
November 18th, Sunday. — Half No. 3 on out
post under Stewart ; John Ponsonby and
Perriera arrive, they have been in
Rhodesia throughout the war.
November igth, Monday. — Rawlings goes
away home after completing 13 years
service. Low becomes my servant.
Rawlings paid up to date. Out-post.
November 20th, Tuesday. — John Ponsonby
and Pinto go back to Klerksdorp. 1, 6

128
and 7 companies go with them. Escort
to convoy. Out-post. Nos. 2 and 3
companies return from detachment.
Member of C. M. on theft ; prisoner
got 6 months H. L. and discharged with
ignominy.
November 21st, Wednesday . — Out-post.
November 22nd, Thursday.
November 23rd, Friday.
November 24th, Saturday.
November 25th, Sunday. — Nos. 3 and 5 com
panies entrain 5 a.m. for detachment at
Klerksdorp ; march the last 10 miles.
November 26th, Monday. — Out-post 6.30 a.m.
John Ponsonby came to see me.
November 2jth, Tuesday. — No. 3 on out-post.
November 28th, Wednesday. — Mail. Out
post. Shute goes back to Potchefstroom.

129
November 2gth, Thursday. — Dine with John
Ponsonby.
November 30th, Friday. — Out-post. Water
tank sent up to out-post, too dirty to use,
also a hole in the bottom ! Shell Boers.
December ist, Saturday. — Hear that Roberts
gave up command to Kitchener on 23rd.
December 2nd, Sunday. — Out-post.
December 3rd, Monday. — Hear that 500
English have surrendered at Wepener.
December 4th, Tuesday. — Out-post. Two more
men arrive for each company from Police
duty and Hospital.
December s^h, Wednesday. — Play John
Ponsonby's New Zealanders, at cricket.
Tie — make 24, not out.
December 6th, Thursday. — Battalion moves
from Potchefstroom to Bloemfontein.

130
Have to wait till we are relieved. Also
No. 4 at Machaise. Outpost.
December jth, Friday. — Play billiards at
Mrs. Siddel's.
December 8th, Thursday. — Play for Officers
against Sergeants in garrison, made 41.
Out-post at night.
December 9th, Friday. — Holy Communion,
Church Parade 8.20. Two white men
escape from Boers and come in.
December 10th, Monday. — Out-post.
December nth, Tuesday. — Went to see
Klerksdorp gold mine. Douglas, Intelli
gence Officer, brought in by our Police,
out after dark with a Dutch woman !
December 12th, Wednesday. — Out-post.
December 13th, Thursday. — Had an interest
ing talk with Allen about irrigation and
farming out here.

i3i
December 14th, Friday. — Out - post.
Northampton Regiment relieve half
company under Huguesson. Night very
wet.
December iSth, Saturday. — Played cricket,
Garrison v. Town, made 17.
December 16th, Sunday. — Anniversary of
Dingaan's day. Expect attack, but only
a few shots fired. Out-post.
December ijth, Monday. — Shelled Boer
picquet and hit 5 Boers. Wilmot and
No. 4 company return to Potchefstroom.
The battalion are now at Orange River
Station.
Decmeber 18th, Tuesday. — Train held up
between here and Potchefstroom by
Boers with one gun !
December 19th, Wednesday. — Outpost.

132
December 20th, Thursday. — Played cricket
against Northampton, beaten badly.
December 21st, Friday. — The nuns of the
Sacred Heart give a concert of their
school. Amusing.
December 22nd, Saturday. — 1 Section on out
post, relieved by Northampton Regiment.
December 23rd, Sunday.
December 24th, Monday.
December 25M, Tuesday, Christmas. — A
little Pom-pom shelling, early morning.
Rations of beer and plum pudding. No
mail yet. Men's mail has arrived, but
not the officers.' Spend night on out-post
on Convent Kopje. John Ponsonby and
Pinto, also Pinto's friend, came to dinner.
December 26th, Wednesday . — General Douglas
goes home. Colonel Kekewich takes
column out north. We move to south

133
side of town, near station. No officers
out-post by day and two by night. Have
to visit town guard by night, who would
shoot for two-pence !
December 2jth, Thursday. — Mail goes out.
We have a big F. P. tent to sleep in and
a small room near the station for mess.
Very hot last few days. Wrote to Ayres
at Cape about bulbs, also to Sutton at
Johannesburg to ask him to send us some
stores. Out-post to-night. Half the men
go on permanently for three days here.
December 28th, Friday.
December 29th, Saturday. — Tried to play
cricket, but rain stopped it. Four of our
intelligence men (Dutchmen) went to
Limburger'sfarm to-day thinking Kekewich
was there. The Boers caught three and
one escaped. I suppose they have been
shot.

134
December 30th, Sunday. — John Ponsonby
took over command of the 5th New
Zealanders, vice Col. Newall, who
returns to New Zealand. They are in a
dreadful state. The most casual troops
I ever saw. Rode on with John Ponsonby
to see his out-posts. A Boer sniped some
cattle, so 8 New Zealanders went after
them. They found about 10 Boers and
so attacked. About 20 Boers then
appeared in their rear. The Boers shot
extraordinarily badly and they all escaped
untouched. Some horses hit.
December 31st, Monday. — Rode a buck-
jumper of the New Zealanders and got
grassed on to my head. Nose all skinned
and bruised. Two New Zealanders also
grassed. An American stuck on with a
great coat strapped across the pommel and
over his knees, and reins knotted. Out
post. Very disturbed night, got no sleep.

135
January ist, Tuesday. — Played cricket against
the town of Klerksdorp for garrison, made
9 and 24. Game not finished. Nose still
very sore ! Mails of 14th and 22nd
November arrive.
January 2nd, Wednesday. — A few stores
arrive. A large amount of stores are
here. I wrote to Captain Baillie at
Potchefstroom to ask for information
about farming out here. Mail November
30th arrives. Out-post. Very wet night.
Sutton sends us stores from Johannesburg.
January 3rd, Thursday. — Mail 7th December
arrives. Went for a ride with John
Ponsonby.
January 4th, Friday. — Out-post. One Section
with Geoffrey, 1 Elswick gun and 20 New
Zealanders, go out to catch Limberger,
but of course don't find him. A lot of
scandals came by last mail from London !

136
January 5/A, Saturday. — Our out-posts on
this side of Klerksdorp only have officers
with them at night. The posts are visited
twice by day and once by night when
there is no officer. Two of us out every
night, the other two in camp. Skef does
F.G.C.M., coached by Spuds and I.
January 6th, Sunday. — Church parade 7 a.m.
Get a letter from Minnie, who says Ted
Murray is to be A.D.C. to Colville; wrote
to Minnie. Out-post, moon all night.
January jth, Monday. — 47 gun, 2 companies,
Liverpool, and 2 trains of stores and
ammunition have been captured by the
Boers, I think owing to out-posts being
asleep, somewhere on Komati Poort line.
Borrowed a fishing rod from Leask's shop,
fished in evening, but caught nothing.
January 8th, Tuesday. — Out-post.

137
January qth, Wednesday. — Played cricket
against Town, made o. Rumour of Steyn
having won a fight. Mail arrives.
January 10th, Thursday. — Sims dines with
us. John has desperate work with the
New Zealanders ; because he promoted a
corporal over the heads of the others all
the rest resigned their stripes. Out-posts.
Tried to buy some cartridges, but they
charged 25s. a hundred, for cartridges
over a year old !
January nth, Friday.
January 12th, Saturday. — Board. Out-post.
Have to go round at night now as well as
by day.
January 13th, Sunday. — Parcel mail arrives.
News that Boers attacked and were
beaten at several places along Komati
railway.

138
January 14th, Monday. — Out-post.
January 13th, Tuesday. — Mail arrives,
Dec. 2 ist, from London, good going.
Hear that Fred is laid up still. Polly-
Carew is going to marry Lady Beatrice
Butler.
January 16th, Wednesday. — About a week
ago Babington and Gordon started
shooting at each other, each thinking the
other Boers, Delaraye thought Gordon
was Meyer and attacked Babington.
Delaraye found out his mistake and got
away in time, Gordon did not, till one
of them fired Lyddite ! Delaraye ought
easily to have been caught. Played
cricket, garrison v. town ; we won easily,
I made 24 and 45 ; I was wrongly given
out first innings. Huguesson was playing
and made 47, first innings. Out-post
7 p.m.

139
January ijth, Thursday. — Mail goes out
5 p.m. Get an answer from Baillie, who
asked me to go and stay with him.
Concert in railway station.
January 18th, Friday. — Parade with the
New Zealanders at 3.15 a.m. to gallop for
John Ponsonby. We go to Bufnedorp
mine, where 700 boxes of Boer ammunition
are supposed to be hidden. Howitzer
gun and half Company of Northampton
Regiment under Huguesson also out, also
Colonel Denny ; find nothing.
Went over gold mine. Rode a nice
pony of John's and had a good gallop.
Took a heavy fall in ant-bear hole near
home on our way back, but not hurt.
Get back at about 4.30 p.m., covered
about 30 miles. Saw 12 Boers. Out
post 7 p.m.
January igth, Saturday.

140
January 20th, Sunday. — Out-post 7 p.m.
January 21st, Monday. — Went by 6.50 train
to Potchefstroom to see Baillie at
Vyv Hoek Farm. He is an old man of
about 65, was in 7th Hussars and has
farmed here for 25 years, his nephew has
been with him for 8 years, helping him.
Saw all his farm. The chief objections to
farming here are locusts and hail ; labour
and manure are scarce and expensive,
but possibilities are very great. Slept at
Vyv Hoek.
January 22nd, Tuesday. — Saw Wilmot and
Christie-Miller. They seem very com
fortable. I saw Wormald, Hobson and
Grant, 12th Lancers, yesterday. They
have a squadron at Potchefstroom.
Borrowed 2 lances to tent peg with at
Klerksdorp. Returned to Klerksdorp at
5 p.m. Out-post 7 p.m. De Wet said
to be near.

141
January 23rd, Wednesday. — News
arrived that the Queen died last
night at 6.30 p.m. I only heard she
was ill last night. It must have
been very sudden.

January 23rd, Wednesday. — Went out on
the River Flats to shoot. Got 2 ducks
and 2 pigeons.
January 24th, Thursday. — Geoffrey Stewart
went by 6.50 train to Johannesburg. 21
guns fired at noon to-day in honour
of His Majesty King Edward VII.'s
Accession. There was no black powder,
and blank charge of cordite only fizzled
out of the muzzle, so salute could not be
fired. Out-post. Flags raised to mast
head at noon.
January 23th, Friday. — 81 guns ordered and
flags half mast at noon for the Queen till

142
after funeral. Guns could not be fired on
account of their being no black powder.
Out-post 7 p.m. for Geoffrey.
January 26th, Saturday. — Geoffrey returned
in the evening.
January 2jth, Sunday. — Shot 3 duck and 2
snipe, lost 3 more snipe. Sent lances
back.
January 28th, Monday. — Sent Skeff ^25.
Out-post.
January 29th, Tuesday. — Boers occupied New
Zealanders kopje in early morning before
the New Zealanders post arrived. Skef
went out with 30 men and a gun and
some New Zealanders. Boers left. One
New Zealander's horse was hit. Three
alarms during the night caused by Boers
shooting at Kaffirs whilst driving away
their cattle. One Northampton wounded.

143
January 30th, Wednesday. — Boers 2 miles
south of out-posts and 2 miles north of
Convent Kopje\ Out-post, all quiet.
Mail of January 4th came in. Shot
1 duck and 2 snipe.
January 31st, Thursday. — Nothing left to
shoot. Out-post for Skeff.
February ist, Friday. — Fished, but caught
nothing.
February 2nd, Saturday: — The Queen's
Memorial Service in Dutch Church here.
February 3rd, Sunday. — Memorial Service
for the Queen in Jewish Synagogue. The
Rabbi preached a very nice sermon on
the Queen and the blessing of English
rule. He is a great scoundrel. The best
Special Service held there was a Thanks
giving for Magersfontein, after which the
Rabbi sent a telegram to Kruger ! Out-

144
post 7 p.m. Went to hear Miss Maseric
sing !
February 4th, Monday. — We are going to
give a tea party in our tent to-morrow.
Miss Maseric to sing !
February 5//^, Tuesday. — Mail comes in.
There are great rumours that the Boers
are going to attack us. We have only
400 fighting men, one 15-pounder, one
howitzer, and the Boers could bring 2000
against us. If they attacked with real
determination they would get in, but they
have not the pluck to do this. We have
large supplies and ammunition here, which
would be of great use to the Boers.
They attacked Modderfontein last week
and took it. There were only 2 companies
of Welsh Fusiliers there and they lost 90
casualties. I got piano into our tent at
about 10 a.m. and then it began to rain
and did not stop all day.

145
February 6th, Wednesday. — Still raining.
Arranged our tea party for to-morrow.
Don't known what the piano will be like.
Improved the works on the out-post
kopj6s. It is a very large perimeter for
so few men to defend, but it is impossible
to reduce it. Took Skeff to hear Miss M.
sing. Cleared up towards evening.
February jth, Thursday. — Had our tea party,
piano not so very bad. Out-post 7 p.m.
February 8th, Friday. — Everyone is getting
very nervous about an attack. This is
certainly a very difficult position to hold.
The Boers have been getting very bold
lately. Spuds and I went to hear Miss
Maseric sing in the evening. Howitzer
gun goes away.
February gth, Saturday. — Everyone hard at
work strengthening the defences. Out
post 7 p.m. Another Elswick 15-pounder
arrives. K

February loth, Sunday. — Captain Travers,
R.E., inspects the defences. Played
poker in the evening. Arrange a match
with Richards' A.S.C pony against
Hamilton's, District Commissioner.
Modders.
February nth, Monday. — Quite well again.
Small Gymkhana arranged for Saturday.
Outpost.
February 12th, Tuesday. — Tried John
Ponsonby's pony jumping walls, also
Richard's pony. Tent pegging on John's
pony. President D.C.M. on a Welsh
Fusilier Telegraphist drunk on duty.
Fined £1 5s., 6 days H.L. Travers, R.E.
dines with me.
February 13th, Wednesday. — Schooled ponies
again. Richards' pony pretty fair. Rode
a very nice horse of John's, tent pegging.
Out-post 7 p.m.

147
February 14th, Thursday. — Richards' pony
lame. Schooled John's ponies again ;
disappointing. Mail, January 18th, from
London.
February 13th, Friday. — Richards' pony
jumped very well to-day. Out-post.
February 16th, Saturday. — Got hardly any
sleep last night, very tired. Won the
jumping competition to-day and was
second in the tent pegging. Dined with
Richards, it is his birthday. Methuen's
guns heard.
February ijth, Sunday. — Last Friday, Private
Knight and Corporal Townsend, Skeff s
Company, tried by Court- Martial, S. 40.
Knight was asleep on out-post, but
evidence not strong enough so they were
both charged on Sec. 40. Corporal
Townsend did not report irregularity.
Knight, 1 year imprisonment, H. L. •

148
Townsend reduced and 6 months H. L.
Imprisonment remitted by Col. Denny.
Skeff, Geoffrey and I went to lunch with
Twiddy. Out-post 7 p.m.
February 18 th, Monday. — Heavy firing by
Methuen.
February igth, Tuesday. — Methuen's Column
arrives. They had a severe fight yester
day, developed into a frontal attack
against a superior number of Boers, he
lost 16 killed and 39 wounded. He has
about 950 men. " Minnie " Lawson
commanding 10th I. Y. Meyrick, late
15th Hussars, Bailey and Tilney, are with
Methuen. Mail. Out-post 7 p.m.
February 20th, Wednesday. — Lunched with
Lawson. Went out with Skeff to shoot
duck, but they were all in deep water
where we could not get them. Night
alarm.

i49
February 21st, Thursday. — Kitchener came to
Klerksdorp for an hour. Mail goes out.
Fennell says O'Dell's pony is 14.3 and
chestnut mare can't jump. Next season's
polo probably spoilt by this delay. Wrote
home about it. Saw Whitehead. Onslow
has been hunting all this winter ! Outpost.
February 22nd, Friday. — Lawson and Baillie
dine with me. Lawson commands the
10th I. Y. and Baillie has a squadron in
the same regiment.
February 23rd, Saturday. — Start trying to
get up a Polo Club. Travers has bespoken
sticks and balls in Pretoria. Out-post
7 p.m.
February 24th, Sunday. — Another Company
of Northampton Regiment arrives to help
our out-posts, we shall now get 2 nights
in bed. Dined with Baillie.
February 23th, Monday. — Wired for Polo

15°
sticks, it will be a funny game ! Out-post.
Methuen's Column leaves.
February 26th, Tuesday.
February 2 jth, Wednesday. — Spuds goes to
Johannesburg. Wormald, 12th Lancers,
wired to ask me to go with him as Staff-
officer Mounted Troops, Benson's Column.
Another Northampton officer arrives and
so we get 7 officers for out-post this side.
February 28th, Thursday. — Colonel Denny
and Skeff object to my going to Wormald
unless relieved here ; wire to Colonel.
Out-post.
March ist, Friday. — Polo sticks arrive.
School transport ponies.
March 2nd, Saturday. — Meeting of Polo
Club, Colonel Denny, president, self,
Hon. Sec. Methuen's Column returns.
Tilney dines with me.

I5i
March 3rd, Sunday. — See Meyrick and Baillie
about my joining New Yeomanry. Both
promise to help me in any way they can.
Baillie promises me second in command if
he gets a regiment. Meyrick told me to
see Chesham to-morrow.
March 4th, Monday. — Saw Lord Chesham,
who promised that there would be no
objection on the part of the Yeomanry
authorities. The difficulty will be my
being seconded. I got a polo pony out
of Baillie's squadron and gave them a
one-eyed pony in exchange yesterday.
Skeff and Geoffrey go to Potchefstroom
to see Towny who has just come out from
England.
March 3th, Tuesday. — Colonel Henniker
wires to say I can go on Wormald's staff
if Wilmot relieves me here. Col. Denny
wires to Col. Flint if my appointment is
still open. We school ponies every day.

152
The new pony is still lame, in the sick
lines ; but I hope he will play on Friday.
Arrange a gymkhana for next Saturday.
We shall now play polo Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays, and Tent-peg on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Black convicts
have been making the polo ground level.
March 6th, Wednesday . — Our out-posts are
now very safe at night, they are all in
closed works, surrounded with high barbed
wire. Played our first game of polo,
rather a wild sort of game but great fun.
300 Boers a few miles off. Rumour that
the Coldstream have surrounded De Wet
and captured 500 of his men, De Wet and
300 having escaped.
March jth, Thursday. — Spend most of the
day making arrangements for Saturday's
Gymkhana. Tent-pegging in the evening.
Mail arrives — hear from E. G.

