FROM THE JOURNAL OF HENRY FIELD
DRAFT COPY ONLY
FROM THE JOURNAL OF HENRY FRANCIS FIELD ***
November 1900
**Note: This is being transcribed as accurately as possible, leaving in spelling as written, but today, 23/1/2001, it has not been proof read, and this needs to be done carefully, with someone reading the book. There are also two pages loose in the book, and I don’t know where to put them. (Dorothy Warren who has the book is the daughter of Coralie May Vukovich {nee Field}, who was the first one of three daughters of Henry Francis Field and Gladys Newbury)
There was about 300 Australian the NSW, SA’s and Vic’s. We chased them about five miles as hard as our horses could go and captured four horses and two waggons and 16 bullocks. NZ got five waggons and 40 bullocks and 6000 rounds of ammunition. P Horse got two and some other regiments got one. Douglas got 500 sheep and 250 cows we did make a raid. We camped at the Caffar Crawls that night it rained like fury and we got wet through. We were under fire seven times that day.** Twice we got about 500 yards then they opened fire but did not hit any of us but came uncomfortably close and we had to retreat behind the hill the bullets do wizz. We went down to a Bore house and found a plant of oranges. We got four nose bags full and five ducks and seven fowls and Pot we roast some of them and had them for Breakstuff – they were all right. We moved on about three miles and camped for the day and dried our close and went back to Buffers Hoop again. **
We camped at Buffer Hoop a couple days and I clipped my horse it made a great improvement on his and then we went out to Kaffar Crawls but only saw a few Bores and they cleared over the hillls like hairs and we never saw them again and then came to Jacobsdal and camped here. There was a great raid on the fowls and Gardens as soon as we came the company got 30 and I and Rof got 6 on our own we had roast fowls and port we live high like you see and Roff got a goat.** We had to get up at four and go to Trearest a nice ride of seven miles with a convey and the Captain shouted us dinner at the pub. We had a good feed Chicken Ham Rabbit Pit Irish Stew Stewed fruit some of the chaps bucked in about five times Came back from Trearest and had to go on outposts next day. It rained nearly all way and our Blankets was wet when we came home and it simply pored through the night nearly everybody was flooded out. Had a couple of sheaves under me and the water flowed over them and I got wet and shivered and would not get up. I was glad to get out of bed in the morning. We shifted camp a bit further up the hill and the sun came out and we dried our clothes.
Sunday 3 November It is very warm today and we went down to the creek and washed our shirts and sox and had to go on outposts in the evening and spent a very good night played two up till half past nine and went to bed. I won 2.10.0 and had to get up at three and do an hour. Went back to camp at half past five.
4 November stayed in camp all day and had to go out on picket in the morning at half past four. We went to a concert at night. The niggers was dancing and singing for a while. They double themselves in all sorts of shapes and cup capers until they get a heat up and you have to move back for the smell of them is not too pleasant.
Nov 5 I am doing my shift now, and then I will have a bit of breakfast and a snooze. The country around here is very hilly and rough, and all the hills are covered with breast works and fortifications. I think it has been done by the niggers as they look too old to have been put up by the Boers unless it was the last time they were fighting.
The gullies about here are all irrigated and they have hedges of fig trees, pomygranites, peaches as thick as they can grow together and covered with fruit. Every house you go to some of them have nice orange groves. The trees are about eighteen inches in diameter and about twenty feet high. I never saw such nice trees. There is very little timber here. I have not seen a tree more than a foot thick .. and about fifteen feet hight and you can not get a post six feet long straight any where within a hundred miles of where I have been. The wheat crops are looking very well what are left of them. Most of them have been commandeered for the horses. The oats are nearly fit to be cut. The niggers cut it nearly all with a hook. I don’t think there is one cockey with 20 acres in and no ground cleared or fenced for more crop.
