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Post by shred on Sept 1, 2012 11:30:16 GMT
I am starting to find snippets with regards to Salford men who served during the Boer War. I will post these pieces in this thread.
Published 19th Feb 1900
Private A Oakes, D Squadron 6th Dragoon Guards, wrote the following letter on January 18 from Slingersfontein to his wife in Pendlebury:- We do not often get the chance to write letters as we are fairly at it day and night. The boers are getting reinforcements every day and keep us very busy. They are about 6,000 strong and we are only 2,500. In a fight yesterday there were 150 Boers killed, our loses being very few. The York Regiment had six killed and seven wounded, and the New Zealanders one killed and seven wounded. We did not lose a man. The loss of my squadron up to now has only been one killed and one wounded. We have had some marvellous luck. The Boers shelled our camp with their big gun “Long Tom” and we had to retire in panic. We then pitched our camp out of range and attacked them on their left, our artillery doing great damage. We could not tell how many they lost that day; they must have lost many, for we could see our shells dropping among them as they retired. We keep driving them back every day; they must be getting tired of it. I think myself the war won’t last long. I shall be glad when it is over. I had some near shaves of being shot, but am thankful to say I am all right up to now, and am living in hopes of getting through all right. I often wonder when on the battlefield if it will be my luck to come back to dear old England again. You will get the news of the war almost as soon as we do, as we are sometimes three and four days together. We have to turn out of camp as all times. When we get in touch with the enemy we don’t get leave until we have driven them back. We then return to camp, not knowing when we shall be called on again. We never undress and are always ready at a minutes notice. Our horses are saddled all night, and we sometimes have to go a long time without water. There are lots of English families coming into our camp for protection, and bring all their cattle with them. They have has to leave their homes, but they will get them back as we go up country. They leave black people in charge of their farms. The Boers have been cruel to British subjects. We are anxious to get at them and give them cold steel. They will hardly leave the rocks. Sometimes we catch them crossing from one hill to another and then we make for them. They are quiet today and that is the reason I have chance to write you this letter…… I hope you will write often, as a letter does cheer us soldiers. As I write they have just brought in some Boer prisoners. They are ugly old beggars. It makes you feel you would like to shoot them. They would soon shoot us if we did not watch them closely. They wear ordinary clothes, and have no uniform. We are getting more troops this week, and also some lyddite guns, and then we shall move them. We have been waiting for lyddite a long time; it has just arrived. The Boers use all kinds of guns, and they are now using Dum Dum bullets.
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Post by shred on Sept 1, 2012 12:33:02 GMT
Published 19th Feb 1900
Lance- Corporal J A Chinnery, of the D Company 1st South Lancashire Regiment, writing from Chieveley to his parents, who reside at 36, West Clowes Street, says:- We are now about 22 miles south of Ladysmith and in two or three days we hope to relieve Sir George White and his troops. I now know the real meaning of hardship. On the night of January 8 the rain came down in torrents, and every man was lying in a pool of water drenched to the skin. At 3am next morning reveille was sounded, and in a terrible downpour of rain, accompanied by the most awful lightning and thunder, we struck tents, packed them on carts, had a mouthful of coffee and biscuits, and began our march from Estcourt to Frere, a distance of about ten miles. I hope I shall never have the same to do again. Starting at about 4am, we did not arrive at Frere until 7pm. No doubt it seems strange that it should take 15 ½ hours to march ten miles, but owing to an unforeseen event the last mile was accomplished in about nine hours. Just as we came in sight of Frere Camp we reached the Little Bush river, which owing to the excessive rains, had become so swollen that to ford it was an impossibility, and there being no bridge, pontoons were sent for. We were allowed to fall out, and were advised by the doctors to walk about to encourage circulation. Couple all this with the facts that it rained all the time, that we were clothed in khaki and not a blade of grass to shelter under, and you