153
March 8th, Friday. — Wire arrives ordering
me to Potchefstroom to join Colonel
Benson's Column on Wormald's staff.
Get two remounts, bad horses, but the
best I could get here. Hand over Polo
accounts to Haddow, A.S.C ; Gymkhana
to Richards. Wilmot arrives from
Potchefstroom to relieve me.
March gth, Saturday. — Leave Klerksdorp,
6.30 train, with servant and two horses.
Find Colonel Benson's Column at
Potchefstroom. I take over duties of Staff-
officer to Mounted troops under command
of Wormald. Very grateful to Skeff over
this job. Wormald has about 530 mounted
troops, consisting of 12th Lancers,
1 L. H., Imp. Y. 1 B., and Kitchener's
Horse. Benson's Column consists of
6 companies of Infantry, Cheshire,
R.W.F., Derby, and Northampton, 4
R.H.A. guns, 2 R.F.A., 1 howitzer, 2

154
pom-poms and Mounted Troops. Heavy

rain.

March 10th, Sunday. — Heavy rain. Low
rather at sea with the horses. Wormald,
Hobson and Grant (12th Lancers) and
Burton, 44th Imp. Y., and myself mess
together. We have two bad tents and
have applied for another.
March nth, Monday. — Rumour that the war
will be over in a fortnight, not likely !
Botha has had a meeting with Kitchener.
Saw Towny Butler, he has a lot of good
photographs of the war. Got a tent bag
from his company to make nose bags of
for my horses. Still wet.
March 12th, Tuesday. — Too wet to move.
65 remounts arrive, 2 for me.
March 13th, Wednesday. — Still wet. Two
new ponies, very nice, but the 78th
Battery claimed one. As it appeared to be

155
theirs I gave it up. However, I kept the
best, a chestnut horse, rather like my old
pony Mabel. The two remounts tele
graphed for, for me, never arrived. I am
keeping on my two old Klerksdorp horses.
I like my new billet. I saw Christie-
Miller, who promised to forward my
letters.
March 14th, Thursday. — Mail goes out, but
I don't get any mail. Hobson returns
from Johannesburg with stores.
March 13th, Friday. — We shift camp to the
South Bridge. The mounted troops are
divided into five squadrons.
No. 1 Squadron, 12th Lancers and 44th
I. Y. Hobson, Grant and Burton.
No. 2 Squadron, I. L. H. under Capt.
Codrington. No. 3 Squadron (F. squad), I. L. H.
under Lt. Jardine and 1 Troop. I.
Bushmen under Lt. Caines.

156
No. 4 Squadron, 7th Battalion I. Y.
under Captain Bolitho.
No. 5 Squadron Kitchener's Horse
under Lt. Davis. Boers reported at Val
Kop. Squadron reconnoitre, but find
nothing. Wire for telescope.
March 16th, Saturday. — Parade 5.30 a.m.
March to Haartebeest, only a couple
of Boers seen.
March ijth, Sunday. — Parade 5.30 a.m.
March to Buffel's-hoek, where I have to
wait and lay out the camp. Col. Benson
went on with 3 squadrons and 2 R. H. A.
guns and they got engaged with about
150 Boers. He sent back to camp
about 12 o'clock for another squadron, 2
R.H.A. guns and a Howitzer, which I
brought out, but we only arrived in time
for the last few shots at bolting Boers.
Our casualties are 1 yeoman wounded,

157
3 horses killed and i wounded. Grey
horse jibbed badly.
March 18th, Monday. — Paraded 6 a.m. and
went into some very bad country, cleared
farms, got sniped a little and camped
at Reitpoort. Kitchener's horse nearly
hidden by geese, turkeys and oats.
Colonel Benson went out alone about 2
miles to see a company holding the exit
to the hills ! He will be caught some day !
This is a very dangerous camp. The
Vaal is about 3 miles off. Chestnut
slight bump on back.
March igth, Tuesday. — Paraded 6 a.m. with 3
squadrons to F. A. guns and 1 Pom-Pom.
Had some desultory fighting with Boers
in Paris. We burnt a mill and a lot of
corn on this side of the Vaal of Paris and
Kopje Kraal. The Scally Wags love
shooting and expend an immense amount
of ammunition at impossible ranges !

158
Their method of managing everything is
very amusing after being used to our
men ! They are so perfectly casual in
every matter. We were to have trekked
on, out of these hills to-day, but Col.
Benson has changed his mind. It will be
very dangerous if the Boers oppose our
exit in any force. A heavy hail storm
stampeded all the horses.
March 20th, Wednesday. — At about 1 a.m.
a company of infantry occupied a large
kopje commanding the exit to camp.
F. squadron I.L.H. went out last night
to make a feint in the direction we came
in and returned after dark. The column
was divided into two, 3 squadrons under
Wormald, and 2 R.H.A. guns went N.E.,
the remainder went East. We found our
exit strongly held by Boers, but they
were easily driven out, partly by the
fine performance of E. squadron I.L.H.

159
and partly owing to the night infantry
march. There were about 400 in a
very good position. Colonel Benson
went with the East column and was also
opposed. Very interesting day. All the
mounted troops shewed great dash.
Colonel Benson has got out of a very
nasty position very cleverly, only 2 men
wounded. Camped at Bronkhurstfontein.
Boers sniped the out-post all the rest of
the day. This column fires more ammu
nition than any troops I have ever seen,
they shoot at any thing visible whatever
the distance ! The Scally Wags are
enough to turn one's hair grey ! Someone
tied a tin can on to a captured Boer
pony's tail and let it loose ; it stampeded
half the 7th Yeomanry horses, and the
Boers only 2^ miles off!
March 21st, Thursday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.
3 squadrons, 2 R.H.A. guns, and a Pom-

i6o
Pom, turn the right of the Boer position,
but the Boers had gone. We camped at
Raatskraal, where we saw about 500
Blesbuck. Brought in 3 Boer prisoners.
March 22nd, Friday. — Paraded at 5.30 a.m.
to march to Modderfontein. About
9 a.m., Buxton, 44th Yeomanry, who was
with the advance scouts, viewed a Boer
convoy 2\ miles off. I galloped back to
Benson, who told us to push on with
2 R.H.A. guns and the Pom-Pom. E.
squadron I.L.H. went right away to the
left, andF. squadron I.L.H. and Bushmen
did the same on the right flank. 7th
Yeomanry with Benson, Wormald and
myself went straight ahead, followed by
R.H.A. and Pom-Pom. 12th Lancers
went a little to the left to seize some
kopjes and Buxton's troop went straight
ahead. We caught the first wagon in
about 4 miles and it was beautiful to see

i6i
the Pom-Pom come into action at racing
speed. We galloped on hard, passing
wagons, sheep and cattle all the way,
which the Boers dropped. After going
about 12 miles, only Colonel Benson,
Wormald and myself, and about 20 men
were left, all the rest dead beat, when
suddenly the Boers opened fire. We
dismounted and returned the fire for a
bit, then Wormald took about 6 men on
to turn the Boer left. I followed with
4 more, met Wormald coming back under
a heavy fire from Boers who were turning
our right ! We went more to the right
and met more Boers. Then the 2 R.H.A.
guns came up. The Boers were right
round our right by then and the guns
opened under heavy rifle fire. We now
had about 40 men up, not more, and
2 guns. The Boers then went up a Kaffir
kraal to our right rear, but fortunately
F. squadron I.L.H. came up just in time,

l62
occupied the kraal, poured a heavy fire
into the Boers at short range. If they
had got the kraal we should have been in
a tight place. The rest of the Boer
convoy then appeared out of shot of the
R.H.A. guns, but within range of the
Kaffir kraal. The Pom-Pom which the
I.L.H. sent for, unfortunately was not
there. After their first performance
they had out-spanned and watered, and
we missed catching the rest of convoy,
all except i wagon which stuck in the
mud. Jardine with the I.L.H. and a
troop of Bushmen were now enfilading
the Boer out-flanking movement, and the
Boers bolted after their wagons. We
now saw there were about 450 Boers, so
it was impossible to follow any more.
All our horses were of course beat, we
had a long ride to get back to camp,
about 12 miles. We had caught 6 wagons,
1 Cape cart, and destroyed another

163
wagon, and found a lot of women and
children in the wagons, and caught 3
prisoners and large quantities of cattle
and sheep. The whole hunt was most
enjoyable, but the fire for a short time
was too hot to be pleasant ! The chest
nut pony went beautifully. Our camp is
close to where the Boers captured our
Modderfontein post on the 20th January.
Our out-posts to-day found 2 English
soldiers' bodies and 3 natives. The Boers
killed all the natives working for us when
they took this place.
March 23rd, Saturday. — We lost 3 men
wounded (1 died) yesterday and several
horses. Col. Benson says in orders that
we have got during the last week 10 men
prisoners, 35 women, 98 children, taken
or destroyed 1,200 cattle, 5,000 sheep, 12
horses, 500 bags of mealies, 20 wagons,
12 Cape carts and a quantity of forage.

164
Hobson brought in 60 more cattle and
200 sheep this afternoon. He saw about
600 sheep in a Kaffir kraal about 12
miles off, which I expect was part of the
Boer convoy. It is a pity to leave them.
A busy day for me. Wired for 2 more
horses. Chestnut pony none the worse
for his gallop yesterday, except a slight
lump on his back. Wrote some letters
to go by convoy to-morrow to Bank.
March 24th, Sunday. — I am sorry to say
Buxton has been ordered away to join
Broadwood at Broonstad. He left with
13 yeomen this morning. I hear John
Ponsonby's New Zealanders are coming
to take their place. I hope so. We
want a lot of remounts — the 7th
Yeomanry are having 50 men sent to
them with saddles and no horses. Useful !
Mail arrives. O'Dell's pony sold for
^"20 10s., and chestnut mare changed for

i65
a very nice horse according to Fennell,
and ^"20. A man in Kitchener's Horse
shot by I. L. H. at Bank.
March 23th, Monday. — Fife Light Horse
leave. We hear that 2 squadrons of
I. L. H. lost heavily near Klerksdorp,
but Babington eventually caught some
Boers. Should not like to be under
Babington from all accounts. 25 re
mounts arrive from Potchefstroom, one
of which I take. I went over the
Modderfontein position to-day. No
wonder it was captured. There are no
defences to speak of and it is a very
hard place to defend.
March 26th, Tuesday. — News arrives of
Babington's victory, 1 Pom-Pom, 2 F. A.
guns, 6 Maxims and large quantities of
ammunition, and 120 prisoners captured.
John Ponsonby's 5th New Zealanders
arrive, 2 squadrons.

i66
March 2jth, Wednesday. — Paraded 5.45 a.m.
March to Kaalfontein. 5th New
Zealanders have 10 officers and 130 men.
March 28th, Thursday. — Boer laager reported
at Vlakplatz. We started in 3 columns
to try and catch it, but Boers slipped us.
We took a lot of cattle.
March 29th, Friday. — Paraded 8 a.m., and
marched to Britspruit. Half squadron of
Kitchener's Horse were left to clear the
bank of the Vaal as far as Lindegue.
They got into a bit of a mess through
their own stupidity and on account of an
alarmist message from our rear guard, 2j
squadrons and a gun galloped back from
Rietspruit. Thus making a hard day on
horses instead of an easy one.
March 30th, Saturday. — Ponsonby has been
made a local Major and so is senior to
Wormald, and Kitchener won't give

167
Wormald a local rank. Makes everything
very awkward. Fife Light Horse leave.
Commandeering party cleared 2 farms of
families and got a lot of sheep and cattle,
and a few horses. Hobson has gone into
Vereeniging, 10 miles, with convoy
to-day, on account of rheumatism. He
will rejoin at Potchefstroom. Caught a
fine Blesbuck in wire.
March 31st, Sunday. — Got a new pony from
Jardine, I.C.H. He is a very nice one,
but Jardine may want him back again.
Received box of shamrock from Lady L.
April ist, Monday. — Paraded 5.30 a m.
March to Rietspruit. We are to be at
Krugersdorp in 5 days' time, by
Kitchener's order. This has upset
Benson's plans.
April 2nd, Tuesday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.
Marched to Roodepoort.

1 68
April 3rd, Wednesday . — Paraded 5.45 a.m.
Marched to Dornkop, where the Jameson
raid was stopped, also where there was a
battle before Johannesburg was taken and
the Gordons did a brilliant charge.
April 4th, Thursday. — Paraded 5.45 a.m.
March to Krugersdorp, where we receive
the dreadful news that Colonel Benson's
Column is to be broken up, to everyone's
sorrow. Wormald goes back to his regi
ment at Elandsfontein. Colonel Benson
has told me to go with him to Pretoria.
He will try and give me some job in his
new column. Saw Geoffrey Fielding,
who is General Mildmay Wilson's A.D.C.
April 3th, Friday. — Went with Colonel
Benson to Johannesburg. Stayed at
Goldfields Hotel.
April 6th, Saturday. — Tullibardine has raised
1600 Scottish Horse, and Benson has a

169
scheme for Wormald to command one regi
ment and for me to be his adjutant, but on
application to Kitchener, Scottish Horse
not so numerous, so scheme fell through !
Went on to Pretoria. Stayed at Spinks'
Hotel.
April jth, Sunday. — Scottish Horse scheme
off, but go on with Colonel Benson all
the same. Our train due to start 8 a.m.,
but didn't leave till 12 o'clock. Destina
tion Middelburg, only got as far as
Balmoral. Dined with the Buffs.
April 8th, Monday. — Again due to start at
8 a.m. Started 10 a.m. and only got as
far as Groot Oliphant's River. Interesting
seeing all the country we walked over
again.
April yth, Tuesday. — Reached Middelburg
at about 1 1 a.m. The mounted troops
are all young and untrained. Stay at
Transvaal Hotel.

170
April 10th, Wednesday. — Move into
camp. Sir Bindon Blood and General
Fetherstonhaugh both say they are
coming with Benson's Column. They
will be awfully in the way. Macan
commands 18th M.I., Lawford 19th M.I.,
and Murray Scottish Horse, all of whom
I knew before.
April nth, Thursday. — Went out with the
Colonel to see the Scottish Horse work.
One squadron can hardly ride at all yet !
But I dare say it will all pan out ! I am
Assistant Staff-officer with much the same
duties as in the last Column.
April 12th, Friday. — Went out with the
Colonel to see 19th M.I. work ; they are
very untrained. We are supposed to
start on Monday, but it is almost im
possible, over 200 remounts are required.
Have a lot of work to do.
April 13th, Saturday. — Saw 18th M.I.

171
scouting ; a little better than 19th, but
very bad, and badly horsed. General
Barker, commanding lines of communi
cations, ordered 250 of our mounted
troops, under Macan, to do a night march
to a Boer laager, without asking Benson !
There were no Boers at all ! All horses
and men had a hard night for absolutely
nothing. The guides said there were no
Boers before they started !
April 14th, Sunday. — 148 M.I. remounts and
40 Scottish Horse remounts arrived last
night. Scottish Horse remounts very
good, M.I. remounts very bad. The M.I.
remounts have been in the train since last
Tuesday without anyone to look after
them, and consigned to no one ; they were
only watered by the kindness of various
railway staff officers, and I expect were
hardly fed at all ; it is disgusting. Rail
way seems to be very badly run.

172
April 13th, Monday. — Got 2 remounts for
myself, a very nice chestnut and a nice
bay. I sent the bay to be shod and
he knocked 3 men down and rolled in
the barbed wire, but is not badly hurt,
luckily ; he will have to go unshod
behind, have named him "Kilballysmash,"
I dressed his hind legs with iodoform at
the end of a long stick. I do not think
he is vicious, but has been badly treated
probably. Remounts all served out.
April 16th, Friday. — We paraded at 6 a.m.,
minus 12 pr. Q. F. and howitzer, half
battalion Argyle and Sutherland High
landers and 2 R. F. guns, and march
to Bankfontein. On arrival we got a
message to tell us to send back supply
wagons to fetch our supplies to-morrow !
We were to receive an ox convoy to
morrow, but it was obvious to everyone
it could not be ready in time. It was

^73
quite unnecessary to leave Middelburg
to-day, by doing so we have given men,
horses, mules and oxen very hard work
and shown our hand to the Boers. All
because no one had the moral courage to
tell Kitchener that it was impossible to
start on the day ordered. Benson is very
disgusted about it. Bindon Blood is new
to South Africa and Fetherstonhaugh
was wounded at Belmont and has not
been out since. I suppose this accounts
for this wretched farce, but I expect it
will turn out all right !
April ijth, Wednesday. — Paraded 6 a.m.
with 2 squadrons of Scottish Horse, 2
companies of i8th M. I., 2 R. F. A. guns
and i Pom-Pom. Fetherstonhaugh came
with us to establish a post at Elandslaagte.
We came on the rear of General
Beatson's Column.
This Column had lost its direction and

174
got on our line ! He is a General new
from India, having been Inspector-General
of Imperial Service Troops. Thank
goodness I am under Benson. Sir Bindon
Blood and Staff arrived to-day. We
have now two Generals and complete
Staffs here ! Fortunately Benson allows
no one to interfere with his Column.
The other two Staffs have therefore
nothing to do. We got back to camp at
12 o'clock, leaving 2 companies of 18th
M. I. and 1 Pom-Pom at Elandslaagte.
April 18th, Thursday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m. and
marched to Hoedspruit. The out-posts
were sniped. One out-post could not
take up its position, but this was not
reported till night, so we had no chance
of shelling the Boers. The Scottish
Horse burnt several farms without orders.
April igth, Friday, — Boers reported in
Velverdient in kloof that they could not

175
get out of easily. Macan went up one
side of kloof with 18 M. I. and a Pom-
Pom. Benson took the Scottish Horse,
2 Field guns and the Howitzer and the
other Pom-Pom up the other side. A
very few shots were fired and then white
flags appeared everywhere. Boers had
been trekking away all last night and
there were only those living in the valley
left. While we were out, 4 Boers came
into our new camp at Klip Spruit and
surrendered, one of them told A. A. Lloyd
that none of the Boers knew the con
ditions of surrender, and that another 25
would surrender if they knew the terms.
The present terms for the Boers are —
if they surrender voluntarily they will
only be required to give up munitions of
war, but all cattle, wagons, etc., belonging
to them will be paid for, and they them
selves will be in Refugee Camps till the
end of the war. All Boers captured in

176
the Field will be treated as prisoners of
war and are liable to have everything
confiscated. (Our bag to-day is included
in April 22nd.)
April 20th, Saturday. — Paraded 6 a.m.
Marched to Blinkwater. On the way
some Boer wagons were reported in front
of us and we thought we were in for
another hunt ; but they turned out to be
Boers coming in to surrender, brought in
by the man Lloyd sent out yesterday.
April 21st, Sunday. — Paraded 5 a.m. with
Scottish Horse and 1 company 19 M.I.,
1 Pom-Pom, and 2 Field guns. Marched
to Paarde Kloof, where we are to camp the
night. We went on to Tantesberg and
got a lot of wagons, Boers, cattle, sheep,
etc. A troop of Scottish Horse captured
30 prisoners and some wagons on detached
duty on the right. (Our bag to-day is
included in 22nd April.)