November 8 We got word to saddle and be ready in three minutes to escort a transport to Bothos Pass. We were ready ten seconds under the three minutes. We left at half past eleven and did not get back till half past two and had to get our dinner and pack our things and leave for Kaffar Crawls by half past three. We got to Kaffar crawls at eight and halted till half past eleven and travelled the rest of the night and came on to about 300 Boers at half past five in the morning (9th) then they opened fire. We took a circle round towards a small Koppi and the bullets came thick and fast. The chap riding beside me got shot through the arm and got his horse shot through the eye and another through the leg. We got behind a few stones and gave it to them quick and lively and they cut up the hill. The whistle was blown – horses up – and we on our horses and after them and captured two ammunition waggons and chased them about four miles and got them in a gully and peppered them again. We killed six and captured thirty and returned to camp about eleven. Had dinner, tea and biscuits and a sleep and had to go on outposts.
November 10th Reveille at half past two and we were rear guard. We travelled till eleven and arrived in Liten Berg at eleven. A nice little place, plenty of fruit trees, willows and ornamental trees, but no tucker. The people in the town have been living on mealies for the last month. We found young Timmer dead on one of the houses and his horse dead outside. He must have rode it fifteen miles after he was hit and both dead together.
11th November Camped in a nice open piece of ground in Liechenberg. The town is very pretty especially the streets as it has irrigation channels each side and willows planted each side and meeting in the centre and quince trees and peach trees planted in between … making a hedge of it and hedges of rose trees and the verandah are all covered with creepers. It looks very pretty. There is no timber for miles around and when they want wood they chop the limbs off. I was on wood fatigue and I had to go and take the beams out of the stables and pull what fences there were down. The Dutch women do kick up a fuss. We saw a hive of bees and some of the chaps tried to rob it and opened the lid and they chased them for about a quarter of … a mile. We could not get within 20 chain of the place but Roff and I went down after dark and robbed it. We only got about a pint of honey and a few stings. Went home and had roast fowl and port for supper and went to bed.
12 November. Up at six fed the horses and had breakfast. It was thundering like fury so I rigged up a sort of tent with bamboos and waterproof sheets and it started to rain and I had to go up and clean out an old store that the Boers have looted. We cleaned it out and the B Com
Wondafonteen
moved up in to it. It did not rain much, but we do not know how long we will be staying here. The nigger gang that we have with us are busy chopping the heads off the wheat. We had to get ready and go on outposts 60 of us.
13 November Up at half past five and grazed our horses in the crop and then after dinner we had to go out to commandeer forage. I will go and see if I can get some potatoes. I walked across a swamp and when I got there it was only maize and got my feet wet and no spuds.
14 November. We had reveille at half past eleven. Had to saddle up and on parade at half past twelve. Travelled all night and came on the Boers at daylight in the morning. They fired about a dozen shots and jumped on their horses and cleared for dear life. Our forces divided Nithwen went one side of the hill, Earl the other and the Boers were scampering over the plain about a mile and a half away and we put the pom pom on them. They ducked their heads and went like the wind. We after them, but they would not let us make our own pace and they soon got away. We went round the houses and rounded up about two thousand sheep and lambs, one thousand goats and six hundred head of cattle, as many fowls and ducks as we liked to carry away. Our mess got seven fowls, two ducks one lamb two dozen pigs and we did have a feed. We got home with the sheep about five in the evening, had tea, lamb chops, biscuits.
I could hardly move for a couple of hours and then we turned in to bed.
14th November. Up at six. Fed and watered the horses and had breakfast and got the mail. Three letters on Ed Martain and one from Will Rodger and one from Beck. We got a lot of Weekly Times and one Punch but no writing paper as some of the lads opened them before me I was out grazing horses.
16 November. Left Litchenberg and started back for Buffers Hoop – arrived about six miles out at Elas puddie and camped there for dinner and we moved on and camped about six miles out of Otto’s Hoop. I don’t know the name of the place. It used to be a Boers Lagar and Jemisons Store. It was burnt down so we got some of the sheet iron and made a tent for ourselves and it thundered and lightning is very near. It started to pour and put all our fires out. It rained for about an hour and one half and then cleared up but we had a dry bed and slept well. I was on stable duty
November 17th. Revellie at three and off at half past four in an easterly direction as it was reported there was 700 Boers at Wondafontein, but we never caught sight of them and retired back to Ottos Hoop at ten o’clock and had a good dinner and roast ox heart, ox tail soup, bread, jam cheese biscuits – a good meal.