will be able to form some idea of that day’s misery. After remaining in this condition for about seven hours, one of the “Absent-minded Beggars” asked why the barrage was not thrown off three or four carts and thus make a bridge. No sooner said than done, and in a couple of hours we were all over. As usual, when the crossing had been affected the pontoons arrived. The next day we were allowed to rest and dry our clothes, and so nothing was done until 7pm when we were on the move again, and began our first night march (I am speaking of the 5th division – 10,000 men). Such a march. I shall never forget it as long as I live. Nothing was known of our destination, at least by Mr Tommy Atkins. Rain in torrents again, a pitch-like darkness and wretched roads covered with four inches of mud. It was simply frightful, slipping and stumbling all over the place. I hadn’t a watch, so could only guess that we had been marching about six hours when the last halt was given, and completely exhausted, I threw myself on the ground, not caring about slush or anything else, and before you could say Jack Robinson was fast asleep. At 4.30am we resumed our march until 9.00am when halt was ordered, and we got our breakfasts ready, bully beef, biscuits, and tea. By the way, we had had nothing for the last four days but bully beef and biscuits. At twelve noon we were off again, this time in a broiling sun, temperature about 100 in the shade. After covering about ten miles we halted and bivouacked for the day and night on the banks of the Upper Tugela river. It was my fortune to belong to one of the companies detailed for outpost duty, so you can see we are not doing child’s play. The next day at 11am the march began again, and although my company had been on the alert all night without a wink of sleep we had to fall in with the remainder and plod on. However, we only marched about seven miles, and halted at the place where I am now writing. Every movement had been kept religiously secret from us until last night (January 14), when we were told that we were the relief column for Ladysmith. I cannot give you the exact route taken, but enclose a small sketch of my ideas. The greatest trial we have is an awful thirst, the constant cry being water. We have five Boer prisoners, three of them being Scotch.
Lance Corporal, 4254, James Chinnery of the 1st South Lancashire Regiment was killed at Spion Kop on the 24th of January 1900. He was born in Lucknow, India, in about 1872, the son of Richard and Bridgette (living at 36 West Clowes Street, Salford, in 1901).
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Post by shred on Sept 1, 2012 12:59:25 GMT
Published 9th Jan 1942 A gallant action in the Boer War which is commemorated by statues in Ladysmith and St Ann's Square, Manchester, is recalled by the death of John Ogden, of, Brewery St, Salford. Ogden, who was 67 years of age, was one of the Manchester Regiment who were ordered to guard a corner of Caesar's Camp during the siege of Ladysmith. When relieved later by the Devons fourteen of them lay dead, one - named Parker - was unconscious, and Ogden although shot in both thighs, was still firing at the Boers. Ogden was invalided out of the Army. Attachments:
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Post by shred on Sept 1, 2012 14:52:11 GMT
Published 28th April 1900
This afternoon I visited the military hospital buildings at Shorncliffe and Beach Rocks, Sandgate, where 137 wounded and sick men from Ladysmith are being tended. Beach rocks is a pleasant situated establishment by the sea, which, until acquired a month or two ago by the Government as adjunct to the military hospital, was used as a London convalescent home. The greater number of invalids are in this establishment, and amongst them I found Privates Parker and Ogden, of the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment, who, as my enquiries showed, are beyond doubt the only two survivors of the gallant little band of sixteen men of this regiment who kept the Boers at bay for 17 hours at Caesar’s Hill, outside Ladysmith, on the 6th of January, when such a determined effort was made to take the town. There are in all ten men of the Manchester Regiment at the Beach Rocks Hospital, the names of the other eight being Sergeant R Barrett, Corporal J Mannering, Lance Corporal G Roberts, Private J Pearce, E Burnett, Green, Wooding, and Woosh. So great is the interest which has been aroused in the neighbourhood in Parker and Ogden that notices have been posted stating that visiting at the hospital is strictly forbidden. By the courtesy of Colonel Comerford, however, I was permitted to see the two men. Ogden, whom I found first, is a very intelligent young fellow, and when he learned