177
April 22nd, Monday. — Prisoners, wagons, etc.,
left Paardeberg 6 a.m., main Column
7 a.m., for Blinkwater. Convoy arrived
at Blinkwater and left again with Boer
families and prisoners for Middelburg.
Lieut. Francis, I.L.H., went out to bring
in some surrendered Boers and cattle.
Our bag between i6th and 22nd is —
51 prisoners.
137 surrendered Boers.
101 women.
214 children.
2,600 cattle.
7,000 sheep.
1 1 8 rifles.
45,000 rounds of ammunition.
100 wagons.
25 carts.
200 horses.
25 mules.
April 23rd, Tuesday. — Paraded 6 a.m.
Marched to near Roos Senekal. M

1 78
Pultenay's Column is there with his
battalion of Scots Guards, T. Battery,
R.H.A., Inniskillings and Royals. The
Kiddies have marched very nearly 2000
miles now ! I went over to lunch with
them.
April 24th, Wednesday. — Spent the day
clearing the country. Got 1 prisoner and
several surrendered men, some wagons,
and others destroyed. Benson got a
telegram to say he has been gazetted
Br. Lt.-Colonel. He was only local
Lt. -Colonel. He will now be made local
full Colonel. There is no doubt in any
one^ mind that he is a first-class man.
April 23th, Thursday. — Paraded 8 a.m. and
returned to Blinkwater. Sir Bindon
Blood is giving a lot of trouble by giving
orders that will completely break up this
Column. Benson has wired to Pretoria
to protest. Murray and 2 squadrons of

179
Scottish Horse round up a few farms.
Sentry on out-post had his hat shot off.
April 26th, Friday. — Column rests. General
Fetherstonhaugh and Staff leave. No. 1
company of Scots Guards under Lt.
Van de Weyer and 100 Inniskilling
Dragoons arrive here as garrison after we
move.
April 2 jth, Saturday. — Marched to Wind
Bank, hard work for baggage. Left Sir
Bindon Blood behind. Both Generals
most charming men, but we are more
independent without them.
April 28th, Sunday. — We got news that 23
Boers are in a kloof near here. We
paraded at 6.30 a.m., but could not find
the Boers. Marched to Dullstroom.
Colonel Douglas is here. His Column
has also been split up by many
detachments. We have only about

i8o
650 mounted men and the guns left.
General Barker at Middelburg wired to
Douglas to tell him to have supplies for
us, and stated we had over 2000 men —
not very up-to-date. It was quite un
necessary our hurrying up here. There
does not appear much to be done and
we could have captured some more Boers
if we had stayed at Blinkwater as Benson
wished. I am doing remount work since
the real remount officer left us at Blink
water, but this does not give me any
bother. Rain. The men have no tents
I am sorry to say. Colonel Benson's Staff
consists of : —
Captain A. A. Lloyd, Northampton
Regt., Chief Staff Officer.
Myself, Assistant Staff Officer.
Captain Boyle (Munster Fusiliers),
Provost Marshal.
Lt. Collins (Cheshire), Signaller.
Lt. Francis (I. L. H.), Intelligence.

i8i
Lt. Anderson (R. A.), Orderly Officer.
I do all the galloping and most of the
Mounted Troop Staff work for Colonel
Benson. A. A. Lloyd does all the rest.
April 2qth, Monday. — Column rests. Scottish
Horse brought in 1400 sheep and a few
cattle and horses yesterday. They had a
shot at a Boer picquet and killed a Boer
horse. Saw Dalrymple (Scots Guards)
to-day. He is going to join Pultenay
with 40 men. Barker would not let him
go out from Middelburg with us, other
wise he would have reached Pultenay
some days ago. Boers reported at
Roodekranz.
April 30th, Tuesday. — Paraded 4 a.m. with
all Scottish Horse, 3 companies M. In.,
3 companies Royal Scots from Colonel
Douglas's Column, 1 Howitzer and 2 Pom-
Poms. Long 12 pr. went to Douglas for
the day. We were to close the western

182
exit of Roodekranz on the Crocodile
River ; Colonel Douglas the eastern.
Colonel Douglas did not get far enough
round, the drifts were terribly bad and
the Pom-Pom did not get up till late and
the rest of the guns till the afternoon.
We stopped our end of Roodekranz, but
there was another kloof running south,
down which the Boers got away with a
lot of their cattle. The Boers held on to
some kopjes at the junction of the kloofs
for a long time, till their flank was turned.
We then charged up the kopj6s. The
Boers were just going down the other
side, so I went on with j Scottish Horse
and got on a kopje" in the kloof, which
commanded all the kloofs, and we made
it very hot for the Boers going away.
We got a lot of horses and cattle here.
We killed i Boer on this hill and 2
others were shot and fell off their horses
going away, and another got off his horse

i83
and ran into a pit as if he was hit. We
also brought a hot fire to bear on a place
where they were crowded together and
probably hit some more. The Boers
came under the fire of the whole of our
line when running away.
Bag about 2,500 sheep,
500 cattle,
60 horses,
2 prisoners,
1 1 wagons,
5 Cape carts.
We certainly killed 3 Boers if not
more.
We lost 1 man (Scottish Horse) killed.
3 officers and 1 man (Scottish Horse)
wounded. 1 horse wounded.
1 man of the Pom-Pom wounded.
Boers fought well. Very long day,
did not get back to camp till 9 p.m.

1 84
May ist, Wednesday. — Column rested at
Dullstroom. 250 18th M.I. return from
escort duty. Got 4 mails, receive new
kodak.
May 2nd, Thursday. — Paraded 6 a.m. to
clear east of Roodekranz. Colonel
Douglas's Column was on the left and
again did next to nothing. We had a
very long day and saw very few Boers,
but we got a good lot of cattle, horses,
wagons and sheep. The Scottish Horse
fired upon their own men and hit 6 horses
out of 7 and 1 man. We got back to camp
about 9 p.m. The Boers sniped us on
the way home and hit 1 man (Scottish
Horse). Camped at Morgenzon.
May 3rd, Friday. — Paraded 8.30 a.m. and
returned to Dullstroom. Our bag for
April is —
32 prisoners of war,
243 surrendered Boers,

i85
167 women,
534 children,
250 rifles,
55,000 rounds of ammunition,
166 wagons,
41 carts,
3,200 cattle,
10,000 sheep,
70 horses.
The reduced number of prisoners was
due to Sir Bindon Blood's turning a lot
of prisoners of war into surrenders.
Wrongfully, Benson thinks.
May 4th, Saturday. — Paraded 7 a.m. and
marched to Lakenvlei. Here the men
found a lot of oats, hay and clothes, and
2 rifles between the roof and ceiling of
a farm.
May 3th, Sunday. — Paraded 7 a.m. and
marched to Belfast. About 100 details

i86
were awaiting us, but no horses. Dined
with 5th Lancers.
May 6th, Monday. — About 150 horses were
captured between Middelburg and Belfast,
and it is very amusing seeing them
caught. We put them all in a kraal,
lasso them ; when one is caught every
available man hangs on to the rope and
there is a terrific fight. Nearly all the
horses are wild, mostly mares with foal.
May jth, Tuesday. — Lawford and 2 companies
19th M. I. arrive with glanders and have
to be quarantined. Send 22 horses to
Germiston.
May 8th, Wednesday. — I have been doing
Remount-officer to the Column since
leaving Blinkwater, as the new Remount-
officer has not arrived. Played Polo
to-day on the pony I got at Potchefstroom.
He played well, considering that it is

i87
his first game. The Shropshire Light
Infantry are here. Their Sergeant-Major
is Gardham, late Colour-Sergeant No. 8
company.
May qth, Thursday. — With great difficulty
we loaded a truck with foals and then
we were told no train would go, so we
had to let all the foals out again. Got
a very fine cake from aunt Alice Nevile,
also a Ross telescope from home. A few
days ago, Macan and 2 companies 18th
M. I. went out to fetch in a Boer family,
one company went off " on its own "
after some cattle, and got 3 men wounded,
1 died.
May 10th, Friday. — Mares and foals (90) and
12 donkeys were sent off to Elandsfontein.
Played polo.
May nth, Saturday. — Colonel Benson in
spected the transport. I got Kilbally-
smash shod without anybody being hurt.

i88
May 12th, Sunday. — Voluntary Church.
May 13th, Monday. — Bitterly cold and very
windy all day. There have been a lot of
orders and counter - orders as to our
moving. Benson wants to clear a bit of
the Steetpoort Valley before we start,
but this would take 3 days and with all
this uncertainty we can't move. We
were ordered to start to-day, but it was
countermanded.
May 14th, Tuesday. — Very cold night, but
bright sunshine in the morning and quite
hot by n o'clock. Boers variously
reported 2 miles out as numbering 100, 30
and 20. A company M. I. and 1 Pom-Pom
went out. Boers turned out to be M. I.
patrol of 9 men. Macan dined with us.
There has been a comet visible for the first
3 hours of darkness since 2nd May, but it
was absent to-night.

189
May 13th, Wednesday. — 150 M. I. and 70
Scottish Horse remounts arrive.
May 16th, Thursday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Geluk, we covered a front
of about 7 miles and cleared the little
there was to clear. Camped at Geluk.
There was great trouble with the guides
who seem very hazy about the roads.
May 1 jth, Friday. — Lieut. Crawshay of the
Inniskillings came with the remounts to
take over Remount duties. We have been
sent far too few remounts by mistake, in
spite of Colonel Benson's numerous
telegrams. We paraded at 6.30 a.m. and
crossed the Koomati River and camped
at Nooitgedacht. Very hard day for
transport, and very bad drifts. Some
wagons out all night, also 1 company
Argyleshire and Sutherland rear-guard.
We covered in front of over 7 miles ;

190
19th M. I. got 2 men wounded, 5 Boers
surrendered.
May 18th, Saturday. — Marched to Bonnefoi,
a little opposition, but no casualties.
Mr. Everard, who keeps a store here, gave
us a lot of information about the Boers.
We have 6 Columns operating south of
Ry. under Col. Spens, Col. Douglas,
Col. Benson, General Babington (whom
Sir Bindon Blood went with), General
Kitchener, Col. Pultenay. Col. Benson
has most mounted troops. We left
Belfast with 1 Battalion Argyle and
Sutherland Highlanders, 18th M. I., 19th
M. I., and Scottish Horse, 4 R. F. A.
guns, 1 Howitzer, 1 long 12 pr., 2 Pom-
Poms ; in all 2,550 men.
May iqth, Sunday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Verdrucken. Mounted troops
went on to clear the Koomati Valley.
Colonel Urmston with 19th M.I. and 3

I9I
companies Arg. and Suth. Highlanders,
and a Pom-Pom and 2 Field guns, went the
other side on N.E. of Koomati Valley. We
were apparently in for a blank day, when
I viewed a lot of Boers and horses in a
very deep kloof. We got both sides of
the kloof and I went on as fast as I could
with a squadron of Scottish Horse to stop
the out-let. It is an awful country and
we arrived just too late, as they had
crossed the river, but we headed a lot of
Boers and a large lot of horses and cattle
into a corner, between precipitous rocks
and the river, at a range of iooo yards.
We could not move any further as the
descent was only just possible and we
were fired on, on three sides at once, when
we tried. The other troops on the other
side of the kloof were very slow getting
to their end or they would have fired in
the Boer corner at about 400 yards and
we must have got them. They did not

192
arrive till dark. I went back as fast as
possible to ask the Colonel to send a
Pom-Pom, but he decided it was too
late, so we all had to return. 18th M.I.
killed 1 Boer and took 2 prisoners.
S.H. killed 1 Boer. 18th and 19th
Hussars got benighted and stopped in
our camp without blankets.
May 20th, Monday. — Paraded 6 a.m. with 2\
companies Argyle and Suth. Highlanders,
and went down both ridges over the same
kloof as yesterday. But the Boers had
all gone except one or two we saw in the
distance. We got a lot of horses, cattle
and sheep, and burnt some wagons and
got 2 prisoners. The Highlanders got
left out all night, owing to their not
keeping up the signalling.
A sniper fired 5 shots during the night
into our camp, probably the owner of this
farm. His grand piano cooked the men's

193
dinners last night as we were short of fire
wood. Camped at Kraal Kloof.
May 21st, Tuesday. — Remained in camp.
The remainder of the troops and supplies
came from Bonnefoi, but part of the
supplies had to stop half way for the
night.
May 22nd, Wednesday . — Paraded 7.30 a.m.,
and went to clear Sionsdale. Scottish
Horse got 4 prisoners, and a large
number of sheep and a few cattle.
May 23rd, Thursday. — Paraded 7.30, and
cleared country towards Sir Bindon
Blood. Did not find much.
May 24th, Friday. — Paraded 7 a.m., and
cleared up Likkidrai. 18th M.I.
captured 17 prisoners and 31 horses, and
some sheep and cattle. We camped
at Bergstroom. Crawshaw went into
N

194
Carolina with a convoy and sick horses,
and 90 mares and foals, so I take up the
Remount work again.
May 23th, Saturday. — Got all unbranded
horses in the Column branded. One of
the Boer prisoners says he can shew me
where 20 Boers are hiding.
May 26th, Sunday. — Went a wild goose chase
with this Boer prisoner. He went to
where he thought some Boers might be,
but he knew nothing for certain, but he
hoped to be made a " surrender " if he
found them. We had to take pack-
transport and sleep at Kraal Kloof. 19th
M. I. burnt 2 wagons and 18th found a
few sheep, so this Boer tried to betray his
pals and lied to us.
May 2jth, Monday. — Returned to Bergstroom.
I went out with a patrol of half company
of Seaforth M. I. towards the Koomati.

J95
We caught a Boer in a farm and found about
one dozen Boers and 200 horses and cattle.
We could not attack them, but lay in
wait for them, hoping they were coming
up to the farm also, but they did not.
At dark we returned to camp and reported.
May 28th, Tuesday. — Paraded at 7 a.m. and
marched to Leupoort. Colonel Benson
went with a squadron of Scottish Horse
and a Pom-Pom to catch the Boers, etc.,
I found yesterday. They evidently had not
seen me, as they were still there. We
got the horses and cattle, but the Boers
got away. Got to camp about 6 o'clock.
English mail arrived.
May 29th, Wednesday. — The main body
surprised two Staats artillerymen in a
farm and brought in about 35 horses,
mostly mares and foals. I served out as
many as were fit for issue. 14 very bad
remounts arrived.

196
May 30th, Thursday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to Carolina.
May 31st, Friday. — Handed in all useless
horses and foals to Vet. hospital. In the
last week 130 horses, 9 mules and 10
donkeys have passed through my hands,
of which I have been able to use
61 horses, 9 mules and 2 donkeys.
We hear that there is very little chance
of remounts arriving for us. We have
applied for 213.
Bag between May 16th and 24th for
this Column —
26 prisoners of war,
8 surrendered prisoners,
3 undesirables.
36 rifles,
124 children,
37 women,
80 wagons,
26 carts,

197
1,300 cattle,
5,500 sheep,
12 mules,
200 horses.
June ist, Saturday. — Paraded 7 a.m. Marched
to Koomati Bridge. Captured 61 wild
horses ; we had great fun catching some
this afternoon for remounts. The Basuto
boys are very good with wild horses and
shew wonderful pluck.
June 2nd, Sunday. — Paraded at different
hours. Marched to Elandskop. Most of
the mounted troops went round by the
Koomati Valley below the Bloemfontein
position again and rounded up some
cattle and horses which had doubled back.
We should have got 6 Boers, but some
women held their horses, so the Scottish
Horse could not shoot. Dreadfully cold
day and a very piercing wind. It freezes
hard every night now.

198
June 3rd, Monday. — Stayed at Elandskop.
More wild horse catching. This affords
a regular afternoon entertainment now !
Convoy goes to Dalmanutha and fetches
us a day's supply.
June 4th, Tuesday. — Marched to Machadodorp,
where we find a nice warm camp in a
hollow. We get news of 120 remounts
coming for the Column, which is a very
good business. Etonian dinner in Scottish
Horse lines, 10 Etonians present : —
Major Murray (commanding Second
Scottish Horse), Black Watch.
Major Gordon, Argyle and Sutherland
Highlanders.
Captain Hope, K.R.R.
Captain Crum, K.R.R.
Lieut. Bircham, K.R.R.
Lieut. Sinclair, Seaforth Highlanders.
Lieut. Graham, Northumb. Fusiliers.
Two others. Myself. Mail arrives.

rgg
June 3th, Wednesday . — 100 M. I. remounts
and 20 Scottish Horse remounts arrive,
all very good. A new squadron of
Scottish Horse arrives, good men and
well mounted. Played Polo, ground small
and lots of holes ! but we had a good game.
June 6th, Thursday. — News arrives of Dixon's
fight. Derbyshires seem to have made a
fine charge.
June jth, Friday. — Played Polo, Colonel
Benson's Column versus Garrison ; won,
4 goals to love. Played for Column.
Higgins, R.A. — 1.
Self— 2.
Murray, S.H. — 3.
Lawford, 19th M.I., back.
Find I drew third horse, Derby sweep,
" Veronese," and got £8 thereby.
June 8th, Saturday. — Sent 36 wild mares and
foals to Germiston and had a row with an

200
A.S.C over it (who got " hell " from
Benson in consequence ! )
June gth, Sunday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched past Helvetia to Zwartz Kopjes.
Helvetia certainly looks a very strong
position and does not look as if it should
have been taken by the Boers. We
camped north of the road we took
between Belfast and Waterford Onder
last year. We can see our out-post hill
at Waterval Onder. Our camp last year
was rather west of our present one.
June 10th, Monday. — Sent our convoy on
ahead. Paraded 7.30, marched to
Badfontein. 400 Boers and 2 guns said
to be in neighbourhood. Very wet. We
caught up the convoy which left
Machadodorp the day before us.
June nth, Tuesday. — Boers said to be going
to attack convoy, so we sent it on ahead

201
and followed close behind. A few shots
on right flank only. We encamped at
Reitfontein beyond Wit Klif. Major
Gordon and 2 companies A. and S. High
landers and 1 squadron S. Horse turned
off at Klepspruit with the pack transport.
They are to enter the mountains here.
Lydenburg let off a lyddite shell at us !
June 1 2th, Wednesday . — Very foggy morning.
Murray with Scottish Horse went to
Maugh's Berg with pack transport ; he
will be fed from Lydenburg. We get
wagons with difficulty to Lissabon.
Francis made an ass of himself about our
camping ground. This Column has to
close north and west. General Spens the
east and Colonel Douglas the south.
Gordon says he has cornered a lot of
Boers and cattle. There was a little fight
at our out-post line, 2 men 18th M. I.
wounded.