November 18th: Up at four and got a bit of breakfast and eleven of us took six horses to Mafeking. Left at half past five and arrived at Mafeking at four in the evening, handed in our remounts and had a wash and waited till the canteen opened and had a couple of pints and went up town for tea and spent a good evening.
November 19th. Revellie any time we liked before nine and they all went up for remounts except me. I am minding the saddles and things as the niggers sneak anything if you are not there. The bought back 31 remounts for us – a very good class of horses and the best remounts we have had issued to us since we came over. They are American horses something about the build of our Australian horses. We started for Ottos Hoop at half past two and did not arrive there till a quarter past ten as we had an old duffer in charge and kept us camped on the road when we should have been marching. We ringed the horses had biscuits and water and turned in for an hour as I was on stable picket from 12 till 1. We were up at six
20th November and had breakfast and started on the road for Bothos farm at eight. We did not arrive till four and had dry biscuits and water for dinner. We had just
arrived in camp and had the saddles off when a heavy thunderstorm *** broke over us. The rain fell in torrents but the lads that were there before us had four tents erected and we got in to them just in time. It rained and hailed about an hour and then cleared up for the night. Most of us took our blankets and slept out in the open.
21 November: We got horses issued to us. I got one as my old horse has gone bung in the hind leg. I took him down and stood him in the water but it did not do much good. We were on outposts in the night.
22 November. Up at five and back to …. camp. Mail came in last night but we did not get any letters or papers. Hampton got some Sheperton papers and we got some news. There was an Eclipse of the sun today.
23 November Up at three and went to Jacobsdale. There were 20 Boers there but they cleared out before we got there and we stayed there a couple of hours and came back to camp for dinner – then we had to go out looking for fodder but only found a roof that did for a ** picketing line.
24 November. Had to go on outpost at five am. There was sports in Zearest and Peare got his horse shot while going to the post. We got relieved to go to them as I was in for a few of the events. We pulled three teams in the tug a war and have to pull the final off on Monday.
25th Church parade at half past eight. It was short and sweet. Had dinner at 12 and got orders to saddle and pack everything and leave for Ottos Hoop in an hour. But we did not leave till two as we were rear guard. There was two of the Paget Horse were captured by about forty Boers. They were stripped of their rifles, belts and bandoleirs and hoses and some of our boys came along and they cleared for their lives leaving their prisoners behind. They came around and attacked the rear guard. They shot one of A Company’s horses but never came near us. We arrived in Ottos Hoop at half past eight and had water and biscuits and jam and had to be ready in half an hour to go on outposts. We got out to outposts about ten weary and worn out and had to start for Lictenberg and one o’clock * in the morning. It is very disheartening as the news came that the NZ were surrounded. It was a dreary march of 23 miles. The horses never out of a walk the whole time and when we arrived there the Boers had fled. We arrived there at five minutes to twelve jolly tired and had a bit of dinner at two.
26 November biscuits, jam and tea – we know the meals off by heart. After dinner we saw a patch of potatoes and went over and dug a nose bag full – the woman did rouse. We had to move in to a house in the town as a thunderstorm was coming on. We just got in time and tied our horses up and it poured down for about an hour. That seems to be about average time. Cleared up and came down at night.
27 November. We had to pack up in the morning and shift out to Delerays House. It is a nice looking house. All the officers and the Non Coms are staying in it. We have a nice little outhouse to ourselves – five of us. I commandeered a half nosebag full of apples on the way out. I am Q.M.S. Fatigue. It is not a bad job. We just got our horses unsaddled when it started to pour. It does rain and thunder when it starts. In about an hour our roof started to leak and we put a couple of sheets of iron on it. It is a nice little place now. Went to bed early and slept well.