the object of my visit he at once entered into the story, which he told in an extremely modest way. He said:- My home is at 45, Ravald Street, Oldham Road, Manchester. On the 6th January there were sixteen of us, forming three groups of the Manchester Regiment, who were ordered to proceed to a detached post half way down Caesar’s Hill. There were six in my group, under Colour Sergeant Johnson, the other groups containing respectively three and four men. My group was the centre one. We went out from Ladysmith at half-past three in the morning, just as day was breaking, and took 180 rounds of ammunition each, with provisions and water for the day. We had heard firing before we went down there. There had been an attack on Waggon hill, away on the right of us, but there had not been any attack on Caesar’s Camp up to that time. We got down to the post we were to occupy for the day without indication of the presence of the Boers. This place was 30 yards down from the crest of the hill. We each carried a blanket and sheet on our shoulder and food in the haversack, and we were just unloading ourselves of these when shots rang out all round us, and we found we were fairly caught in a trap, the Boers being concealed behind bushes and rocks close by. Within five minutes three of our men were killed, including the advanced man, Mitton. Colour Sergeant Johnson then gave the order to retire to the ridge and hold it as best we could. On this ridge little sangers had been built, which would give shelter to two men each. Although we were fired upon over the whole distance we got to safety to the ridge, where the thirteen of us got behind the sangers and rocks. The colour sergeant stood up and told us not to get flurried, and keep up a good fire, but he had no sooner said this than he was hit in the breast, and he died about five minutes afterwards. I was next to him at the time. It was then a case of every man for himself, as we had no leader. There was a distance of about fifty yards between each of our three groups, and we kept up the firing right through the day, our men being shot one by one. As our number was thinned those of a section which remained drew closer together. For every bullet we fired there must have been forty or fifty from the Boers, who greatly outnumbered us. Their bullets were like a hailstorm around us and we were bombarded with shell, but none of our men were killed by shell fire; all were killed by bullet wounds, which in nearly every case were in the head and chest. The Boers do not fight like British soldiers, but through all the campaign, as far as I saw, they crept from rock to rock, and we had to closely watch our opportunity to get a bullet home. Most of our men had lost their food and water down below, and suffered greatly from this fact, as well as from the heat of the sun. Several of those who were shot lived for about an hour, moaning and asking for water. I was, I believe, the last man to be shot, the bullet passing through both my thighs. It came on to rain very hard about six o’clock, and under cover of this our mounted infantry got to the ridge to our assistance. I was taken to the hospital at Intombi, and there a fortnight later, I came across Parker, who I thought had been killed. The other fourteen had been all killed. Ogden, in concluding, described the effect of a bullet wound as “like being knocked off your feet with a sledge hammer.” Private Parker confirmed in every way Ogden’s account of the fight and their being the only survivors. Parker was wounded three times in the left leg and once in the side, and also had a splinter cut on his ear. He believes that the Boers used explosive bullets, and that he was hit by one of these. He is now making good progress towards recovery. He was not with Ogden’s party during the fight, but in another section. Like Ogden’s, however, his experiences were of a very thrilling character.
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Post by shred on Sept 1, 2012 18:13:20 GMT
Yesterday the following members of the 3rd (Salford) V.B.L.F. were finally examined and sworn in as additions to the company of voulenteers who are to act as reserves to the Volunteer Fusiliers Service Company now in training for service at the front:- Privates Joseph Newton, James Hall, Alexander Auld Brown, Frederick Charles Bosward, Charles Schofield, James Fitzgerald, John Brade, Robert Campbell, Samuel Devine, William Herley, Frederick Haines, John Salt and Lawrence Robert Syrett.....
The Reserve Company now numbers 112 non-commissioned officers and men, with Sergeant Instructor Cook (Salford). It is under the command of Captain Maclure (Salford).... Salford have contributed 44 non-commissioned officers and men and one officer.