202
June 13th, Thursday. — A little fighting, got
23 wagons and 12 Cape carts, mostly
from Velterfreiden. Reconnoitred Boers
below Gordon's position, 1 Highlander
killed. Got some cattle and horses.
Out-post again attacked, no loss.
June 14th, Friday. — 18th M. I. got shelled
by Parke for half-an-hour ! Parke after
wards signalled hoping we had no
casualties ; Arbuthnot answered " 1 mare
slipped a foal and 1 man badly frightened."
Murray had very bad luck ; he found a
lot of cattle and sent to fetch them, also
2 Boers with white flags, but Colonel
Burney shelled them out, and he never
saw the Boers again. Murray was
attacked at night and had 2 men wounded.
1 8th M. I, got 300 cattle. A Boer, out
of Gordon's kloof surrendered in early
morning to an 18th out-post ; he says
there are 50 Boers in the kloof, a women's

203
laager and lots of cattle. Shelled the
kloof all day. The Boers must have had
a bad time of it. A good deal of rifle
shooting, but we had no casualties. It is
very difficult to get at these Boers as it
is impossible to see where their fire
is coming from. Their women's laager
had white flags up, but I am sure some
shots came out of it. Out-post all round
the kloof all night. A little fighting in
Crocodile Valley.
June 13th, Saturday. — The Boers are all
gone or are hiding in the rocks. It will
be impossible to find them if they lie still.
We found a lot of children, women and
wagons, and 500 cattle and a few horses.
Kaffirs say one shell killed 5 Boers.
36,000 rounds of ammunition were found
buried in Crocodile Valley.
June 16th, Sunday. — Most of us went down
to Crocodile Valley and burnt more

204
farms and wagons. All women and
children are brought away when possible.
When this is not possible the wagons are
burnt and they are all put together in one
farm or tents. This is necessary, as the
wagons are of course used by the Boers
and the farms are used as store houses,
and in these kloofs it is very difficult for
us to get at them. We got about 400
more cattle.
June ijth, Monday. During Friday's fight
the Scottish Horse were shelled by
Gordon, and fired on by the Highlanders,
also by M.I. escort to 15 pr., and they
shelled Parke's black boys herding cattle.
But no one was hit ! ! The Scottish
Horse say the 18th out-post was not
attacked by Boers at all but by Baboons !
We finished bringing in all the families,
etc.
June 18th, Tuesday. — Stopped in camp.

205
June igth, Wednesday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to Reitfontein. Convoy went
on to Wit Klip. Wire arrives from
Spens to say that Boers and cattle are
expected to cross our road westwards
between Helvetia and Schceman's Kloof.
The report the Colonel considered too
vague to knock up all our horses over.
So 2 squadrons of Scottish Horse which
went straight to Badfontein have been
ordered to go straight on to Schceman's
early to-morrow morning.
June 20th, Thursday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to Badfontein. All the women
we have taken out of the kloofs are with
the convoys. One or two are quite nice
looking, a great rarity with Dutch women.
A few Boers crossed as expected last
night. More farms burnt.
June 21st, Friday. — Paraded 8 a.m. Marched
to Swartz Kopjes. The Commandant at

206
Schceman's Kloof wired to Commandant
Swaatz Kopjes, "Mind your cattle, Benson
is coming." This was handed to Lloyd
by mistake ! Got 2 mails. Here we got
news that the Boers have taken 500 cattle
from Machadodorp. They first went off
with 300, and while the Court of Enquiry
was sitting on this loss the Boers took
off another 200 ! The Victorians at
Middelburg have had 20 or 40 wounded
and lost 2 Pom-Poms through inefficient
out-posts. They are part of Beatson's
Column.
June 22nd, Saturday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to Hautboschfontein. Saw a
few Boers, but no shots were fired.
There is a rumour that some troops are
going home, but I don't suppose it is true.
June 23rd, Sunday. — Some Boers and 1,500
cattle were seen yesterday and we went

207
after them to-day, but the fog was so
thick, it was impossible to do anything.
June 24th, Monday. — The above mentioned
cattle have been driven off, but we found
another kloof full of cattle, horses and
Boers. We hemmed them in all day, as
it was too precipitous and large to be
possible to work it in one day, and we
will make an end of it to-morrow.
Camped at Somerset.
June 23th, Tuesday. — Cleared out of
Kloodoes Kloof. There are said to be
50 Boers still there, but the kloofs are so
enormous that it would take 3 or 4
Columns our size to hunt them properly.
We got all their cattle and horses out
and burnt their wagons. An order has
just arrived that all horses not fit for
remounts are to be destroyed. A great
pity, as lots of the foals are well bred
and in 2 or 3 years would make nice

208
horses. It goes very much against the
grain destroying these foals. The reason
given is that they are so much trouble
to protect and so many are lost by
Columns as soon as captured. This is
not surprising in some Columns. But it
is only a matter of making the natives
look after them properly.
June 26th, Wednesday. — Stayed in camp to
extract captured horses from Corps who
try to stick to them !
June 2jth, Thursday. — Searched another
kloof and got 270 head of cattle in spite
of Colonel McLacan shelling our black
boys ! Colonel Benson says he is off
co-operation. We have been shot at by
everyone we have co-operated with.
June 28th, Friday. — Shot 23 foals. An awful
pity having to do this. I kept one and
gave some to other people to save them

209
being shot. Paraded 8.30 a.m. Marched
to Schwartz Kopjes.
June 2gth, Saturday. — We marched into
Machadodorp. General Spens wants to
re-arrange the Columns, taking away a
lot of guns and mounted troops.
However, Benson wired to the Chief,
and he won't allow it.
June 30th, Sunday. — Spent all day trying to
get remounts and sick horse returns, etc.,
settled up.
July ist, Monday. — Played Polo, Column
versus Garrison, and won by 4 goals to 2.
General Spens lunched, and Tullibardine
dined with us. 240 remounts arrived.
Fifty for Scottish Horse, very good,
remainder not so bad as some we have
had, but still there were a lot of horses
not really fit to serve out. o

2IO
July 2nd, Tuesday. — Killballysmash very
lame behind. My big chestnut horse is
very unsatisfactory as he is always over
reaching. So I have swopped these two
for a good Scottish Horse remount.
July 3rd, Wednesday . — Paraded 3.30 a.m.
to try and surprise some Boers at Elands
Kloof. The map was all wrong and the
distances under-estimated, so no surprise
was possible. However, Murray and the
Scottish Horse came on a Boer picquet —
killed 1 and wounded 1. 18th M. I.
also came on some Boers and killed 1.
Arbuthnot viewed 25 Boers with 300
cattle going into Roodekranz. Holland
said there were 2000 cattle, the Colonel
decided to go after them to-morrow.
The retirement to camp was ordered
while a party of Scottish Horse under
Lindsay were still shooting, Macan was
ordered to see that Lindsay retired safely,

211
he did not do this, consequently Murray
and Lindsay and 26 men were cut off and
had a very hard fight. Murray sent to
say that he could not find his supporting
squadron, so I was sent out with it. We
were only just in time to save them.
About 20 minutes after our arrival the
Boers began to bolt. Murray had a Pom-
Pom with him, but could not use it as he
had sent it out of range of the Boers to
protect his flank and rear. The Pom-
Pom got into the Boers going away. It
also got into a bunch of 20 in the
morning. The majority of the Scottish
Horse behaved splendidly, especially
Serg.-Major Fraser of the Blues. One
Boer was killed and another taken prisoner
about 25 yards from the Scottish Horse.
Scottish Horse loss — 3 killed, 9 wounded.
Boer loss 7 killed and 5 wounded,
wounded probably more. There were
70 Boers. I got back to camp at 5 p.m.,

212
It was a pity Macan did not make sure
that Lindsay was safe. He was con
vinced that there were not more than 10
Boers. The Scottish Horse were in a
very tight place at one time and very
scattered, which made individual per
formances much more important. I hope
some of the men will be promoted for
their conduct.
July 4th, Thursday. — I am very glad I went
with the supporting squadron yesterday,
as Murray says they would have taken
much longer finding him without my
help and time was precious. Sergeant
Ferns recommended for gallantry. Rested
in camp.
July 3th, Friday. — We sent out two Scottish
Horse, genuine stalkers, to watch
Roodekranz, and the Column went out
later to pick up anything there, but all
the Boers and cattle had gone.

213
July 6th, Saturday. — Paraded j a.m. and
marched to Swartz Kopjes. The Scottish
Horse saw 60 Boers, but they bolted,
and Colonel Benson would not pursue
as they would take us away from camp.
July Jth, Sunday. — Sent the convoy on ahead
and followed at 8 a.m. and marched to
Dullstroom. Here we got information
that Ben Viljoen and 500 Boers, and
Tantes and 200 Boers, were close by.
Viljoen has 2 Pom-Poms and a Maxim.
Scottish Horse were soon after attacked.
All available troops then went on towards
Windbank. The Boers bolted almost
at once. Marker's company M. I. got
within 400 yards of Boer Pom-Pom and
would very likely have caught it if
he had not been stopped by Macan, a
great pity. Marker claims to have
shot 4 Boers and the guns to have
shot 3. No casualties on our side

214
except 2 Northumberland Fusiliers taken
prisoners.
July 8th, Monday. — Went out with Col.
Benson and a company 19th M. I. to see
Col. Parke.
July gth, Tuesday. — Paraded 3.30 a.m. for
night march to attack Viljoen, supposed
to be at Witpoort. I was sent to
guide 2 companies of Highlanders and a
squadron of Scottish Horse to seize a
hill the Boers were on two days ago.
There was luckily only a picquet there,
who bolted, as we should have had a
nasty time if the Boers had held it.
The Boers lay low till some Scottish
Horse came up close, and then fired,
wounding only two luckily. They were
holding the entrance to Witpoort.
They were shelled out of this and
then a running fight began. We started

215
galloping from the far side of the defile
at tbe beginning of the Witpoort Valley,
and galloped with very few checks to
head of Blood River, a distance of 13
miles. The 18th M. I. were very slow
at starting or we should have done better.
We saw their Pom-Pom going away in
the distance, and at the end put up
another convoy of 9 wagons, but horses
were too beat to follow. We killed 3 Boers
and wounded one for certain, and I expect
they had a good many more casualties
as we shelled them heavily several
times. We also got cattle. It was a
first class gallop, but not so satisfactory
as our gallop in the West, as some
of M. I. were very slow and irritating.
The Scottish Horse had no chance
in the gallop, as they made a wide
turning movement to the right. The
Northumberland Fusiliers galloped well
when they were once set going. We

2l6
got back to camp at 4 o'clock, making
a longish day. I think we did good
work. We had a long ride home as we
camped at Witpoort. On our return we
heard that Viljoen, with convoy and
Pom-Pom and 200 Boers, had gone away
on the Roos Senekal Road.
July 10th, Wednesday. — Paraded at 6.30 a.m.
Marched to our old camp near Roos
Senekal. Viljoen made a night march,
West. We got a lot of wagons and a
few cattle at Roos Senekal.
July nth, Thursday. — Paraded 7 a.m. to
pursue Viljoen. The Kaffirs said that
Viljoen, Mulier and Tantes are all
near the Tantesberg, Krieger and 100
men having gone East. We got 1 7 wagons
and a large quantity of cattle and horses,
6 prisoners and 1 2 wagons full of women
and children, including Mrs. Tantes. The
remaining Boers have gone down the

217
Blood River. There was a little shooting,
but no casualties. Rode my new horse.
I also rode him last Tuesday. He is a
great success. I got a wetting trying to
cross the Steelpoort where there was no
drift !
July 12th, Friday. — Stayed in camp
collecting the horses. Colonel Benson
got a telegram from General Spens
yesterday, saying that Lord Kitchener
was very pleased with Colonel Benson's
energetic following up of the enemy at
Dullstroom.
July 13th, Saturday. — Paraded 7.30 a.m.
Marched to just beyond where our hunt
ended. Kaffirs say the Boers lost 6
killed the day we hunted them. All the
Boers with a lot of wagons, 2 Pom-Poms
and a field gun under Viljoen, Trichard
and Mulier, said to be ahead of us down
the Blood River.

2l8
July 14th, Sunday. — Paraded 6,30 a.m. and
followed up tracks of Boers camping at
Kruispring. We passed through a nasty
defile, if the Boers had held it. We
are in bush veldt. It is much warmer
of course, and I have seen some of the
birds that we saw towards Koomatipoort,
the lovely light blue jay among them.
Saw a few Boers ahead of us.
July 13th, Monday. — Paraded at 7 a.m. and
marched to Wagon Drift on the Oliphant
River. The Scottish Horse had some
hardish fighting. They had 2 officers
wounded, and wounded 3 Boers, whom
we picked up, but I am certain we hit
a lot more. They must have suffered
heavily, both from rifle and shell fire.
But that was all we found, or are certain
of. The bush is rather thick here, there
fore scouting is difficult. There are hills
both sides of the road, which were held

219
by Boers. It is reported that there are
i ioo Boers in front of us. We saw
their convoy to-day. Our loss to-day,
10 wounded.
July 16th, Tuesday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.
March to  , very little water. A
few shots were fired, but nothing more
happened. In the evening an out-post
at our last camp reported having seen a
Boer convoy ij miles long recross the
river and go North East. We seem not
to be able to follow as we must return
to our line for food. Convoy started
1 p.m.
July ijth, Wednesday. — Owing to late arrival
of transport we started at 1 p.m. and
marched to  . General Beatson has
reached Reitfontein without our knowing
anything about it. If he had been there
two or three days sooner he would have
been of some use. He is too late now

220
as we must return for food. If they
would send a convoy out to us, we might
corner Viljoen, as the native Chief
Sekekouni will prevent the Boers from
going further North. Next to no water
here.
July \8th, Thursday. — Paraded 7 a.m. and
marched to Reitfontein where General
Beatson is encamped. They give a very
bad account of his Victorian regiment.
July lyth, Friday. — Paraded 7 a.m. Marched
to Waterval on Wilge River.
July 20th, Saturday. — Marched to Roodepoort.
July 21st, Sunday. — Paraded 7 a.m. Marched
to Oliphants River. I went on by train
to see about remounts, mules, camp, etc.
Went to see Dunsterville, Sir Bindon
Blood's C.S.O., and found Granard in
the Kiddies installed as A.D.C. Bald,

221
in 15th Hussars, was also there. He is in
command of a wing of the new Scouts
being raised. They are to be 500 strong
and only to have Cape Cart Transport,
to try to catch the Boer Government.
The command has been given to a gunner,
named Young, who has just arrived in
this country. It seems to me to be
courting disaster, giving the command to
a man without experience. I dined with
Granard. Sir Bindon Blood is charming.
July 22nd, Monday. — The Commandant made
an appointment with me to shew me the
camping ground for the Column, but he
never turned up, so I chose the cleanest
and best place. The Commandant was
very upset, as it turns out to be a pet
spot, not to be camped upon !
Then  has made himself un
necessarily disagreeable about Benson's
guns. The Scottish Horse have been

222
ordered to join Kitchener's Column, but
the Colonel has been to Sir Bindon about
this, and that has been stopped.
Middelburg seems to be a hot bed of
fuss and interference. Dined with Sir
Bindon Blood. Mail arrives.
July 23rd, Tuesday. — The Scottish Horse,
1 8th M. I. and 19th M. I., have been told
to furnish 50 volunteers and an officer each
for the new Scouts. Of course no one
wished to volunteer. In Columns where
the men are discontented any number
have volunteered. Now we have been
ordered to furnish 150 men to replace
those that have volunteered in other
Columns. The sooner we get out of
Middelburg the better. Granard came to
lunch with me. There seem to be no
remounts available. Another Mail arrives.
July 24th, Wednesday.  is a perfect
pig. Granard says this trouble about the

223
guns is entirely his fault. Sir Bindon
Blood is coming with Benson's Column
this time I hear. I squeezed 3 horses out
of the remounts to-day. But that is all
we shall get before we trek. Major
Simpson has been ordered to go to
Kitchener's Column by Harrison. He is
a very nice man, and a great loss to the
Column. Though he is several years
senior to Benson in the R.A. everything
went as smoothly as possible.
July 23th, Thursday. — Rode over to choose a
camp at Klein Oliphant's Post, where we
are to move camp to-morrow. We had a
Gymkhana in the afternoon — rather a poor
one. I am rather glad Sir Bindon is
coming out with us, he is such a nice man,
but I don't think Benson is best pleased
with the honour ! It is too apt to lead to
interference with his plans. The disaster
to Beatson's Victorians and loss of 2

224

Pom-Poms in the middle of June, was
due to bad behaviour on the part of the
Victorians, Beatson says, and I have
heard this confirmed.
Bags, May ist to 5th.
June:

Prisoners, 7.
Rifles, 25.
Wagons, 95.
Sheep, 1,980.
Women, 62.
Houses burned, 28.
July:
Killed, 6.
Surrenders, 6.
Ammunition, 1700.
Horses, — .
Cattle, 911.
Mules, 13.
Children, 251.

Surrenders, 6.
Ammunition, 31,900.
Carts, 37.
Mules, 18.
Children, 202.

Prisoners, 15.
Rifles, 34.
Carts, 14.
Wagons, 54.
Sheep, 1340.
Women, 82.