28 November. I am in QMS Fatigue until nine o’clock. I have to go up the town for rations. We drew tea, sugar, coffee, biscuits, jam and fresh meat for the day. We drew our meat and cooked it ourselves. **
I did not get back till nine o’clock and I fried a bullocks kidney and eat it all myself and two biscuits – nearly half a day’s rations and all of my meat allowance. We only get a pound a man per day. They are going to finish the sports today so I will be there for the final tug. We went to the sports. We cant tug a bit they pulled us quite easy but we put in the day all right foot racing and raseling on horseback and fugetive? race. It started to thunder and lightning and blow and rained like fury ** in the night but we were well under cover.
29 November I got up at five and went down to the dam to see if I could catch some fish but they would not bite so I came out and had breakfast. We are having a spell today and we have to go on outpost tonight.
30 November 1900. We were on outposts but never saw any Boers. Came home and had a sleep and went down to the dam to fish but never caught any. Hampton caught one about 6 lbs. Came home and had a sleep.
1 December 1900 On Outposts ** I was out till two when I was relieved to go to the boxing Competition. They were boxing between 10 and 11 stone; 11 and 12 stone and heavyweight over twelve. I was 12 stone 8 stripped. There was some very good boxing. The Champion of Egypt and Yeomanay tied for first place in the lightweight. A yeomanry won the middleweight, and I won the heavyweight. I had three goes. I won the final easy. I am a bit stiff and have a black eye.
2nd December: Slept in till seven. Got up and had breakfast and picked up deadwood and lay down till dinner. We think we will be shifting in the morning as we will have to pack up tonight.
2 December Left Lictenberg at half past three and went to Wondafontein and camped for the remainder of the day and had Reveillie at half past eleven and started to Karraf Crawls at half past twelve.
3rd December. Started to rain and rained all night and all next day. We arrived at Kaffar Crawls at ten o’clock bu the Boers had flown so we had breakfast and tried to dry our clothes at a big fire we lit. It steadied up a bit after dinner and started again at night. We slept through it all however and Reveillie at quarter to four – move off at five. Still very heavy and drizzling.
4th December We went as far as Jacobsdale and camped for dinner – 50 of us. A.J.R. had to take a transport to Ottos Hoop. We arrived there about sundown. Bought some groceries and had a good feed.
5th December Revellie at any time we liked as we stay here all day. I was on Q.M.F. Fatigue.
6th December revellie at half past eleven p.m. and started for Kaffar Crawls at half past twelve. We got about three miles on the road. The waggons got stuck in a creek and they did not get them out till sunrise. I lay down on the road and went to sleep.
7th December We arrived at Kaffir Crawls about half past ten. Lord Methais was there before us as he left Jacobsdale at one and arrived there about sunrise. There was about four hundred Boers there. They had a bit of a fight and the Boers cleared out. We were on Outposts at Night.
8th December. Revellie at half past five and returned to camp. Read deadwoods until half past eleven when word was brought in that a transport was stuck up that started for Litchenberg so we had to saddle and pack up in a hurry and leave without any dinner. We arrived at the convoy about half past three and the Boers moved on so did the transport they have been firing with the big guns all the evening. Some of the Boers doubled back and attacked our transport that was coming on behind. They are hardly in yet so I do not know how they got on.
9th December The Boers attacked the read guard and tried to get on to a Kaffe. The New Zealanders and South Aus. had a gallop on a Kopji with the Big guns. They beat the Boers by about 600 yards then turned the guns on to them. Killed seven. The Boers followed them up to within a mile of our camp firing all the time although it was not dark they did not kill anybody.
10th December Revally at two. I was on stable picket. We had to move off at three. But we were rear guard and did not get away till sunrise. The big guns were booming that left with the party for Litchenberg. We came on as far as Milmanic stream and camped for the night. Revally at four.
11th December and our party went out commandearing but we did not get much until found plant of that pears and apricots and apples we filled three nosebags. I got about half a cwt of spuds beauties but the mig lost them. We got three chickens. Came back and camped about three mile from Ottos Loop. The I.Y. that are camped next to us got out a Barrel of Beer and we scored a few billy fulls. It did taste all right and went to bed.
12th December Up at six and fed the horses and I cooked some porridge and had an ….exam of rifles and cooked the chickens and I am going to have a read of .a dead wood.