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Post by shred on Sept 2, 2012 14:03:01 GMT
Salford men identified from a list of men published Jan 17th 1900
Manchester Battalions Men selected for active service in South Africa
1st Battalion Corporal Vickers, 48 Cannon St, Eccles Corporal Jones, 8 Vernon Grove, Eccles Private Berry, Paradise Place, Eccles Private Blinkhorn, 11 Adelaide St, Patricroft Private Millar, Park Place, Hope, Pendleton Private Rhodes, 20 Oxford St, Eccles
2nd Battalion Corporal A Hartshorn, 59 Camp St, Lower Broughton FH Corbett, 8 Mayfield Rd, Kersal E J Unsworth, 10 Oak Bank Rd, Kersal W Mallin, 10 Upper Camp St, Higher Broughton
4th Battalion Private D L Dobson, 14 Choir St, Lower broughton
The Reserve Company (Provided by the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion). Sergeant A H Walmsley, 22 Mocha St, Lower Broughton Private A Clarke, 132 St Simon St, Lower Broughton Road, Salford
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Post by shred on Sept 2, 2012 14:30:26 GMT
Published Feb 9th 1900 Private Croft, who was injured at Magersfontein, writes from Orange River, under date January 14, to his father, Mr John Croft, of Paradise Street, Eccles, as follows:- I came out of the hospital last week; but my wound is not yet quite right. It is miserable being here (Orange River), for in the tent that I stay in there are 27 of us, so that you may know that we cannot all get in at one time. I think it a luxury if I can sleep in an empty coal wagon. The water we have to drink is just like mud, and there are none of the clay pits in Eccles with as dirty water in them as we have to drink, so you may think that I would much rather be with my battalion, which is 57 miles further up the front, than here. There I should stand more chance of being shot, but I shall have to take the risk. There will be another big battle before you get this letter, and I shall try to be in it. I hope the doctor will let me go to the front, foe we shall have some sport up there. There are all kinds of animals to be seen here. I hope the next time I write it will be from Kimberley, as our battalion is only 22 miles from there. We shall have a rough time of it, as we shall be fighting all the way. Lord Methuen has with him half of a siege train, the other half being where I am staying now.
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Post by shred on Sept 5, 2012 19:41:28 GMT
The following articles are from the SCR, between October - December 1899.
Although the Salford Police Force includes some twenty Army Reserve men, up to the present only three of the number have been called upon to rejoin their Regiments on or before October 17. The men called out are Police Constable A G Harrison, a private in the 13th Hussars, who has been in the Police Force for five years, and who is summoned to Aldershot: Police Constable Harrison who joined the Police Force on July 24 of this year, and who goes to the Curragh to the depot of the 14th King’s Hussars: and Police Constable Tallent, who belongs to the Argyle and Sutherland Regiment, which he joins at Stirling. Tallent, who is a married man with three children, has been a member of the Police Force for some years and lived at Long Street, Broughton. The Chief Constable has intimated that each officer on his return will be allowed to rejoin the force without any loss of service. Another reserve man to be called out is Joseph Garner, of Statham Street, Pendleton, who left on Thursday for Hamilton, near Glasgow, the depot of the Cameronian Scottish Rifles. Garner is a warehouseman at Messrs. James W Liver and Company Limited, Princess Street, Manchester, and only left his regiment in February last. His employers have intimated that his situation will be kept open for him.
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Post by shred on Sept 5, 2012 20:35:32 GMT
THE BATTLES OF GLENCOE AND ELANDS LAAGTE
SALFORDIANS KILLED AND WOUNDED
Among the list of wounded at the Battle of Glencoe appears the name of Private Percy Bentham of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and the son of Mr C Bentham, chairman of the North Salford Conservative Club, who resides at Sussex Street, Lower Broughton. The following letter has been received in response to a request for particulars as to Bentham’s injuries:- “I beg to inform you that your relative, No. 9937, Private Percy Bentham, was wounded at the Battle of Glencoe on October 20, 1899. I am unable to state whether severely or otherwise. The Marquis of Lansdowne, Secretary for War, begs to express to you his sympathy and regret.”