225
July 26th, Friday. — Paraded with the convoy
to show them the way to our new camp.
We have a much larger convoy this time
but are only carrying 6 days, as we fill
up again at Carolina. Sir Bindon Blood
is with us. He is very faddy about
camps. He seems to think we shall be
attacked at night in the same way as
camps are rushed on North West Frontier
of India ! Major Bond told me what our
real scheme was, but it is no secret,
the new corps of Scouts is with us.
Harrington in the Rifle Brigade is in
charge of the Block House here and came
to dine with me.
July 2jth, Saturday. — Convoy went on at
5.15 a.m. Column paraded at J a.m. and
marched to Copper Mine. Laid out camp
in a stereotyped form as ordered. Luckily
there was any amount of room. It
resulted in the only Infantry being

226
furthest from water ! Sir Bindon's Cape
Cart barged into every one and was there
fore stopped. It contained Sir Bindon's
breakfast, so he got none !
July 28th, Sunday. — Marched to Nooitgedacht.
July 29th, Monday. — Convoy went on ahead
again. Paraded 7 a.m. and marched to
Twyfelaar. A little shooting outside
camp. No casualties on our side. Shot
two Boers. We were here told that
the Boer Government is located at
Tweefontein on the Klein Oliphant's
River. Col. Wools-Sampson has been
watching it for two months. We paraded
at 7 p.m. for night march, guided by
Sampson, Col. Benson in command. Sir
Bindon did not come with us.
July 30th, Tuesday. — Arrived near Twee
fontein at 2.30 a.m., and found all the
information was wrong. However, we

227
got fresh information from natives of
30 Boers at Boschmanskop. We went
on there. Very cold night. The Scouts
charged down on the farm at daybreak
and caught 17 Boers. We also got
about 500 cattle, about 30 horses, some
mules, a few wagons and carts, and about
1,400 sheep. Our transport was to start
to meet us at 5 a.m., but at 12 o'clock
it had not reached us. I went to try
and find water and nearly ran into the
arms of two Boers dressed in khaki ! I
went within 400 yards of them and then
took out my glasses. Both Boers then
unslung their rifles. I don't think they
were quite sure of me. I then rode away
expecting a shot. I believe they were
just as frightened of me as I was of them,
as they edged off as soon as I gave them
a chance. If I had charged them they
might have surrendered if they lost their
heads, and they can't have been very

228
game for a fight or they must have shot
me. Got to camp about 3 p.m. at
Opgoldhoon.
July 31st, Wednesday. — Spent all morning
serving out remounts from the horses
captured yesterday. The Scouts, wood
fatigue, were attacked and one man killed.
This was owing to one of the posts not
paying proper attention to the signal to
retire and getting cut off.
August ist, Thursday. — Paraded at 7 a.m.,
and marched in a very broad front, clear
ing the country, only saw a few Boers.
Camped at Kranz Pass. Sir Bindon
Blood rejoined us with a Convoy from
Carolina. Kitchener has caught one of
Viljoen's Pom-Poms and 32 prisoners.
If we had gone north we should have got
it ! Paraded for another night march at
1 1 p.m.

229
August 2nd, Friday. — Reached Mooiplatz
before daybreak. Surrounded the farm
and found nothing. A night march for
nothing ! This was on Colonel Wools-
Sampson's information. Collected some
horses and returned to camp at Sermtroof.
The Convoy found 30 Boers on its arrival
here, pity we did not make a night march
here instead !
August 3rd, Saturday. — I issued a good
many remounts from the captured horses.
Commandeering party of 18th, M.I., had
a fight. No casualties. About 35 of our
wild horses stampeded and were caught
by the Boers, but we lost no good horses.
Convoy went to Wonderfontein.
August 4th, Sunday. — We paraded to trek,
but were stopped, I think on information
obtained by Colonel Sampson. Got 63
foals and useless horses shot. Very nearly

230
made me sick. Night march, paraded at
10 p.m.
August sth, Monday. — Reached Tweefontein at
daybreak. Caught 2 Boers and 60 horses.
Scottish Horse and 13th M. I. caught
more at another farm and wounded one,
who got away. I expect these night
marches of ours must make the Boers
very uncomfortable, as they can't know
when we shall pounce on them. Colonel
Wools-Sampson's guides are wonderfully
good at night. They seem to know every
yard of this country. We seldom go on
a road. Camped at Mooivlei.
August 6th, Tuesday. — The Scouts went to
fetch some mealies. They had a fight
and lost one killed and one wounded.
Two Boers were wounded, but got away.
August Jth, Wednesday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
March to Wilbank, near to where the

231
Scouts fought yesterday. We are to have
another night march to-night.
August 8th, Thursday. — Paraded i a.m., and
surrounded Vetfontein at daybreak, but
caught nothing. There were Boers
hovering round all day, but we caught
none. We got about 3,500 sheep and a
lot of wild horses.
August gth, Friday. — Paraded 8 a.m., and
marched to Kranzpoort. There are a
tremendous lot of horses in this country,
mostly mares and foals, all wild ; got
some very good ones to-day. West
Australians are a very undisciplined crew
and hard to cope with at the horse
catching ! However they mean no harm
and can be managed all right if tact is
used. They are a fine lot of men. The
Eastern Transvaal Scouts who are now
attached to the Column consist of

232
i squadron 18th Hussars, i squadron
19th Hussars, 1 squadron 3rd and 4th
M.I. and 1 squadron West Australians.
August 10th, Saturday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.,
and marched to Ermelo. We had no
opposition, we cleared all the families out
of Ermelo and burnt the houses, whose
owners are on commando.
August nth, Sunday. — We cleared all the
women out of Ermelo, 50 women and
149 children. Paraded 7.15 a.m., and
marched to Vlakfontein.
August 12th, Monday. — We have got 340
remounts out of the captured horses,
since leaving Middelburg. Paraded
7.15 a.m. Marched to Goedverdacht.
August 13th, Tuesday. — Paraded 7.15 a.m.,
and marched to Carolina where we found
our convoy and mails.

233
August 14th, Wednesday. — Convoy started
again for Wonderfontein.
August 13th, Thursday. — Paraded 1 p.m.
Marched to Nooigedacht, arriving about
5 p.m. Paraded again 6.30 p.m. for night
march. The greatest trouble was caused
by men straggling when leading their
horses. It was impossible to march more
than 4 abreast, but when leading horses
the men straggled so much that the
Columns must have been 4 times as long
as when the men were mounted. Also
in remounting, the men all mounted one
after another, again lengthening out the
Column. Consequently the rear regiments
were continually galloping and as it was
very dark, no moon, and the road was full
of holes, there were a great many falls.
August 16th, Friday. — Shortly after midnight
we rushed Goedverdacht Store but found

234
no one. We attacked Kopje Alleen at
daybreak, 18th M. I. were sent off to the
right and the Scouts on ahead at a gallop
to seize the kopje. Young saw a Boer
laager and galloped for it. Benson sent
me after them to see why they were going
the wrong way, we got on all sides of the
Boer laager and rushed it. There was a
little shooting and then the Boers sur
rendered. One Boer came out with his
hands up and then shot a West Australian
at 5 yards dead. This Boer was shot at
once. Commandant Breytenbach and 20
men were caught here, and two killed and
two wounded. The Scottish Horse rushed
another laager and got 7 Boers. Total
bag to-day : 30 Boer prisoners and 2 killed,
17 wagons, 128 horses, 500 cattle, 2000
sheep. The convoy came on at 5.30 a.m.
Camped at Boschhoek on the Buffalo
Spruit. Last Thursday, 18th M. I.,
caught Scholt Burger's father-in-law.

235
August i jth, Saturday. — Breytenbach is a
valuable capture, he is accused of
murdering a Kaffir. Issued the Boer
horses. We got 128 horses yesterday,
mostly wild, of course.
August 18th, Sunday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched to Kalkenkrantz. C.O's. were
assembled at 3 o'clock and another
night march announced. Night march
countermanded on account of fog.
August iqth, Monday. — Paraded at 7 a.m.
and marched to a farm close to Carolina.
Convoy and mails arrived. The prisoners
had a copy of Kitchener's last procla
mation saying that all the leaders who
did not surrender before September 15th
would be banished, but it was in English
and none of them could understand it !
After fighting for nearly two years such
stupidity is almost incredible. We got
some Dutch translations by this mail.

236
August 20th, Tuesday. — Men with flags of
truce were sent out to-day to distribute
Kitchener's proclamation. The Boers
told the messengers that they would not
give in till their Government did . Night
march arranged for to-night, but a native
arrived in the night to say the Boers
had left at dusk, so we did not start.
August 21st, Wednesday. — Shot in horses
and foals to-day. Perfectly disgusting. We
got a lot of information from Intelligence
Dept., Pretoria and Middelburg, about
this district, and have got to go to
Bankfontein near the Oliphant's. They
think they know far more sitting in
Pretoria than we do on the spot. The
Colonel wanted to go to Lake Chrissie.
August 22nd, Thursday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched to Nanderbank. My new Basuto
boys are a great improvement on the old

237
lot, I wish I had had them when the large
numbers of horses were coming in.
August 23rd, Friday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Vaalbank.
August 24th, Saturday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Halfgewonnen. Heavy rain
at night. Our mess tent was blown down.
This was where there was supposed to be
a large concentration of Boers. We saw
three ! So much for Pretoria " Intelli
gence."
August 23th, Sunday. — Paraded n a.m.
Marched to Wilmansrust.
August 26th, Monday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched to Roodepoort. As usual we
had a lot of delay through bad guiding.
This is  's fault for not looking after
his guides, lt is very different when
Wools-Sampson is with us. Of course the

238
latter has a much larger command of
money than  , which helps him. The
Basuto boys are very plucky with wild
horses. One mare fell over backwards
twice with a boy on her back, this after
noon. They rode her about before dark.
August 2jth, Tuesday. — Convoy arrives with
13th M. I., got some more horses backed
and served out the quietest to the M. I.
August 28th, Wednesday . — Paraded 12.30p.m.,
and marched to Cornfontein. Stayed
behind to shoot foals and got left about
1 \ miles behind the rear guard. Luckily
no Boers came on us. The rear guard
was attacked later and lost one man
wounded. We came across a large herd
of Blesbuck near camp, and a lot were
shot, very dangerous for us !
August 29th, Thursday. — Convoy went on at
5.45 a.m. We paraded 7 a.m. Arbuthnot

239
with the Seaforth Company of the 18th
M. I. was left hidden behind walls in the
farm to catch Boers when they came
there. One of his officers fired when
they were 200 yards off instead of letting
them get quite close, consequently they
only shot three horses instead of about 30
Boers who were making towards the farm.
Dawkin's Northumberland Fusilier
Company, 18th M. I., was rear guard and
had to cover Arbuthnot's retreat and look
after his horses. As soon as Arbuthnot
appeared over the ridge the N. F. shot
at them, and these two Companies shot at
each other for about two hours. We
went back with the Pom-Pom and part
of the 13th M. I. at a gallop and rounded
up the farm, and of course found no one
except Arbuthnot's Company. Poor
Graham in N. F. was badly hit, I am
afraid mortally. The whole thing was a
disgraceful show. The N. F. were to

240
blame. The Seaforths ought to have
found out who they were shooting at, but
they concluded that their led horses had
been captured, especially as they had an
N. F. Officer with them whom Dawkins
had sent to Arbuthnot to bring them
away. Camped at Middeldrift.
August 30th, Friday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Rietvlei. There is not much
running water in this country now, and
most of the pools have dead animals in
them. Paraded for night march at 1 1 p.m.
We went 20 miles.
August 31st, Saturday. — We reached
Krondraai at the Waterval River at day
break and got a good bag. The 13th
M. I. and Scottish Horse had good gallops,
but I unfortunately missed them as I had
been sent to bring forward the 18th M. I.
40 Boers had left the farm at 2 a.m. and

241
a lot more the evening before, so we just
missed a good lot of Boers. We were
well led by Francis. Camped at Vaalbank.
September ist, Sunday. — A little sniping last
night. I made out my remount report
for the month of August ; result — 772
horses, mares and foals captured, out of
which I issued 201 remounts, about 45
native boy's horses.
September 2nd, Monday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Fischpoort. Col. Benson
wrote a very nice letter attached to my
remount report to A. I. R., asking for
extra pay for me.
September 3rd, Tuesday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Klipplaet, we got infor
mation that some Boers have returned to
Cornfontein. Paraded for night march at
11.30 p.m. Q

242
September 4th, Wednesday. — Reached
Cornfontein at daybreak but found the
Boers had gone, we burnt the farm and
returned to Klipplaat. There are now
only about 600 mounted men left in the
Column. On our return we found orders
had arrived for us to go into Middelburg.
September 3th, Thursday. — Paraded 7 a.m.
Marched to — mine. Colonel Benson,
Jackson, and I, rode into Brugspruit and
went on by train to Middelburg. We
heard to-day of poor Vandeleur's death,
shot in a train on the Petersburg line.
He seems to have been shot in cold blood.
An Hospital nurse was also shot in the
same train. Hinton, the Boer Com
mander, held a thanksgiving service.
Remounts very scarce, General Walter
Kitchener seems to have taken everything.
September 6th, Friday. — Went to see if there
were lots of things in the Field Force

243
Canteen for the Column when it comes in
to-morrow. I found that they had lots of
stuff but were unable to sell because they
have not got the prices. There is no hay
for the horses, this is a great misfortune
for a Column coming in after hard work.
Red tape and mismanagement seems to be
the ruling spirit of the " B " Department
in Middelburg.
September jth, Saturday. — Column arrives at
Middelburg. After a lot of trouble I
fancy we ought to get ioo remounts of
sorts. Dined with Sir Bindon Blood.
Got 2 mails.
September 8th, Sunday. — Got 137 remounts,
which is better than nothing, but we want
more. Went for a ride with Granard.
Mail arrives. 18th Hussars string band
played in church. It was quite lovely,
and this touch of civilization was very
refreshing after continuous trekking.

244
September gth, Monday. — Granard came to
lunch with us. Grey pony is getting
better, but I shall leave him behind next
trek.
September 10th, Tuesday. — We start again
on a night march to-night. We have
to leave 66 dismounted M. I. behind.
The K. R. R. Company, 13th M. I., have
been replaced by a Liverpool Company.
Paraded 6 p.m. Convoy marched about
3 miles and stopped for the night. The
guns and 13th M. I. lost us in the night,
we went on with the Scottish Horse and
1 8th M. I. We had a good gallop in the
morning, finding Boers at three different
places. My gallop was spoiled by not
getting my second horse, as I expected
a second horse I had not spared the other
one during the night. We captured 31
Boers, including 2 boys, 75 horses, 500
cattle and a few wagons.

245
September nth, Wednesday. — I got a fairly
good chestnut pony out of to-day's
captures to take the place of my grey,
which I left in Middelburg. Camped at
Eikeboon.
September 12th, Thursday. — Paraded 8 a.m.
and marched to Blesbockfontein. Rode
my new pony, he wants waking up badly.
September 13th, Friday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Weltervrieden. New
grass is beginning to grow now, a great
boon to the animals.
September 14th, Saturday. — Paraded 2 a.m.
for night march to Tweefontein. Captured
10 Boers, 280 cattle and 32 horses. We
travelled very fast the last two miles and
galloped as soon as there was the first
glimmer of light. New Company of 13th
M. I. (Liverpool Company) are well

246
mounted. The Boer horses were very
poor, only 10 were fit to issue.
September 13th, Sunday. — Paraded 6.45 a.m.
and marched to Goedshoop, near Carolina.
I hear that Martinus Steyn and 30 men
were only i\ miles from us on the nth,
and could not get to their horses ! If only
we had known this we should have had a
valuable capture.
September 16th, Monday. — Sit still.
September 1 jth, Tuesday. — Convoy started for
Wonderfontein. Paraded for a night
march at 5.45 p.m. We went a fast trot
the first 2\ miles in the dusk, then we
had a thunderstorm and it was very dark
for half-an-hour or more, then we got
about \ moon till it set at half- past 10.
We then got into a thick mist which
lasted all night. The guiding was some
thing perfectly marvellous, and I am quite

247
sure that everyone who was not there
will think accounts of this night march
very much exaggerated. I certainly
should not have believed it possible if I
had not been there. The night was pitch
black and you often rode into another
horse before you knew anything was there.
Colonel Wools-Sampson was responsible
for the guiding. He got on the wrong
road once and discovered his mistake by
noticing that the road was not broad
enough. It was impossible to send natives
out to find the road, as they would never
find the Column again in the darkness,
so Wools-Sampson asked Col. Benson to
let him make a cast for the road with
the whole Column. This he did making
a large figure of S. He kept his direction
by the slight breeze which was blowing.
He hit off the right road and went on
again ; of course the fog made it impossible
to go any but the slowest pace. The

248
whole Column was closed together like a
flock of sheep. We reached the Boer
laager at about 8 a.m. on the borders of
Middeldrift and Bushby, a distance of 36
miles in a straight line from our last
camp, over 40 miles by the way we came.
At daybreak the regiments reformed and
we moved fast through the fog, only
halting to make sure a farm wasn't
occupied. We had 18th M. I., 19th M. I.
and Scottish Horse, 2 field guns, and a
Pom-Pom. The remainder stayed behind
to escort the convoy with a few mounted
troops with weak horses. The mist lifted
about ten minutes too soon for us, and
the Boers saw us i£ to 2 miles off.
However we galloped for them and
captured 54 prisoners, 242 horses (mostly
poor), 1,700 cattle, 48 wagons and carts,
36 mules, 45 rifles, 1,500 rounds S. A. A.
Between 40 and 50 Boers escaped, owing
to the large extent of ground over which

249
the laagers were scattered. Casualties,
3 Boers wounded. A most disagreeable
night, but now it is over, it was a great
experience which I would not have
missed for worlds. We returned to camp
at Spivenkop where our wagons met us.
September 18th, Wednesday. —
September iqth, Thursday. — Rested in camp
and issued captured ponies.
September 20th, Friday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Tovreden. Col. Benson
and 19th M. I. went to dig up a reported
Boer gun near Lake Chrissie, but it was
not found, we always seem to get very
little ammunition with the Boers we
capture. Information reports that they
never carry much but whenever they
want ammunition they can get it. I
suppose the Commandants must have
ammunition hidden all over the country.