13 December Up at eleven and started for Wondafonteen at one but we did not see any bores and camped their for the night.
14 December Up at two and started for Litchenberg. Arrived their about eleven and camped about half a mile out of the town.
15th Revaley at half past eleven and started at one to surround about four hundred Bores. We split into two columns, one went one way and one another. We had about two hundred and fifty men two pompoms two fifteen pound and a maxim and a galloping maxim. We came on the Bores about five o’clock in the morning and he pom pom opened fire on them two soon they did not let us get in to position we galloped along about a mile and got about one thousand yards off them and got behind a few houses and stone walls and opened a heavy rifle fire on them but they had spread about all over the place we saw them getting away about a mile and a half away so we bounds on our horses and goes like mad to cut them off and just as we were about half way our own guns opens fire on us they with the fifteen pounder the shell first wizzed over our heads and burst in the ground about twenty yards in front of our horses so we had to make a hasty retreat one of our men had a handkerchief tied round his neck and got a bullet … right through it. We killed about seven or eight and wounded some more but they carried the wounded away in front of their saddles. Lord Earl complimented us on our brave attempt to cut off the bores and was sorry that the gunners made such a mistake. They were fighting off and on all day and started home about half past two. We were commodearning all along the road. We got about half a cwt of tobacco all in roles of about five lbs each and about twenty fowls, four ducks, seven geese and 8 doz eggs. We have been having a feed eggs are worth 3/- a doz. One of the New Zealanders stopped too far behind and got captured by the bores. We got one man shot in two places but not fatal. The bores had 250 bags of mealies any amount of wheat. They were thrashing it with flails and bagging it about 1300 head of cattle 12 scotch carts and wagons they burnt the wheat and all the old wagons that were a bit rickity and brought all the good one back to camp loaded with mealies and women and children. We had a gay time that day.
16th December We did not get up till seven and had breakfast and fed the horses and went to bed again and slept nearly all day. We were on outposts at night.
December 17th Have not done anything all day
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18th December Started to Ottos Loop with a convoy at four o’clock and camped about 9 miles out arriving their about 8 o’clock and had to go on outposts without any tea had a tin of sammon and biscuits and turned in.
19th December Up at two and started on the tract at three and arrived about 6 miles from Ottos Loop about 8 o’clock had breakfast and slept until three and moved on to Ottos and arrived their at 7.30 it started to rain and rained all night. Made a pot of porridge and had a few of biscuits and turned in about half past nine and it rained all night.
20th December Started back with convoy for Lichenberg at two and the same thing over again going back raining nearly all the time.
21st December Arrived in Lichtenberg about nine in the morning and had to go on outposts at night.
22nd December Started back to Ottos Loop at three in the evening and had to go on outposts at night I think they are coming it a bit strong on us.
23rd December Camped about 4 miles from Ottos and will move on again in the evening when it gets cool.
24th December We did not move but camped for the night. We were up at half past two next morning and went on to Jacobsdale we saw about 100 bores but they cut for their lives and we returned to camp about three o’clock and had breakfast. The Officers don’t care whether we get anything to eat or not as long as we are on parade at the time mentioned and we nearly always wait about an hour before we start after that.
Christmas Day (25 December) We made a big plum dough for the mess six of us it cost nearly a Quid for the ingredients. We had 8 eggs 2 lbs raisins 1 lb lemon peel 1 packet spice 1 lb butter 2 panicans sugar 3 lb flour 2 spoonsfuls of baking powder 3 sixpences 2 shillings one button a thimble. I got 1/6 out of the dough it was good. I could hardly move for an hour. I had nothing else to eat and whisky sauce. I have just been over to see a fight a nigger and white man the nigger got the best of the NZ bloke was drunk. This is the stalest X ever I put in.
26th December My horse was lame and I had to stay at camp and get him shod all the rest went round to attach the Bores in the rear as the Convoy was going to Zearest. But they only saw about three Bores.
27th December I was not well. I had Diahrea and could not do anything.
28th December Went in to the hospital and got a cup of milk.