Two at last of the men who lost their lives in the Battle of Elands Laggte, fought on Saturday, were Salfordians. One of these was Private Samuel Rollinson, of the Manchester Regiment, whose mother (now a widow) resides at 79, Springfield Lane, Salford. The young fellow was a native of the royal borough, his birthplace being a house in Heap’s buildings. He enlisted at Ashton on June 24, 1896, at the age of 19. Two years ago last month, whilst the “Manchesters” were stationed at Aldershot, young Rallinson came home on furlough. That proved to be the last time he would ever visit Salford, as shortly after his return to Aldershot the regiment proceeded to Gibraltar and from thence to South Africa, where he has found a soldier’s grave. The deceased has been described to our representative by those who were well acquainted with him, as a fine, upstanding young fellow, and his mother, with a mother’s pride in her soldier boy, spoke of him as “a bonny lad and a good lad. Mrs Rollinson on Wednesday received an official intimation of her son’s death from the Officer Commanding the 63rd Regimental District of Ashton-under-Lyne in the following terms:- “I am directed to inform you that a telegram has been received from the general officer commanding Natal from which the following is an extract. I am also to express my sympathy and regret of Lord Lansdowne, to which I add my own.” The extract referred to reads as follows:- “Battle if Elands Laagte, 21st October 1899. Killed: No. 4890 Private S. Rollinson, 1st Battn Manchester Regiment.
A similar intimation has been received by Mr J Butler, of 3, Crockell Street, Ordsall Lane, Salford, with respect to his son Samuel also a private in the Manchester Regiment, who like Rollinson, perished in the gallant charge of Elands Laagte. The family formerly resided at 23, Rock Street, West Park Street, Ordsall, and it was to this address that the official communication was sent. Butler, who was 24 years of age, enlisted at Manchester on the 4th October 1895. Prior to joining the army he was in the employment of the late Mr James Lowe, Oldham Street, Manchester.
Private James Morgan, of the Manchester regiment, reported as wounded in the Battle of Elands Laagte, is likewise a Salford lad, his parents formerly residing in Artillery Street, Adelphi. The father Thomas Moran, now lives in Rigby Street and Moran has a married sister in James Henry Street, Adelphi, from whom it has been ascertained that a letter was received from South Africa about three weeks ago, Moran’s period of service expires nest February, he having enlisted in 1893 at the age of 18. No official communication has yet been made to the family with regard to the state of the wounded soldier, but a letter of inquiry has been addressed to the War Office on the subject and a reply is expected immediately. It is unclear whether the name of James, mentioned in the last paragraph, is Morgan or Moran.
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mack
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 481
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Post by mack on Sept 6, 2012 11:05:11 GMT
hiya gary. there was nobody called morgan who was wounded at elangstaadt,but there was a pte 3816 w.moran who was wounded on 21st october.
pte butlers service number was 4703,he and pte rollinson were in G.coy
mack
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Post by shred on Sept 6, 2012 18:23:53 GMT
Thanks Mack. Makes you wonder how accurate the reports are when mistakes are made with surnames and initials do not tally.