250
We captured a German ambulance and
2 doctors with the Boers. They say the
war will go on for another 6 years ! They
told me that the Boers believe that the
French have bought Delagoa Bay Railway
and have landed 50,000 men to help the
Boers ! They will go to Wonderfontein
and thence return to the Boers. The
Boers see all the English Pro-Boer
papers and speeches.
September 21st, Saturday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Carolina. Last night
was bitterly cold and wet, a lot of horses
died ! To make matters worse the horses
are on short rations owing to a miscalcu
lation of the Supply Officer. I was lucky
enough to get my horses into a shed. I
luckily got my new waterproof by post
just before leaving Middelburg. General
Walter Kitchener was nearer the Boers
than we were on the 17th, so we "wiped

251
his eye." Convoy from Wonderfontein
is 5 miles off.
September 22nd, Sunday. — Convoy arrived
with mails. Col. Benson wrote to
Henniker and Military Secretary at
home about me. He told me he sent my
name in the list of recommendations to
Sir Bindon Blood last month. Dined with
Murray. The convoy brought a report in
that Botha with 1600 men and 6 guns
have invaded Natal. These numbers
are obviously impossible. A squadron of
5th Lancers has been cut up.
September 23rd, Monday — The Argyle and
Sutherland Highlanders are leaving the
Column as soon as their place can be
taken up by the Buffs.
September 24th, Tuesday. — Convoy returns to
Wonderfontein.
September 23th, Wednesday . — Played Hockey.

252
September 26th, Thursday. — Paraded 5.45 p.m.
for night march to attack Boers and
Martinus Steyn and Nicholas, about
30 miles off. A beautiful moonlight
night and everything went quite smoothly
till after midnight. About 1 a.m. a
woman in a Kaffir kraal told us that
Martinus Steyn and his men had removed
to another farm, and we moved off to this
farm but drew it blank. There was
another farmhouse on this farm which
Wools-Sampson only remembered later.
We rounded up a farm and caught 7 Boers,
and then went off to the second farmhouse
on the original farm. By the time we
got there it was daybreak, we drew blank
but later saw some Boers i\ miles away
catching horses, we galloped for them
and caught all but one. I had a great
gallop after a Boer, and caught him after
firing several shots from my revolver,
by the mercy of Providence I missed my

253
pony's head ! Martinus Steyn and about
30 men had gone about 10 p.m. last night
to the next farm ! About 40 or 50 more
Boers under Nicholas were at the original
farm we intended attacking ; so we had
very bad luck, only catching 13 Boers
instead of 70 or 80. The convoy came
on in the morning and we camped at
Kromkrans at 2 p.m. Murray measured
the way we went on the map and makes
out we covered 58 miles in 20 hours !
September 28th, Saturday .—Paraded 3 a.m.
and marched to Mandesberg. Convoy
arrives from Wonderfontein with mails.
Some photos of Beechmount arrived. Sir
Bindon Blood has started for India.
Granard and Maurice went with him.
September 2qth, Sunday. — Rested in camp.
Four of Wools-Sampson's natives made
a Boer prisoner last night.

254
September 30th, Monday. — Paraded at 7 a.m.
and marched to Haartebeestspruit.
October ist, Tuesday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
Marched to Kranzpoort. Paraded for
night march at 6 p.m. to attack Boers at
Weltevreden (173), but on the way we
got intelligence that they had moved.
We wandered about for a long time
trying to get some reliable information,
and eventually came on 50 Boers at
Driefontein (235) after a long gallop at
dawn. Unfortunately they saw us coming
and we only caught 6, including one
mortally wounded by Col. Benson. We
had a very good gallop, but I got a bad
start as I had to stop to cut a wire
fence to let the M. I. through. Very
long and tiring night. We got to camp
at Knapdaar at 1.30 p.m.
October 2nd, Wednesday . — Lawford got a bad
fall, I am afraid he has injured his liver.

255
October 3rd, Thursday. — Rested in camp.
October 4th, Friday. — Paraded 6 a.m. and
marched to Kaallaagte. Two squadrons
went on ahead to try and surprise some
Boers in the farm but did not find any.
About 100 Boers came towards the farm
in early morning, and the Scottish Horse
would probably have made a bag as they
were hiding, but the Boers saw the head
of our Convoy appearing and sheered off.
The Convoy advance guard stupidly
thought there were Boers in the farm and
started firing at it. This gave the alarm
to 6 more Boers who were coining up
from another direction. There are a lot
of wild horses about here and we have
the usual excitement catching them.
October 3th, Saturday. — The Boers sniped our
camp about 2 a.m. and killed one man,
19th M.I. Lawford is all right inside I am
glad to say, but he has hurt his knee.

256
We were warned for a night march to
night, but it was cancelled.

October 6th, Sunday. — One of the Scottish
Horse played a harmonium, found in the
farm, at Parade Service to-day. The
Boer prisoners came to church, none
of them understand a word of English.
Paraded at 2 p.m., and marched to
Vaalbank.
October jth, Monday. — Paraded 12.15 a.m.
for night march on Witbank. The Boers
had settled down there for the night, but
after dark unaccountably trekked. Conse
quently we missed them. We had a great
gallop at daybreak after 2 Boers, whom
we caught. My chestnut pony, the one I
got at Potchefstroom, is very fast and a
good stayer. Camped at Knapdaar.
Some of Wools-Sampson's boys came
across the Boers last night after they had

257
moved, and came to le1! us where they
were, but we had already left camp.
October 8th, Tuesday. — One of Wools-
Sampson's white guides went out last
night and located the Boers about 15 miles
off. We paraded in the rain at 5.30 p.m.
It was a pitch black night. We rounded
up a farm at about 12.30 a.m., and caught
12 Boers and 2 white boys, and a few
natives. At daybreak our usual gallop
began at several farms where the Boers
were reported, but they had left the night
before. We galloped a long way but
could see no sign of Boers. After we
had collected again and halted, two of
Sampson's boys reported Boer wagons,
and we started galloping again, but we
only saw a few wagons and some Boers
and cattle trekking about 4 miles off,
which it was impossible to catch with our
tired horses. Jones and Peacock, Supply R

258
and Transport officers, went on further
than anyone else and had a little fight
with about 20 Boers, about 1,000 yards
from 3 outspanned wagons, but when they
saw everyone returning they came back,
but never told anyone about this till some
hours after. We should have bagged this
lot. We got to camp at Halfgewonnen on
the Oliphant's River at about 12 o'clock.
October 10th, Thursday. — Rested in camp.
Boer's Kaffirs say that if the other Columns
did as much night marching as we do, we
should soon catch the Boers asleep on the
veldt in the middle of the day ! They
often shift their camps 3 times in a night,
are always saddled up at 3 a.m.
October nth, Friday. — Paraded 5.30 and
marched to Roodepoort. Very wet.
October 12th, Saturday. — Paraded 6.30 a.m.
and marched to Aaronsfontein. I went

259
on with the mule con ;by to Middelburg
to see about remounts, camping ground,
etc. Went to see Bond, who is now
CQ. O. The 1 8th and 19th M. I. are
to leave us and be replaced by the 3rd
and 25th M. I. The 25th M. I. are
K. R. R. under Major Eustace, mostly
old soldiers. The 3rd M. I. are all old
soldiers. Dined with Bond.
October 13th, Sunday. — General Reeves, who
is now in command here, joined 98th in
West Indies when my father commanded,
and knew us all well at Malta. Column
enters Middelburg. Dined with General
Reeves. '' Gave 280 wild horses and foals
to remounts.
October 14th, Monday. — Signed for allowances,
ist July to 30th September.
Field allowance ^1316 o
Colonial allowance 12 18 n
^"26 14 1 1

260
Colonel Benson, Boyle, Jackson and I,
went by 11.40 train to Pretoria. Lloyd
got a D. S. O. in last honours list.
Wormald got a Brevet. Stayed in
Spruyt's Hotel.
October 13th, Tuesday .—Gave Low £2.
October 16th, Wednesday . — Dined with
Ferdie Stanley. He is Camp Com
mandant, has a nice house and seems
very comfortable !
October ijth, Thursday. — Went to see
Marker. He is A.D.C. to Kitchener.
He mounted me on Maxwell's ponies.
They were excellent ponies. We played
Brigade of Guards v. Rest. Won by 1
goal to nil. Marker, Stanley, self and
Bonham (Hon. member because he has a
cousin in the Grenadiers !) played for the
Brigade. We had quite a good game.
We slept in the train.

26l
October 18th, Friday. — R j.urned to Middel
burg. Here we found another mail. I
am dreadfully sorry to hear poor Ted
Murray has been killed. An awful blow
to Minnie, they were only married just
before the war.
October iqth, Saturday. — Find we have been
given lots of remounts. Kitchener is
evidently very pleased with Benson's
work. The Column now consists of 3rd
M. I. under Major Anley, 25th M. I.
(K. R. R.) under Major Eustace, 2nd
Scottish Horse under Major Murray,
The Buffs under Major Dalgleish, 4 guns,
84th F. A.R. 2 and C C Pom-Poms,
whole under Col, Guinness, C.R.A.
October 20th, Sunday. — Convoy started at
4.30 a.m., remainder at 6 a.m. and
marched to Bosmans-spruit.
October 21st, Monday. — Remained in camp.

262
Paraded for fijght march at 6.30 p.m. on
rather vague information with Scottish
Horse and 3rd Mounted Infantry,
wandered from kraal to kraal. The
natives would not give Boers away, and
it looked very much like a blank day.
Fortunately Wools-Sampson insisted that
the natives were lying, and at day
break we galloped into 37 Boers at
Klippoortje, whom we captured. A troop
of Scottish Horse are now armed with
lances.
October 22nd, Tuesday. — Some Boers
harassed our rear-guard on the way
home but did no damage. Got to camp
at Steenkoolspruit at about 1 1 a.m. ; very
heavy storm in the evening, stampeded
the horses of the 3rd M. I. and Scottish
Horse, my tent came down and every
thing got soaked, I didn't mind this till I
found nearly every other tent had stood
the storm !

263 ?
October 23rd, Wednesday . — Remained in
camp.
October 24th, Thursday. — Large numbers of
Boers reported at Rensburghoof. Paraded
at 6.30 p.m. for night march. All avail
able mounted men, 2 field guns and
1 Pom-Pom. The Boers had shifted in
the night, but we followed them up to
Yzervarkfontein ; unfortunately a Boer
picquet had seen us and the Boers
were warned of our approach, so we only
caught 3.
Col. Townsend, R.A.M.C, went out
with an ambulance to bring in 2 of our
men who were hit. He stupidly took a
troop horse which had some ammunition
tied to the saddle. The Boers made this
an excuse to take the horse and detained
the ambulance till every available Boer
could be got together to attack us as we
returned to camp. When we retired the

264
Boers came or\right well and pluckily and
we had a fairly severe rear-guard action.
The Boers worked wonderfully quickly
and pressed the rear-guard very hard.
I never saw Boers show themselves so
much before. We lost a Civil Surgeon
and 1 man killed ; 3 officers and 14 men
wounded ; we also had 2 men taken
prisoners. The Boers stripped our men,
including wounded, of all their clothes
and gave them old rags to put on.
Benson worked the rear-guard splendidly
It is a comfort being under a good man.
We got to camp at Rietkneil. The
ambulance went out again to fetch in
some of our wounded who had been
left out. I think the Boers must have
lost heavily, we fired 28,000 rounds, 400
Pom-Poms, and 55 15-lbs. shells. The
Boers did their utmost to get at us and
so I am in hopes they took a heavy
knock. Boer Commandant, Grobler.

265
October 26th, Saturday. — Remained in camp.
Townsend went out again to fetch in the
remainder of our wounded. He did not
get back till late at night. He brought a
letter of apology from Commandant
Grobler for stripping our wounded. He
had to leave 2 wounded in a farm.
Troyt was hit in the body, but it is not
yet known if the wound is dangerous.
Higgins (Pom - Pom) and Crichton
(K. R. R.) both hit in foot.
October 2jth, Sunday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.,
and marched to Kaffirstad. A little fight
ing on the way, 1 man wounded, died
next day.
October 28th, Monday. — Paraded 5.30 a.m.
Marched to Zwakfontein. Another rear
guard action, but the Boers did not come
on like on the 25th. Boer women gave
us the names of 7 Boers killed on the

266
25th. The Boers seem to have been
thoroughly scared by that fight.
October 29th, Tuesday. — Two men of 3rd
M. I. wounded going out on out-post.

267
-*-
EYRE LLOYD,
Captain 2nd Coldstream Guards, Assistant Staff-Officer
Col. Benson's Column,
Died of Wounds received at Brakenlaagte.
OCTOBER 30th, 1901. .

Colonel Sir A. Wools-Sampson, K.C.B., told a
friend of his in South Africa last March, that his reason
for not mentioning Captain Eyre Lloyd in despatches
for gallantry at Brakenlaagte was that he had dis
obeyed orders when he left the camp to go to Colonel
Benson on hearing he was wounded and that heavy
firing was going on. Captain Lloyd had been sent on
to lay out the camp previous to the attack of the Boers,
and the circumstances being changed, no doubt felt it
to be his duty to leave a comparatively unimportant
task and to put himself at the disposal of his Chief.
The facts have been placed before many Generals,
Colonels and experienced Officers of other ranks (few
only mentioned here), and they have all expressed
admiration at his conduct and viewed the matter as
"justifiable disobedience'* from The Field Marshal,
Lord Roberts, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and
Lord Kitchener, Commanding the Forces in South
Africa, downwards.
Beechmount, Co. Limerick,
Sth July, 1903-

268

Copy of a Letter from the Field Marshal Earl
Roberts, K.G., Commander-in-Chief. War Office,
London, S.W.
2C)th June, 1903.
Dear General Lloyd,
My Private Secretary has given me the little
pamphlet which has been compiled in memory of your
late Son, Captain Eyre Lloyd, Coldstream Guards, and
I need scarcely say that I have read it with a great deal
of interest. The testimony of your Son's bravery is
convincing, and I quite agree with the opinions which
have been expressed by Lord Kitchener and other
Officers in authority during the war in South Africa,
that Captain Lloyd's disobedience of orders in leaving
Camp at Brakenlaagte, if such a term can be applied in
his case, was quite justifiable. I think his place as
Staff Officer to Colonel Benson was undoubtedly with
his Chief. It is too late to amend the omission of his name
in despatches, but it may be some consolation to you to
know my opinion. I most deeply deplore the loss of
your Son, who was a most promising young officer, and
1 offer you and your family my sincere sympathy in
your bereavement. Believe me.
Yours very truly,
ROBERTS.

l6q

Copy of a Letter from Colonel Hamilton, Military
Secretary to Lord Kitchener, to General Feather-
stonhaugh, Commanding District, Eastern Trans
vaal. Pretoria, 8tk May, 1902.
My Dear General,
I have enquired about Lloyd, who was Benson's
Orderly Officer, and as far as I can gather Colonel
Wools-Sampson, who made the report on the occasion
when Lloyd was killed, was aware of the facts of the
case. Wools-Sampson, as you know, had been with
Benson's Column for quite two months, and knew Lloyd
well, and Benson's good opinion of him.
There is no doubt that Lloyd was as devoted to
his duty as he was to Benson, and that he lost his life in
his endeavour to be at his place of duty by Benson's
side at a time when he knew things were not going well.
Beyond this there is nothing for Lord Kitchener
to go upon, and you will understand how impossible it
is for him to depart from his custom of accepting the
report of the officer commanding on the spot in such
matters. In operations of the extent and duration of those
in which we are still engaged out here, there must be
many cases of self-sacrifice and gallant devotion to duty
which in the circumstances pass unnoticed, except for
the great sympathy we must all feel with the relatives
of those who lose their lives in this cause.
I return your enclosures.
Yours very sincerely,
H. HAMILTON.

270
Copy of a Letter from Brig.-General Reeves, C.B.,
Commanding in the Eastern Transvaal.
Nell Spruitt,
Koodoodell Valley,
18th November, 1901.
My Dear General,
I received your cablegram, dated 14th instant,
to-day, while on a tour of inspection in this valley. I
have just cablegrammed to you — " Everything points
to greatest gallantry, making further inquiries." It is
very hard to get any precise information ; but this much
I have learned from many reliable sources : At the
time the Boers made their desperate attack on Benson's
rear guard, your son was in camp marking out camping
ground for the various units. He had just marked out
the ground for the Buffs, and was, I think, doing the
same for the Scottish Horse. Hearing heavy firing
with the rear guard, which was not far from camp, he
at once galloped back into the thick of it to join his
Chief, Benson. There appears to have been indescrib
able confusion. A Court of Enquiry has been ordered,
and we are collecting evidence. The impression I have
gained is that your son fought most nobly till he was
mortally wounded, together with his gallant Chief,
Benson. I knew Benson well. For you and Mrs.
Lloyd I beg to express my deepest sympathy for the
loss of such a noble son, who fell with his Chief in such
a gallant manner. Yours very truly,
JOHN REEVES.
Major-General Lloyd,
Beechmount.

271

Captain Lloyd's servant, Private Lowe, made the
following statement which was forwarded by Colonel
The Honourable Arthur Henniker, C.B., Com
manding Coldstream Guards, to General Lloyd.
Graaf Reinet, Cape Colony,
November, 1901.
" Captain Lloyd took a fresh pony and was going
back to Colonel Benson, who was with the guns, when
he was hit in the right wrist. He dismounted and
bound it up and then rode on again.* Shortly after
wards he was again hit in the right knee. He still
crawled on and was hit a third time in the back of
the head. The wounded were brought in at about
9.30, the fire being too hot to do it in the day time. I
saw Captain Lloyd taken in. He did not become
conscious, and died about 4 a.m. He was buried close
to Colonel Benson."

Private Lowe was sent back to his Regiment at
once, and therefore his Statement was not heard at the
enquiry. General Lloyd has since seen him, and lie
declares that he saw Captain Lloyd get off his horse
and bind up his wounded wrist and mount again. He
also said that Captain Lloyd said to him — " the Colonel
is wounded, give me my pony," and galloped off.

* After this he left his horse between the camp and the ridge and
walked on to find Colonel Benson (as the Sergeant-Major of the
Scottish Horse witnessed), until he was shot in the leg — when, no
doubt, he crawled on as his servant reports from hearsay. The
doctor of the Scottish Horse found him lying wounded and was
binding his wounds when he received the fatal shot.

272
Extract from Vol. II. of "The Military History of
Perthshire," edited by the Marchioness of
Tullibardine.
" I continue the story in the words of a non
commissioned officer of the Scottish Horse, who at
at this moment was lying beside an ant-heap near the
guns." 
" Even as Colonel Benson looked, his Assistant
Staff Officer, Captain Eyre Lloyd (Coldstream Guards)*
appeared and dismounted on the farther edge of the
rise, about ioo yards away, throwing the reins of his
horse to a trooper. In almost the same second- — as it
seemed — man and horse fell dead. Captain Lloyd saw
this happen, but walked on towards Colonel Benson
with a characteristic smile, and in a manner which can
only be described as leisurely. He was not even
carrying a revolver, and his right hand was casually
slipped into his breast t as he sauntered defiantly and
quite upright across the open space, shot at by half a
thousand rifles at not more than 30 or 40 yards range.
All who saw him wondered at his glorious bravado —
a precious example to every soldier and one for which
he paid the price — for he was severely wounded while
only a few paces from his Chief and never succeeded in
reaching him.:[ Of Captain Lloyd the above mentioned
N.C.O. said, " He was the bravest young officer I
ever saw."