29th Left for Mafeking in a steam stransport it nearly shook the bowels out of me. I got two cups of milk.
30th December Still in here on milk. Mat is in a different tent with the measles. I don’t know how he is getting on I must enquire.
31st December
New Years day (1901) I have had a cup of milk for breakfast
5th Jan I have been in the hospital since the 29th but I am getting on pretty fair now I will be out tomorrow or next day. We got two letters from home I would answer them if I had any paper.
7th January. I handed in my diet sheet and am going out of the hospital at 5 o’clock.
9th January Have been in the detail camp two days and are anxious to join our squadron some talk of us going tomorrow.
10 January. We left Mafeking and went as far as Ryberg and stopped their for the day. It took us 10 hours by train 110 miles.
11th January We got word to go on to Taunge 40 miles we arrived their at 8 o’clock a miserable station and three stores
12 January We stayed at Jaungs and the troops came in on the 13th. I joined them and we left turungs? next morning at two o’clock and travelled twelve miles in to the 14th Kathar desert and I have got a headache like fury.
15th January We were up at two and moved on about 6 miles and camped the day the waggons moved off at six in the evening an a twenty two miles march to the next water. It is just a little spring oozing out of the solid rock in a crevice about six inches. It tastes mineralised.
16th January Beak fonteen we reached at about two o’clock and camped their for the night half the Company about 600 men went out to see if they could surround the bores. They went out about 15 miles. Searls horse got nocked up and half way out and he had to turn back and the bores were all around him and he had a nig leading a horse that he commandeared off the bores and his saddle and bridle on it and the bores came down and took the lot he got away somehow. We had moved off to another fonteen about 15 miles back along the road we came and he missed us and he had to hide in the rushes all day and get a nig to guide him back to camp next day.
18th January. We camped at that fonteen all day our troops joined us their they had been out all night and only their overcoats it was dead cold.
19th January We done a treck of another 20 miles the Bores were on about two days ahead of us and then camped for the night beside a water hole. We were up at one and started at three and tracked 43 miles 16 hours travelling at a walk all the time and a bit of a spell every five or six miles I got behind getting a few carrots and onions at a farm and was doing a bit of a canter up and my horse turned a complete somersault put its foot down a hole. We reached a fonteen and camped for the night and next day and the bores split up and went different directions so we had to let them go and have a spell. It does nock the horses up. We are camped at Bevaans Kloot and we are going to stay here for ten days. I put in a requisition to go to Kimberly for four days. We travelled 245 miles in 15 days and we done 60 miles in the last two days. Slypplip We arrived in Pudimore yesterday and had to stay their all night. We only had our capes it was jolly cold. We left their this morning 25th dec and started for Kimberly. We arrived at Warrenton and had to stay their about three hours as the Bores had captured a train and tore up the line at Slypkip. When we got their their was only the wheels and ?spacing left and oats and they burnt all along the line. We went on and arrive in Kimberly about nine o’clock and had to tramp all around the town looking for a pub. We got one at last with two spare cots in a little room about six by eight for 2/- a bed dead rook and we could not get a drink in the town after seven o’clock so we had to go to bed without one. We could not get meals at the pub we had to go and look for a restaurant for them we found a very good one and had Breakfast 1/6 a meal.
It is the worst laid out town I was ever in there is not one street in line with another and they have nearly all got round corners on them. There is a few decent pubs and buildings there are no trees planted in the street and they are very narrow. We patrolled the town for a couple of days and went and had a look at the diamond mines. We had a look through De Beers mines. We went down 1400 feet and along the drives a quarter of a mile all lit up with electric light and the trucks are worked by an endless chain. It is worked in a very good style the straps are their to catch the trucks and tip them in to a big? bente it runs out of this bin into the skips that take it up the skip holds six tons and they can send them up every minute. We had a look through the machinery but we did not get down to the pulveriser as I would have liked to but we left it was late. We enjoyed ourselves very well we had five days altogether. We left on the 30 and arrived here at half past five almost glad to get back. I got one letter for myself and two for Mat I did not send them on as we are expecting him to join any day. We left Yaungs 2nd February and trecked about 20 miles before we came to water it was hot. We arrived at one and we moved off at five next morning.