LETTER FROM THE LATE PERCY BENTHAM
The following letter was received on Sunday last by Mr Charles Bentham, of Sussex Street, Lower Broughton, from his son, Percy Bentham, who was killed in the Battle of Glencoe. The letter is dated October 9, and its writer was killed in the charge at Glencoe on October 20:- 9937, Private P Bentham, D Company, 1st K.R. Rifles, Dundee Field Force, South Africa, 9.10.99. “Dear father, - You will easily see by the address that we are now on active service. We are at present stationed about seven miles from the Transvaal border. All the volunteers are now called out. We are deep in a place at the time of writing between Dundee and Glencoe. Our nearest ways into the Republic are by Landman’s Drift, Yorrick’s Drift, and Lainga Nek. Rorkes Drift, where the 24th Regiment got cut up in the Zulu War, is a few miles on the right of our present postion. We left Maritzburg a fortnight ago for Ladysmith, and encamped there a week, and then went by road a distance of 161 miles, eight days’ march, a distance which made my feet very sore. We are on what we call field service. Rations – Two biscuits for breakfast, and coffee; three biscuits and Brelli beef (corned beef) for dinner, same for tea as breakfast, with the exception that we get served with water instead of coffee. When we march here we have to go on until we find a river, and the water we have to drink is the colour of mud, but it is alright if pronounced fit to drink by the doctors. Tonight I go on outpost duty at five miles from the Transvaal border. There are six large Boer Commandoes in front of us, of course about five miles within their own lines, ten miles between us. We have captured a number of spies. The only things we have are what we stand up in – shirt, socks, drawers, trousers, jerseys, serge helmet. We have worn them all five weeks without a change, with a prospect of another six months longer. All our swords have been painted khaki colour. We clean our straps with mud from the bottom of the rivers to make them the colour of the ground as much as we can, so that we will not be easily recognised. Our 2nd Battalion have arrived here again from India. In camp with us are the Leicesters, Dublins, three Field Batteries of Artillery, two native Indian Field Hospitals, Army Service Corps and Ordinance Store Corps. We carry 100 rounds of ammunition, also one field dressing for wounds. The 18th Hussars and 5th Lancers are here. It is 1,000 to 1 about war, and I hope I don’t get a Mauser bullet. – Best love to mother, Florrie, Katie and yourself, and I remain your affectionate son, “PETER BENTHAM” “P.S.- Best love to aunts and uncles and cousins. I will write again if spared by Kruger.”
Name: P Bentham Casualty Type: Killed Casualty Date: 20 Oct 1899 Casualty Place: Dundee Rank: Private Force: Natal Field Force Regiment: Royal Rifle Corps Battalion: 1st Number: 9937
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Post by shred on Sept 6, 2012 19:14:07 GMT
PAYMENT TO POLICEMAN’S WIFE
The watch committee have agreed to pay the wife of Police Constable Slaughter £1 per week during his absence in South Africa.
PRESENTATION TO A SALFORD FIREMAN
On Thursday an interesting ceremony took place at the Chief Fire Station, Ford Street, Salford, where Sergeant P Daley, of the 2nd Manchester Regiment, and until recently a member of the Salford Fire Brigade, and who has been called upon to rejoin his regiment for active service in South Africa, was presented with a cigarette case by the Chief Officer of the Brigade (Mr A Bentley), as a special token of his chief’s appreciation of the manner in which he had performed his duties. He also received from the officers and men a smoker’s combination and a quantity of tobacco. Mr Bentley, in making the presentation, spoke of the satisfactory manner in which Daley had discharged his duties, and said he had no doubt he would discharge them as efficiently in the Army. Daley thanked the donors for their gifts, and assured them that whilst on the battlefield he should remember his old comrades who were left behind. Robert Crocker made a present to Daley of a fancy pouch and tobacco from the turncocks of the brigade. Daley suitable acknowledged the gift. Daley Left Salford on Thursday.
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Post by shred on Sept 6, 2012 19:45:01 GMT
LETTER FROM A SALFORD SOLDIER
The following letter has been received by Mrs White of 12, Oldfield Dwellings, Oldfield Road, Salford, from her son, Private Alfred White, who is a member of the 1st King’s Royal Rifles, now at Ladysmith:- Just a few lines to let you know that I am in the land of the living, after a good fight. At 6 o’clock on October 20 we were surprised by 6,700 Boers, who had a splendid position at the top of a high hill, about half a mile from camp. They commenced the ball with three 9 pound guns, and they shelled our camp and town with about 20 shots, but did no damage. In about five minutes General Pen Symons had given orders for the 67th, 69th and the 13th Batteries of Artillery to shell the Boers’ position, which was done in grand style, and the Boers’ guns were heard no more. There was only 4,500 of us all told – the King’s Royal Rifles, the Leicesters, the Dublin