*Captain Lloyd had been sent on by Colonel Benson earlier in
the day to lay out the camp, but when he heard of the severe
fighting and of the Column Commander being wounded he felt his
place was by Colonel Benson's side, and he accordingly galloped
out to the ridge. — (Ed.)
fThis must have been in order to hide a wound in the right
wrist which he had received a few minutes before. — (Ed )
JCaptain Lloyd was mortally wounded a few minutes later whilst
being tended by Captain Sloan, R.A.M.C. (attached Scottish
Horse) and died next morning. — (Ed.)

273

Extract of a Letter to a mutual friend from Captain
Lloyd, D.S.O., Staff Officer to Colonel Benson,
no relation or acquaintance to Gen. or Mrs. Lloyd.
Queenstown, Cape Colony,
January jth, 1902.
I was not near when Captain Eyre Lloyd was
shot, but from what I hear the facts are as follows :
Colonel Benson had sent him on to lay out the camp,
and he was not actually present when the Boers charged
up the ridge on which the stand was made to defend the
camp. The news that Colonel Benson had been hit got
into camp, and when Captain Lloyd heard it, he jumped
on his horse and galloped off in the direction of where
Colonel Benson was, no doubt hoping and thinking that
he would be able to assist him. He left his horse in the
low ground between the camp and the ridge, and
crawled up towards where Colonel Benson was, but was
shot in the leg before he could reach him. The Doctor
was close by and at once proceeded to dress the wound,
and while this was being done Captain Lloyd was shot
in the head, and never recovered consciousness again.
Colonel Benson was very much attached to
Captain Eyre Lloyd, and thought very highly of him,
and I am sure that all who knew him deeply regret his
loss. I fear it is a great grief to his people, as I under
stand he was an only child, but it will be a satisfaction
to them to know that he met his death while doing his
duty nobly atod trying to help his Chief.
I never saw him after Colonel Benson had sent
him on to lay out the camp, and I was unable to see him
after he was brought in on account of being myself
confined to my tent by a wound.

274
Colonel Benson, writing to Mrs. Hippisley, says :
April 30th, 1 go 1.
Eyre Lloyd is with me. He is just my sort,
and I wish I could get more like him.

Extract of a Letter to a mutual friend from Colonel
Sir A. Wools-Sampson, K.C.B., to whom Colonel
Benson* (when mortally wounded) handed over the
Command of the Column. i8tk February, 1902.
I knew young Lloyd well, he was an exception
ally keen officer, full of pluck and an everlasting supply
of energy. I am convinced that he had made up his
mind to succeed in the Service. I am also satisfied that
this would have been accomplished had he lived. He
was a great favourite of Colonel Benson.

Another extract to another mutual friend from the same
source. 26th, February, igo2.
Young Lloyd was a good soldier. Colonel
Benson trusted him in all things, and his loss was
greatly felt by all members of the Column.
"In Colonel Benson the Service loses a most gallant and capable
Commander, who has invariably led his Column with marked
success and judgment. Lord Kitchener's despatch, ist Nov., 1901.
*In my opinion had Colonel Benson lived, he would eventually
have been in the very front rank of his profession.
Lord Robert's Speech at Harrow, 2nd July, 1902.

275
Letter from Colonel The Honourable Arthur
Henniker, C.B., Commanding 2nd Coldstream
Guards, to General Lloyd. Graaf Reinet,
ist November, 1901.
My Dear General,
I only received the news of your son being killed
in action, at 9.30 a.m. to-day. I have no details, but
have wired to Benson on the subject. Please accept
from us all, Officers, N.C. Officers and men, our deepest
sympathy for your sorrow.
He has met a soldier's death, and we in the
Coldstream have lost a cheerful, unselfish comrade,
and the army a gallant soldier. I have no doubt
Benson will write direct. Again expressing my deepest
sympathy. I am, Very truly yours,
ARTHUR HENNIKER.

Letter from Colonel The Honourable Arthur
Henniker, C.B., Coldstream Guards, to General
Lloyd. Graaf Reinet,
qtk November, 1901.
My Dear General,
Still without details except that Benson is dead.
I enclose a telegram received from the 3rd
Grenadier Guards, and an extract from the local paper.*
The men express great regret at your son's death. He
was always doing them acts of kindness.
Yours very truly,
ARTHUR HENNIKER.

TELEGRAM.
Grenadiers to 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Deepest sympathy from 3rd Battalion on Captain Lloyd's death.
*See account of Memorial Service at Graaf Reinet. An extract taken from
Guards Magazine.

276
Colonel Vesey Dawson, C.V.O., Commanding Regiment
of Irish Guards, writing, says :

x^th January, 1902.
Your son did indeed behave in a most cool,
plucky manner, though this is only what we who knew
him so well would have expected of him. I am very
proud, as an ex-Coldstreamer, that one of my brother
officers should have distinguished himself so greatly.

Colonel Frederic, Coldstream Guards, Deputy Master
King's Household, writing to General Lloyd, says :
gth January, 1902.
On all sides I hear nothing but regret at the
death of your gallant son, and admiration at his conduct.
To the last he was true to the motto of his regiment —
" Nulli Secundus,"

Major John Ponsonby, D.S.O., Coldstream Guards,
writing to General Lloyd, says :

1 oth January, 1902.
I was very glad to read the two letters, and it
only confirmed my belief that your son would overthrow
any unimportant duty so as to be near his Commanding
Officer in the hour of danger, and even when twice
wounded to do his duty to the last. He has given us a
great example to follow.

2JJ
Guards' Magazine, November, 1901.
The late Captain Thomas Henry Eyre Lloyd,
Coldstream Guards, died of wounds received in
action at Brakenlaagte, on 30th October, 1901.
Another comrade gone ! It would seem as
though we were fated never to bring out a number of
the Magazine without a note of mourning. Last month
it was Lieut. Rebow, the month before Colonel
Vandeleur, and now it is Captain Lloyd. Particulars
of the sad occurrence have not, at the time of writing,
come to hand, and we only know that one more Guards
man has met a soldier's death. Well, it was doubtless
the death he would have chosen, for a keener soldier
never stepped than he. But we of the Brigade mourn
one of the best and cheeriest comrades a man could
have, — one who was always ready to join in the laugh,
be that laugh ever so much against himself, — one who
was, moreover, a first-rate horseman and a good all-
round sportsman. He has left a blank that will need
some filling. Guards' Magazine, December, 1901.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR
THE LATE CAPT. EYRE LLOYD.
A Memorial Service for the late Captain Eyre
Lloyd, Coldstream Guards, who died of wounds received
at Brakenlaagte on 30th October, igoi, has been held
in Rathkeale Church. The Bishop of Limerick offi
ciated, and an address was delivered by Canon O'Brien,
Rector of Adare. The musical part of the Service was
rendered with touching solemnity by the Yorkshire
Light Infantry, stationed at Limerick. Major-General
and Mrs. Lloyd, of Beechmount, parents of the young
officer, are well known and much respected in the
County of Limerick, where General Lloyd's family have
lived for generations. A large number of friends and
neighbours assembled to do honour to one who, by his
geniality and kind heartedness, had endeared himself to
rich and poor alike. The church was crowded.

278

Guards' Magazine,
January, 1902.
On Sunday, 3rd Nov., 1901, a Memorial Service
was held in St. James Church, Graaf Reinet, Cape
Colony, for the late Captain Eyre Lloyd, Coldstream
Guards. An impressive sermon was preached by the
Rector (Revd. J. Carter), who selected his text from the
3rd Chapter Book of Wisdom, ist verse, and the hymns
were : 401, " The souls of the righteous are in the hands
of God, and there shall no torment touch them," and
499, " When I awake up after Thy likeness I shall be
satisfied with it." Orderly-room Sergeant C. Levetque
as organist, rendered the " Dead March " from Saul
and Chopin's " Funeral March " with admirable effect.
The officers, non-commissioned officers and men
in garrison, including Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. A. H.
Henniker, C.B., Commanding Graaf Reinet and
Aberdeen Districts, and Major H. G. D. Shute, D.S.O.,
Commandant Graaf Reinet, attended to pay their last
respects to a departed comrade. That the late Captain
T. H. E. Lloyd was one of the most popular officers in
the Coldstream Regiment was evidenced by the sym
pathetic expressions of all ranks on receipt of the
affecting news. While we condole with those who are
nearest and dearest to him at this sad bereavement,
there can be no doubt that his death has deprived the
Coldstream Regiment of a gallant soldier.

279

ADDRESS
GIVEN BY
CANON O'BRIEN,
AT THE
Jltentorial %txbitt in ftatljtaale flarialj ©Ijttrflj,
©o. Utmmcfc,
11th NOVEMBER. 1901.

Revelation ii, io. —
Be thou Jaithjul unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
The Church puts before us at the very beginning
of a man's life an ideal of what that life should be.
The adopted child brought to the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism is sealed with the mark of the Cross, in token
that hereafter he shall fight manfully under Christ's
banner and remain His faithful soldier and servant unto
his life's end. This is a splendid basis on which to rear
a life — and now we meet together in this memorial ser
vice to our dear brother soldier, and we may well ask
ourselves how did he fulfil the pledge, and how are we
doing so. What have we heard this morning in our solemn
service ? We have read of the greatest things in the
world — of life — of death — of the resurrection — of the
judgment — of the hereafter. We are asked to bring
these great thoughts in close connection with the
memory of our dear friend.

28o
We think first of the child dedicated in this
church to his Master's service and enrolled in his King's
army. It was a blessed beginning.
But now our minds pass on to the end. Our
thoughts go across the wide sea to Africa, the last home
of so many brave men struck down in this saddest war.
We see the soldier's funeral. The colours lying on the
coffin. We hear the sound of the measured firing.
Friends and brother comrades are crowding around —
brave men, ragged, and it may be, worn out in the
storm and stress of battle. Yet these stern men have
soft hearts. They can afford a tear and a sigh for the
comrade, so young, so bright, so honest in word and
deed, resting there dead under the colours. Have they
not been companions in the long marches when, un
protected, the hail and fierce wind has beaten upon
them? They have been fighters together when the fierce
hail of ball and shell has fallen among them — no wonder
they are deeply moved when they feel that this young
soldier comrade has gone from them — yet — hush : The
words ring out — " I am the resurrection and the life,
saith the Lord, he that believeth in Me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and
believeth in Me shall never die."
My friends, I have had the high privilege of
reading letters from those who have served in the army
with him whom we have in remembrance to-day. The
testimony is such that no higher honour could be given
nor no praise more real and true. May this be a com
fort to the bereaved parents who know at any rate,
that their son has gone to an honoured rest — a good
son — a brave officer — a gallant soldier.
Yet it is to us perhaps that the home life appeals
most strongly. What has caused the universal sym
pathy of all in this county ? This little town has been
plunged into profound mourning for him. Why ? Be
cause the loving heart no more is among its people.
The poor have blessed him for his winning kindness

28l
and frequent generosity. They have lost their bene
factor. Well may they sorrow. That loving spirit,
the spirit of the true gentleman, who while he ever re
membered his place and position still ever thought of
the poor and sick and lowly as his brethren whom he
might serve and help. A man was he from whose lips
came the genial word and whose very appearance bore
testimony to the genial soul within. We Irish people
are fond of such, and the homely tribute to Master Eyre
is a testimony which none can despise.
Yet as I look around I see those who have been
his comrades in the field of sport, where many a deep
friendship is so often cemented.
Who was better known in the county as the
brave sportsman and venturesome rider ? To some
these country sports mean little or nothing, but they
are real, and here, as in all other conditions of life,
character displays itself. The manly courage, the
courteous word, proclaim the true gentleman. Un
selfish was he in his sports, as unselfish in his life.
Trained thus in the open field, he went away to the
distant veldt to share the greater dangers and hardships
of a soldier's life, a loyal soldier to his King and country,
bearing with him ever the same cheering spirit and
brave courage. A man always bright and always
useful and dutiful. This young soldier, the worthy
representative of a family of soldiers, has given his life
for his country, as so many of his people before him. —
" Soldier, rest, thy warfare o'er."
But come closer, we think of him in his home
life. Ah ! our hearts bleed for his parents in their deep
trial. They have lost their only son, yet father and
mother may happily recall the loving tenderness of
their son, and may thank God that he has left the
memory of a dutiful and honourable past. While the
weight of years presses down upon them they can each
day summon up the memory of a loving childhood, of
an unstained youth, of a loyal manhood, of a glorious
death.

282
I forbear from saying anything further as it would
only give pain and grief to dwell on all these home
points, but it should be a happiness to the mourning
parents that we can bear our testimony to his merits.
We may assure them that our hearts are very full of
their trouble, and that our prayers have gone up to
God, that He, in his good time, may soften the pain
that they must suffer, and may daily strengthen in them
the memory of their dear son. — " It is through much
tribulation that men enter into the Kingdom of God."
And now, dear friends, where are they, where
are we all to look for comfort in these dark days ?
In this parish the shadow of death caused by
this war has passed into more houses than one.
How are these weary hearts to learn comfort ?
From God, and God alone ! Surely " He giveth His
beloved sleep." " Thou will keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on Thee." One may have lost her
husband, another a brother, or son. Many may have
lost their friends, but yet the Good Lord liveth, to take
these souls home to their prepared dwelling places.
That Lord, who had compassion on the widow
whose only son was laid out on the bier, outside the
village, has still the heart open to the cry of the afflicted.
He will take them by the hand, as the Good Shepherd,
and lead them by the still waters of comfort. His Holy
Spirit — the Great Comforter — will not desert us if we
seek Him. Ah ! These deep waters of affliction must
bear us to the foot of the cross, and it may be with tear-
blinded eyes we shall be more and more led to see the
wounded Master bearing the weight of human sin and
sorrow, and may hear His voice when he speaks. " He
is not dead but sleepeth."
Thus trusting in His love we may forget our
personal woes, and learn to rejoice in that love which
showed itself in the wounded side, in the blood-stained
thorn crown, in the pierced hands, in the dead Christ.

283
Yes, listen — " He that believeth in Me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live."
Death is swallowed up in victory, thanks be to
God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ. What, are we to be satisfied with that cold and
heartless negation which makes the death of the body
the death of the soul ? —
Are all our affections to go for naught ?
Are all our longings misplaced ?
Are all our hopes unreal ?
No. The Christian faith rises sublime above
such a cruel scepticism. It tells us of life, of life happy,
of life good, of the life of holiness in the presence of the
Lord, who shall change the body of our humiliation into
the body of His glory.
The poor wounded, shot-struck body, is to lie in
its rest till God sees fit to bring it to life again, but even
now, that reasoning love, that genial heart, that loving
spirit is surely alive with the Father of our spirits.
This is no heart-breaking negation. No ! it is
the creed which Christ left and which has been the
inspiring happiness of countless mourning souls.

The Garden of Gethsemane witnessed the human
agony of Christ our Lord. The garden among the
flowers of spring witnesses to the living power of Christ.
The Good Friday's sun shone on the deep sorrow of
life. The Easter sun lifted up the dark gloom, and
thus for ever and ever in every Christian heart the glory
of a true and holy light has entered. Yet men's hearts
fail them with fear.

284
Is there no precious gift to assist us as we pass
through those earthly troubles, and when our poor souls
are shaken by sorrows which we cannot control or avoid ?
Our Lord answers this question — " I will not
leave thee comfortless. I will not fail thee, or forsake
thee. Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of
the world. I will give thee of my Holy Spirit, to
strengthen you in your weakness." This Spirit to be
with you when the deep gloom would make you cry
aloud the cry from the cross — " My God, my God,
why hast Thou forsaken me." Ah ! this Holy Spirit
failed not Christ, nor will it fail His people. Human
comfort breaks down — Divine comfort always is true.
What is it that keeps the bereaved parent's heart,
the mother's heart from breaking ? What, but the Holy
Ghost, the Comforter. What is that in the most
earthly of loves lifts the poor mourner's soul to think
of God, of heaven, of the spiritual world, and the happy
meeting in the other home ? What, but the Holy
Ghost, the Comforter. Blessed then be the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who departing from this world
in the flesh, did not leave us orphans, but sent His
Holy Ghost to be another and very deep and holy and
blessed comforter to us.

And now, dear friends, the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper will be celebrated. What, among other
things, is this to us ? It is the memorial service of the
sacrifice of the death of the Captain of our salvation. We
take it in memory of the King Christ on Calvary, of the
King Christ crucified. While we thus keep that be
loved memory alive in our hearts by doing what He
ordered, may we not mingle into that divine memory
the memory of our brother — dead in body but living in
spirit. May we not pray that this day we may receive
of God's Holy Spirit to be our guide and Comforter
through this troubled life.

285
The memorial service to our soldier brother will
thus lead us to the memory of his master and ours.
And as we kneel as he knelt, in all humility, seeking
for comfort and strength, may we feel that our sinful
bodies are made clean by His body, and our souls
washed through His most precious blood, and thus
evermore that we may dwell in Him and He in us.

287

TWO EXTRACTS.

Extract from a letter of a trooper of H. Squadron, 2nd
Scottish Horse, to his parents.
" Scotsman," Dec. ^.th, 1901.
Benson, our Major and Adjutant, and a fair-
haired Captain, called Lloyd, who was a general
favourite, were killed.
Extract from the " Times History of the Boer War."
" The gallant Murray, plying his pistol from
behind an ant hill, was one of the first to fall, but his
appeal lived to kindle the spirit of the gallant regiment
he commanded. Captains Lindsay and Inglis, and
Lieut. Woodman, all of the Scottish Horse were killed
soon afterwards. Benson himself had been badly
wounded in the knee at the first onset, but had refused
to be carried away, and was now crawling from point
to point in the firing line, encouraging all around him
with a splendid example of coolness and courage.
Other examples were not lacking. Benson's
Assistant Staff-Officer, young Eyre Lloyd of the Cold
stream Guards, had been occupied in laying out the
camp, but when he realised the terrible predicament of
the rear guard, determined to join his Colonel. It was
technically a departure from duty, but one it is hard to
censure. At a moment when it was death to appear
upright on the sky line, he galloped up to the rear of
the guns, dismounted and threw his reins to a trooper.
Trooper and horse fell dead as he did so. Scarcely
appearing to notice what had happened, he sauntered
quietly towards Benson, upright, unarmed, the target
of a hundred Boer rifles, and fell mortally wounded
within a hundred paces of his Chief."