3rd February We trecked about 6 miles and the Bores got on to a few of our men shot 5 S.Aus and a Warrick scout. One S.A. died. We were on outposts and we were sniping at them all day. We shot one horse. We went down to a house and went through it we got 2 bandalers and 2 bayonets and a few little things hardly worth mentioning. But a lot of water melons in the garden. We filled four nosebags and ate as much as we could.
4th February We trecked at five and went about 9 miles. The bores were sniping all the time. They shot on Yeomanary and took 4 N.Z prisoners took their rifles, bandaliers, belts and horses and let them go again. They thought they were their own men unless they were right on to them and then rode out on captured them they are very cheeky.
Well I have not wrote in here for 10 days. We trecked and came to Schweizer Rencke and had a bit of a scrap we were on guard over the guns and did not get within rifle range But we poured in a few shells. Killed and wounded 19 and took one prisoner. We left for Wolmaranstad 35 miles. We started at 2 o’clock in the morning and arrived here at daylight. The next morning their was about 400 (?) Bores but they cleared like fury and the A.V.R. followed them full gallop we shot one and captured 12 alto0gether. We got 27 geese and as many fowls as we could carry and two pigs. We have been living on geese and pig the last three days. We are staying here a few days this is the Boer Seat of Government. We were on guard last night at the Gaol and we saw where they had buried some thing so we started to dig it but it was too big a contract the whole was about 8 x 6 and all filled up with big stones we took one end down about 12 feet and it fell in on us and we got jack and left it.
Paardeplaat We left at ten in the night and got to Paardeplaat in the morning at six. The bores left their ?convoy their and went to meet us at Heartbeef fonteen five commandoes of them about 1400. We dodged round the back and captured their ??? 35 waggons and 452 prisoners. We went on to Heartbeet Fonteen at five and arrived their at six. They attacked the rearguard and tried to attract the guns back but we were not having any and when we got about 1000 yards from the neck they opened on us with the big gun and put seven shells whistled over our heads. One landed under a waggon and another among the sheep
Hardiebeeste Fonteen
but they did not do much damage. We ot Wright wheel and charge the Kopje. We galloped like fun and their was about 1000 rifles pouring in to us we charged half way up the Kopje then dismounted and charged on foot. We had just got to the top and fired a few shots when our Lieutenant was shot through the shoulder the bullets was coming like out of a seedsower. we still stay their and kept up the con fire the ????? side me. J Smale was shot through the head. We was their for five hours under heavy fire all the time from three sides then they retreated their was dead and wounded lying all over the hill. Their was one Sergeant Killed and two men and seven wounded. Colonel Kelly and five officers. Their was 52 casualties. We marched in to Klerks the next day and buried the dead at night 16 of them. It was a sad affair. We heard that the Bores had 80 killed and wounded. We stayed in Klirksdopp 4 days and had a good spell. I fell into a hole and had my leg and arm off duty for a few days but still travelling with the column. We moved off out of Klerksdopp at 5 this morning.