Fusiliers, and the Royal Irish Fusiliers – against 6,700 mounted Boers. We opened out in skirmishing order, and advanced, being met by a heavy shower of bullets and shell. Our Colonel only gave one order: that was “ Advance, my brave lads, and give them a taste of cold steel, and God bless you!” With that the brave old man drew his sword and waved it towards the hilltop, then fell dead, shot through the heart. After nine hours hard fighting in the rain the Rifles and Dublins had took the hill, but not before the rifles had lost Colonel, five offices, 23 men, and 71 wounded. The Boers retired and fled, leaving three guns, 100 rifles and about 150 horses behind them. It was a treat to see a lot of our fellows with field glasses slung round their necks and riding Boer ponies, same as officers, back to camp. The Boers retired, but came back next morning with larger forces, and commenced to shell us again: so we had to retire back to Ladysmith, as we were only about 3,600 strong, and we did not know the strength of the Boers. We had to march 96 miles in showers of rain. We had nothing to eat but bully beef and biscuit for four days, and I have had nothing but toothache since. We are about 20,000 strong at Ladysmith. There is fighting nearly every day here, and the Gordon Highlanders made a grand charge, and took six guns and a lot of rifles. I am on outpost duty now while I am writing this letter. We are expecting another attack this morning, and I am proud to say that I am still alive, but not so well, as I have lost a lot of rest and pinched a bit as regards food. But then it will be soon be over as soon as the Army Corps get out, with General Buller in command. I think I have told you all this time. I want you to answer this letter as soon as possible, and don’t forget to put any number and company. From ALF WHITE 1,188 F Company, 1st K.R.R. Ladysmith, South Africa.
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Post by shred on Sept 7, 2012 18:06:56 GMT
LETTER FROM A FORMER SALFORD CONSTABLE
A letter has been received from Private Tallent (formerly of the Salford Police Force), who rejoined the First Argyle and Sutherland Regiment about a month ago, and who is now at De Aar, South Africa. He states that he has written the letter while on outpost duty. He landed from the Oceana at Capetown on November 16, and afterwards travelled by rail 600 miles up country, his regiment being under orders to go to the Orange River. Some of the soldiers had to travel in cattle trucks, and one man died on the road. The Boers were good soldiers, and they had spies up and down the country. Two spies were caught taking up the railway lines, and they were tried by court martial and sentenced to be shot. The Boers kept firing into his camp during the night time, but he and his comrades were getting used to it. The big guns of the Boers seemed no use, for they did not come within half-a-mile of the camp. There had been a sandstorm and the tents were blown away.
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Post by shred on Sept 7, 2012 18:08:59 GMT
A SALFORD SOLDIERS LETTER
Mr John Hayes, of Ellor St, Salford, has received the following letter from his son, Harry, who is with Lord Menthuen’s Army in South Africa. The writer of the letter is a private in the 2nd Coldstream Guards and is a brother of Detective Hayes, of the Salford Police Force. The envelope carries the endorsement, “Winchester, Major,” and it will be remembered that this officer was subsequently killed in the battle of Modder River:- “Belmont Camp, South Africa, November 24, 1899. My dear father and mother, Just a few lines to let you know that I am alive up to the present. I was right through the battle yesterday (November 23) at Belmont, and I came out without a scratch, after about four hours fighting. It was an awful sight to see my comrades fall, killed and wounded. It sent a horrible sensation through me. We suffered heavily. We lost about 50 killed and double that number wounded, but we won the day, for we drove the enemy away for miles over the hills. I must say they are a lot of cowards, for they will not come out of the hills to fight, and if you get anywhere near them they will fly for their lives. But they did not get off so easily yesterday, for we killed a great number of them, and we were after them over the hills we came across their provision wagon and their camp, and you should have seen our men charge it. We captured a lot of prisoners and we also ransacked their stores, capturing provisions, shirts, &c. I also got a silver watch and chain, and a purse of Kruger money and several other things as relics. I will bring them home with me, if I get through this alive, but it makes my blood run cold when I see my comrades keep being buried not knowing how soon my turn may be. I hope not, for I want to see all those dear faces once more, so I shall put my trust in God to see me safe through it. I have not fared so bad so far, but we can hardly get any provisions or any water to drink at times, but I am keeping a good heart. P.S.- This writing paper and envelope was taken from the Boers. I will write as often as I can, but paper is hard to get hold of.”
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