288
SEVEN LETTERS FROM
CAPT. EYRE LLOYD.

To the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, a missionary in India, once
Eyre's coach. July 17th, 1 90 1.
My Dear Kennedy,
I feel I ought to have written to you ages ago
as I daresay you would be interested to hear how things
are getting on out here. I have often intended writing
but somehow time has slipped by and I have not done
so. I have been out here 20 months now and have
seen every phase of the war. I was with my regiment
till last March and have since then been on Colonel
Benson's Staff. His Column consists mostly of
mounted troops, and certainly mounted work is much
more interesting than loot-soldiering in a country like
this. My regiment went up the Western Side in 1899
with Lord Methuen and we were all through Belmont,
Graspan, Modder River and Magersfontein, a pretty
hard three weeks. We fought Belmont, Graspan and
Modder River in the first 6 days and Magersfontein
10 days after. I am very glad to have been through
these as nothing but personal experience can teach one
the effect of modern rifle fire in an Infantry attack.
Modder River was the severest as far as I was con
cerned. I lost 18 men and an officer killed and
wounded in my Company alone.
We then had a long monotonous time at Modder
River till Lord Roberts's advance and the relief of
Kimberley. After Cronje's surrender at Paardeberg,
we marched straight to Bloemfontein with little fighting.
Our last march was 40 miles, which we did in 22
hours. This is heavy marching when you consider the
amount of weight the men have to carry and the short
rations.

289
We started again from Bloemfontein on May ist
and our Infantry only came into action twice, at
Johannesburg and Pretoria. We entered Pretoria on
5th June, my battalion being the first to enter, which
made it rather exciting. We then thought the war
was over I However we soon found out we were
wrong and had to march to Koomatie Poort and fought
two big battles on the way, Diamond Hill and Belfast.
When we got to Koomatie Poort we were entrained and
Kitchener told us we were going straight home ! On
the way back to Pretoria our train with half a battalion
in it was derailed in the night, and the Boers shot at
us from 70 yards off, killing 5 and wounding ig. The
whole thing was over in about five minutes and the
Boers bolted. Once more we were due for home when
Lord Roberts left, but we were unexpectedly entrained
and sent to Potchefstroom, which the Boers attacked
the night we arrived ! Fortunately we had no casualties
that time. Last December I was sent on detachment to
Klerksdorp, where we had an anxious time as our
garrison was very weak, but we were never attacked
seriously. Last March I went as Staff Officer to
Wormald, who was commanding Benson's Mounted
Troops. I have had an excellent time since then.
That Column was broken up last April and then
Colonel Benson took me on his own Staff. He is a
most charming man and the best soldier I have served
under out here. He is very fond of galloping at the
Boers and there is nothing the Boers hate so much !
This war is dragging on fearfully. We made a great
mistake in dealing so leniently at first and allowing
oaths of surrender, etc. The Boers have no sense of
honour or of the obligation of an oath, and simply
surrendered to tide over an inconvenient stage of the
war and took up arms again as soon as they could with
safety. But I think the worst offenders are the pro-
Boers at home. Nothing is bad enough for them. All
their speeches are repeated to the Boers, who believe
from these that there is a large party at home against

290
the war, and that they have only to go on fighting for
us to give in completely in the end. All the bloodshed,
misery and ruin to this country, inseparable from war,
which has occurred since we captured Pretoria, are
mainly due to those chattering pro-Boers at home, who
are quite comfortable themselves, and make no attempt
to come and help the Boers they champion.
The Boers are a very curious race. Arrant
cowards sometimes and wonderfully brave at others,
and dogged and determined as the old Dutchmen who
beat the Spaniards. Dirty to a degree, and both men
and women more immoral than any other race I have
heard of; yet they are usually very kind to prisoners
and wounded. They think nothing of shooting under
a white flag and one never can believe a word they say,
and yet with all this I can't help respecting men who
fight on to the bitter end against such impossible odds.
They thought at first that if they won a few battles we
should give in and the whole of South Africa would
become a big Dutch Republic. If we had put off the
war, the Boers would have had all the Dutch in Cape
Colony armed, and we should have had an even bigger
war than this has been. It has now, of course, become
a war of extermination. We are obliged to destroy the
country to prevent the Boers getting supplies. They
won't fight now, unless cornered. We catch or kill
about 1,500 a month and so their numbers must come
to an end some day.
I have written you a very long rigmarole, but I
daresay some of it will interest you. Do write and tell
me how you are getting on. With very best wishes to
you in your good and unselfish work.
Believe me,
Yours ever,
EYRE LLOYD.

291 Belmont Camp,
November 2\th, 1899.
My Darling Mother and Father,
We had a great victory yesterday, but a very
expensive one. I have just got your letters — what a
lovely poem the Primate's must be. We have had
hard work and the climax yesterday was very severe.
We marched here the night before last and bivouacked.
I have not been able to wire but you will see by the
papers that I am all right. We paraded at 1.30 a.m.
yesterday, and attacked about 4.15 at daybreak, the
Grenadiers and Scots Guards on our right, the 9th
Brigade on our left. We had next to no sleep the night
before, and so all started very tired. The Boers were
posted in a very strong position. The Grenadiers and
Scots Guards had to take a large kopje on our right,
the 9th Brigade much the same on our left, while our
two battalions attacked a kopje in rear of the Grenadiers
and Scots objective ; but the Grenadiers had taken it,
though with fearful loss, before we got there. I can't
find out their exact loss, but I fancy they had about 60
killed and wounded in 3J companies. We arrived
when it was over and it was a dreadful sight. The
Grenadiers charged a precipice at least 200 ft. high,
covered with large rocks untouched by artillery fire.
It was a most wonderful performance. It was a very
hard climb with no one firing at us. Col. Crabbe,
commanding Grenadiers, was wounded. Fryer was
killed. I am dreadfully sorry about him.
The ist Battalion took Gun Hill which was
just as bad as No. 2 Hill, but it was properly prepared
with artillery fire. It was a fine charge, but of course
they did not meet with the same resistance as the
Grenadiers. My company was ordered to extend and
attack the hill to the left of No. 2. I was sent off to the
right by the General and could only collect 10 men,
the rest went on with Acheson and Burton to the left.

292
The latter soon came under a heavy fire with No. 8
Company. The Northumberland Fusiliers and Scots
Guards were beaten back a few yards and our fellows
went through. The Boers put up a flag of truce, and
while it was up shot poor Burton through the head and
Claude Willoughby in the arm. I am afraid Burton
will not live. I went on to the following hill and found
No. 1. Soon after the Boers began running all they
knew, and we captured their camp. I was very little
under fire, but it was a most gallant performance on
the part of those who bore the brunt. I am quite well,
don't bother about me, darling. The back of the
resistance is broken now, I think. The post is just
going and I must stop. There is no post here and I
have to take advantage of a mounted doctor going to
the station. We were all dead beat when we returned.
We don't know how many the Boers lost. We hear
they had galloping wagons to carry away their dead.
I saw no dead Boers, though a lot of our men.
Your very affectionate son,
EYRE LLOYD.

Modder River,
November 7,0th, 1899.
Darling Mother and Father,
I hear the wire is available for private telegrams
so I will send one as soon as I have written this, as
the post goes in an hour. We have had a very hard
week and a lot of fighting. We have also had to work
very short of food, which has made things harder. How
ever, we have practically relieved Kimberley now, as
they came out from Kimberley within eight miles of us
during battle yesterday. I told you in my last letter
how poor Burton was wounded, probably mortally.
Acheson was slightly wounded in the fight yesterday.

293
We had a fight on 25th near Gras Pan, where the
Naval Brigade lost heavily. We were in reserve and
not under fire. The Naval Brigade had their three
senior officers killed. Yesterday we had the hardest
fighting yet ; we were under fire for 12 hours. I was
in the firing line, and though I had a man shot on each
side of me, was not touched. We were lying on an
open plain without cover within 800 yards for seven
hours, the Boers being in well-made trenches. They
shot very badly or we must all have been hit. The last
hour-and-a-half we lay there without ammunition. We
did not take the town that day but the Boers cleared
out at night. Cronje was here in command. The Boers
numbers are variously stated at from 7,500 to 14,000.
We were about 8,500. The Boers were intrenched in
an almost impregnable position and it is wonderful how
we turned them out. We are going to wait here a
week to recover, and I hope to get another cavalry
regiment and a battery of Horse Artillery. The
Artillery were invaluable yesterday. The 9th Lancers'
horses are tired out, so they cannot take proper
advantage of our victories. Our losses were very
heavy yesterday and how I got out I can't imagine.
The General published that it was one of the hardest
day's fighting in the annals of the British Army ; this
sounds pretty tall, but I don't see how bullets could
come thicker for longer time. I have now lost both my
subalterns. Colonel Stopford was killed by a shell.
Methuen got a flesh wound, slight. We have probably
broken the back of the resistance this side. I hope we
shall soon get news from Natal. We know nothing of
what has happened there. War is certainly far from
being a picnic and inflicts a great deal of misery, but I
am very glad to have a chance of seeing the truth
about it and it is an experience that is very good for
one. I lost 18 killed and wounded in my Company
yesterday. I am very well. It is very hot from g a.m.
till 4 p.m. and cold from 1.30 a.m. to 4 a.m. It is very
healthy. We have had hardly any rain yet. I think
a storm is coming now. I got two photos of the firing

294
line yesterday while we were without ammunition.
Boer horses and ponies are going for nothing. I wish
I could get them home for nothing. I have had too
much to do and was too dead beat to get my letter
ready before and must stop now. I will write further
accounts next week. Your affectionate son,
EYRE LLOYD.

Kaffir Kraal,
Good Friday, 1900.
My Dear Aunt Annie,
So many thanks for this most useful present.
This writing block is just what I want. It is most
handy and compact.
We came down here suddenly last Saturday
night as there was a rumour that the Boers were going
to destroy the railway bridge here. However nothing
has happened. We have rather heavy outpost work.
We are on two days in every three. We ought to
know all about outpost work when we get back ! I see
Joe every now and then. He generally turns up when
anything important is going on. He will have seen
more of the war than anyone I expect ! I am so glad
Roberts is in command now. It has made all the
difference. Everything is much better conducted since
his arrival. I am so glad the Queen has taken notice of the
Irish regiments and that she is going to Ireland. I am
sure it will do an enormous amount of good, and if
only they get a Royal Residence for the Duke of
Connaught it will do more good than any number of
Land Acts. Don't you think so ?
Your affectionate nephew,
EYRE LLOYD.

295 Raatskraal,
March zxst, 1901.
Darling Father and Mother,
My present position is a delightful one.
Wormald is a clinker to serve under and manages
these Scallywags beautifully, and Benson is I think a
first-rate General. At all events he got us out of a very
nasty place yesterday with the loss of only two men
wounded. We had to go into a very nasty country to clear
some families out and destroy the food and a mill on
the Vaal. We had to sleep in the middle of these
kopjes two nights ago, with the Boers all round us,
and we all thought we were in for a big fight, if we got
out at all. Benson seized a big kopje with a Company of
Infantry in the middle of the night, and a post com
manding one of the exits with another Company and
a troop of Cavalry the day before. Benson went out
towards the latter with the main column and sent
Wormald, whom I was of course with, out the other
way with 3 squadrons, and 2 R.H.A. guns. He had
made a demonstration this way the day before with a
squadron of I.L.H. We found the Boers in a very
strong position before we had left camp a couple of
miles. The I.L.H. went for them most gallantly.
The Boers seem to have been completely disconcerted
by the big kopje being held, and we soon saw at least
400 Boers stream away. Benson also put out about
another 200 in front of him. These 600 men could
easily have held us in the hills, or at all events have
given us a very rough time.
These Scallywags are wonderful fellows— they
make one rather anxious, one never knows what they
will do next. They come into camp covered with
fowls and loot every day. Someone tied a tin can on
to a captured pony's tail last night and stampeded half
the 7th Yeomanry horses ! Pleasant wasn't it ! with
the Boers within a couple of miles shooting hard up to

296
dark ! I am afraid this letter will miss the mail, but
I am writing on the chance, as a convoy will probably
be able to take our letters to-morrow. Horse-soldiering
is infinitely nicer than foot-soldiering in war time,
I think. Your very affectionate son,
EYRE LLOYD.

Modderfontein,
March 23rd, 1901.
Col. Benson's Column.
Darling Father and Mother,
We had a real good gallop yesterday, and the
first bit of real healthy excitement I have had during
the war, one never gets a chance of this sort of thing
with Infantry. I told you in my last letter how we got out of
the hills. The next day but one, we started at day
break from Raatskraal for Modderfontein, not expecting
a fight ; about 9 o'clock our advance Scouts reported
a Boer convoy about two miles ahead, I galloped back
to Col. Benson with the report and then off we went
at a good hunting pace, with 11 squadrons, 2 R.H.A.
guns and 1 Pom-Pom, thus :

1.

2'/s Miles
Q Q ? AdtSeeuts

/
M J rpttji

«wj_)
\i#iT£ANC&H> p
r±3 *Trpoj>

¦Sqtza.eirwt

Y 2 fflf.A Guns.

297
I had to gallop to find a road across a bog as a short
cut ; there was none, so I had two gallops before we
began our hunt, however I was luckily on a very good
pony. By the time I got back, Benson was up, and
then we really began to gallop. We caught two
waggons in 3 or 4 miles and then about a dozen Boers
started shooting out of a farm, and it was a beautiful
sight to see the Pom-Pom come up. They came like
the finish of a race as hard as the horses could gallop,
in regular Agricultural Hall fashion ! The Boers
bolted, and off we started again, passing waggons and
any amount of sheep and cattle the Boers had dropped.
We galloped at least 12 miles, when there was
no one left but Col. Benson, Wormald, myself, and
about 20 men ! Then suddenly the Boers opened fire.
We returned the fire for a bit, and then Wormald went
on to the right with about 4 men, to try and outflank
them. I followed with about 4 more and met Wormald
coming back under heavy fire. The Boers were out
flanking us ! The Boers then began coming round our
right ! Then our 2 R.H.A. guns arrived and came into
action under a heavy fire. The Boers were coming
more and more round our right, and made for a Kaffir
kraal to our right and things began to look bad ; then
by the mercy of Providence, F squadron of the I.L.H.
galloped up to the kraal and got there before the Boers
and gave them beans and enfiladed their outflanking
position. Then the Boers bolted and 10 or 11 waggons
appeared and we would have got them if the Pom-Pom
had been up to join the I.L.H., but they had out-
spanned to water in the middle of the hunt ! It was
maddening. All the Boers got away after this and only
had to leave one waggon of this last lot. The R.H.A.
guns with us couldn't reach the waggons and we
couldn't follow them up as there were about 450 Boers
and there were only about 40 of us even then with the
guns and all the horses dead beat. It was all great
fun till the fire got too hot !

298

We only lost 3 men, so we didn't do badly, I
think you would have enjoyed that gallop father !
Your very affectionate son,
EYRE LLOYD.

Carolina,
Sept. 16th, 1 90 1.
Col. Benson's Column.
Darling Mother and Father,
I wonder who runs these Army Reforms, I see
in the newspapers that we are not going to have any
Pom-Poms. If this is true, none of the Committee can
have ever been under Pom-Pom fire.
A Committee of C.O.'s and Adjutants with a
leaven of Sergeant-Majors who have been through this
war would be the proper people to revise the drill-book.
Staff Officers can't possibly know where the old drill
came to grief unless they have been through a large
part of this war as Regimental Officers, and been under
fire as such. It beats anything to hear the Pom-Pom
condemned, it always has tremendous moral effect and
picks up the range quicker than any other weapon.
A Committee of Commanders of Columns ought
to decide what are the best weapons for us to have.
I should like to see a prism-sight made for our
rifles by which a man could fire over the top of a rock
without shewing himself. I am sure this would improve
the shooting. Nothing disturbs one's aim so much as
a bullet buzzing past ! I should like also to see some
practical way invented of distinguishing friend from
foe. The distance of the range makes it very difficult
to distinguish whom you are firing at, and we have

299
been continually firing on our own men all through the
war. This is of course very damping to any men who
are inclined to push forward !
Babington and Gordon had a pitched battle for
two hours last autumn, and the mistake was only
discovered when Gordon fired Lyddite shell ! the Boers
have no Lyddite. North of the Line we were shot at
by every Column we co-operated with. The 18th M.I.
pom-pomed its own rear-guard about three weeks ago.
I expect there are very few people who have been much
under fire out here who have not been shot at by their
own side !
I am sure the fear of being shot at from behind
makes lots of men sticky in their movements. It is
extraordinary how little people at home seem to grasp
how fighting has changed. As soon as fighting begins
you hardly see anyone moving unless one side is
running away ! Benson is wonderfully nice to me, I
find he has put me in his list of recommendations last
month to Sir Bindon Blood. God bless you both.
Your very affectionate son,
EYRE LLOYD.

AMENDMENTS.
Page 4, Davies, Grenadiers, not Davies' Grenadiers as shewn.
13, 18 & 19, Enselin should read Enslin as on page 43.
31, For lager read Laager.
53, Ossfontein should read Osfontein.
65, Raaddall should be Raadzaal.
68 & 69, Lew Kop should be Leeuw Kop.
74, The words Cristiana, and Mahan, should be Christiana, and
Mahon.
76, Honnings Spruit should be Honing Spruit.
77, Tai Bosch should be Taai-Bosch.
78, Germaston (twice) should read Germiston.
83, Krugers Poort should be Koodoes Poort.
87, Jambok should be Sjambok.
109, The word Hoof should be Kloof.
113, Dorsprong should be Oorsprong.
115, Resand Garcia should be Ressano Garcia.
130, Machaise should be Machavie.
133 & 135, Limburger should be Liebenberg.
144, Welsh Fusiliers should be S. Wales Borderers.
157, Paris (twice) should be Parys.
164, Broonstad should be Kroonstad.
166, Lindegue should be Lindique.
167, The letters I.C.H. should be I.L.H.
188, Steetpoort should be Steelpoort.
200, Waterford Onder should be Waterval Onder.
201, Maughs Berg should be Mauchs Berg.
234, Scholt Burgher should be Schalk Burger.
261. 84th F.A.R. should be 84th Batt. R.F.A.

AGED 30, ONLY CHIL
iffiCEft TO pOI.BfN

MEMORIAL IN LIMERICK CATHEDRAL.

GRAVES OF COLONEL BENSON AND CAPT. LLOYD.

UNIVERSITY 'UBRMW.

9002 03203 7823

YALE

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