25th February and trecked to Doman Fonteen about 10 miles. There is a lot of Bores nocking about their was about 100 came in a crawl about 3 miles from where we were camped. We put about 8 shells in to them they did clear. We are rear guard tomorrow. We left Dooran Fonteen and Trecked to Clip plant Drift about 12 miles. The Bores follwed the Rear Guard all the way and tried to cut them off but we put in a few shells and they soon cleared . We done a good treck of a week and done a good deal of work and took a few prisoners. We got back to Klispsdorp and stopped three days and then started for fourteen stream. We trecked out about twelve miles and camped for the night. We had just got settled in for the day and we got word to saddle and move off a seven for hardiebarn fonteen abouyt 33 miles. We did not take the waggons or Nales it was about 500 of us we had to take our blankets and enough tucker for a day a scotch card for each squadron. We travelled all night and arrived there about four o’clock in the morning and surrounded the town but it was empty and when we were waiting for daylight Old Pearson drove in to the town and ??????????? he pointed a revolver at the Lieutenant but a trooper smacked it out of his hand and put the muzzle of his rifle to his nose and he gave in the Boers and campong where coming in ????him if we would have laid low another two hours we would have had them all in the town but they saw us and cleared. Twelve of our men took three waggons but the Bores saw their was not many of them and two 200 of them tackled them and they had to retreat in to the town. We had dinner and started back at half past two to form the main column. We had to go between two hills the Bores got round and on to them hills just as we were moving out they let the advance guard go right past them in the main Body came along the road they started one rifle giving sight in the front then two the column stopped twenty men out of one troops was sent off fast opposite the bores waiting till they got within 100 yards off them then opened fire right along the line between 600 and 1000 of them the bullets did hum. It was fun to see the scotch carts ambulance wagons fifteen pounders and water barrets getting up the opposite hills the advance had got to their hill before the Boers or just as they were getting on to it. They killed six and wounded five more and took the hill only for that we would have been in a bad fire. We got on to the opposite hill about 2000 yards away and opened on to them with their pom poms and 4 fifteen pounders it was the best bit of artillery fire I ever saw. The Pom Poms was rattling out 20 shells a time and the fifteen pounders as quick as they could load them for the first two hours. But the Boers stuck to their position and we slackened our fire but kept it up till sundown and then retreated and moved on about 5 miles and camped for the night and joined the column next day. We moved on for two or three days without interruption. We got plenty of poultry and pork and watermelons and pumpkins and mealies all along the track 500 of us left the wagons and took another tower round of about fifteen miles. I joined the column at night. We hunted about 50 boers off a Kopfi but did not get any as they had too long of a start. We trecked to fourteen streams and camped for a fortnight. Left Fourteen streams on 27 March to relieve Koopstad Trecked 12 mines first day and did not see anything.
We were supports to the advance guard next day and we were sent out about three miles to bring in some sheep and cattle and horses. Their was only 20 of us and just as we got up to them some Boers hid in the rocks about 100 yards away opened fire on us and killed a horse and wounded a couple more. 150 more tried to gallop round us and cut us off from the Column but we double back and opened fire on them and nocked a few over and retreated. Corporal Borrirck was shot through the leg and then support came out from the column and relieved us. The bullets hummed round us pretty thickg.
Next day trecked all day but only saw a few straggling Bores camped for the night in an open plain just as we got calmly to sleep about ten o’clock the Boers attacked the camp and we turned out the quickest time on record some of them got right in to the camp. The bullets hummed through the tents killing some of the horses and wounding five men and killed a Nig. Two of them died next day and Officer and trooper. But when we all got round the camp and opened fire on them with 13 pounders and rifles we soon put them in flight but they took 800 head of cattle and 200 horses with them. We got the horses but not the cattle. I think the horses must have stampeded away from them. We turned again in about an hour and slept the sleep of the just. Moved on the Hoopstad next days. The Outposts have just been ….. by the Boers so I am tipping the big guns will be going in a minute. The Bullock convoy had to move a couple of miles from where they camped first as the Boers was dropping some bullets among their camp from the hill. We stayed at Hoopsted two days and then made back to Fourteen Streams. We had a bit of a fight with the Boers at the same place as they attacked us when we were going out and we killed 7 and wounded about 20 with the big guns mmm on our side. We returned to 14 streams and camped for a week and then entrained for Graprinct. Stayed two days and went trecking with old Seniker. Trecked three weeks had three men killed and five wounded. Came back to Graffrunet and handed our horses in and entrained for Queenstown. Got fresh horses there and entrained for Tarka Stad. Trecked three days did not see any Boers stayed about two weeks and entrained for east Conkey straight aboard the ship. On board 2 days and moved off on the 22nd June 1901
Total
June 2 1901
June 23 Travelled 211 211
June 24 514 303
June 25 855 341
June 26 788 333
June 27 1493 305
June 28 1819 326
June 29 2142 323
June 30 2477 666
July 1 St 2805 330
July 2 3122 317
July 3 3454 332
July 4 3777 323
July 5 4095 318
July 6 Albany 4295 200
July 7 – –
July 8 4538 243